OCHA Situation Report
Burundi
Update April 2003
12 June 2003


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)

Humanitarian
Editorial

The new President, Domitien Ndayizeye, and Vice-President, Alphonse-Marie
Kadege, were officially sworn into their new positions on Wednesday [30
April].  Former South African President Mandela, mediator to the Burundi
peace process, attended the investiture ceremony.  The challenge now is to
match the progress made at the political level, with tangible improvements
in the living standards of Burundians nationwide.

Addressing sexual violence

Concerned by the high incidences of rape in conflict-ridden provinces,
notably Bujumbura Rural and Ruyigi provinces, the Ministry of Health,
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and UN Children's Fund (UNICEF)
organised a workshop [4th April] devise a plan of action to support
victims of sexual violence.

UNFPA, in collaboration with the Ministry for Social Action and Women
Promotion, also conducted a three-day workshop on sexual violence [2-4
April] 2003.

Media briefing

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) conveyed a
media briefing on behalf of the Humanitarian Coordinator a.i. Mr Stefano
Severe on Tuesday 29 April.

Mr Malick Sene (United Nations Children's Fund Representative), Mr Darboe
Mustapha (World Food Programme Representative) and Mr Antoine Gerard (OCHA
Head of Office) represented the UN's humanitarian agencies, briefed on
their operations, and answered questions from the assembled national and
international media.

Empowerment through education

UNICEF is working to put 6,000 war-affected girls, aged 8-10 years, into
schools from provinces around the country including Bujumbura Rural,
Cankuzo, Makamba and Ruyigi.  UNICEF will target over 100,000 children,
many of whom live in IDP camps or are frequently, temporarily, displaced.
These children will benefit from the essential school materials required
to encourage them, and their families, to return the child to school.

NGOs support peace

In a Joint Statement [28 April], five international aid agencies - CARE,
Oxfam International, Save the Children, German Agro Action and the
International Rescue Committee (IRC) called upon international community
to support Burundi's peace initiatives.  The NGOs also implored the
belligerent parties to respect the ceasefire.

UNHCR donates vehicles

In a bid to ease voluntary repatriation for Burundian refugees from
Tanzania, UNHCR donated six vehicles to provinces bordering Tanzania
[Muyinga, Kirundo, Cankuzo, Makamba, Bururi, Rutana].  The vehicles were
remitted by Mr Stefano Severe, UNHCR Delegate.

Returnees

UNHCR report [28 April] 8,926 facilitated and 7,880 spontaneous returnees.
Total: 16,806 Y.T.D.

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)

In a pre-emptive move, the Ministry of Health organised a three-day
information and awareness workshop [8-10 April] for travel services and
agencies, and health staff.  One SARS case has been reported in South
Africa.

WFP food distribution

UN World Food Programme carried out food distribution to its beneficiaries
in Bujumbura Rural, Muramvya, Kayanza, Bujumbura Mairie, Ngozi, Mwaro,
Rutana, Bubanza and Ruyigi provinces. A total 2,221.89 Mt of targeted
rations was distributed to 251,716 beneficiaries in those provinces.
However, due to insecurity, some targeted distributions were hampered in
Kayanza, Muramvya and Gitega provinces.  Another 91.22 Mt of food
assistance was also distributed to 2,438 returnees from Tanzania and
156.88 Mt distributed to feed refugees in Muyinga and Cibitoke provinces.  
WFP participated in a joint WFP/UNHCR head-count to verify the current
number of Congolese refugees in Gasorwe camp (Muyinga Province).  The
figures were revised downward from 3,400 to 2,107.  Refugees were provided
with ration cards for the next food distribution.

UNICEF mission to Ruyigi

UNICEF Representative, Mr Malick Sene, led a mission to Ruyigi on the 17th
April 2003.  The Mission included the Ambassador of Belgium and a team of
representatives from the French Embassy.  The objective of the mission was
to examine and raise human rights violations.

UNICEF has also finalised the first Non-Food Item distribution - commenced
in January - to Gisuru Commune (Ruyigi Province).  The distribution was
made possible through distribution of UNICEF's decentralised stock in
Ruyigi, and with the collaboration of NGO implementing partners and the UN
Inter-Agency office in Ruyigi.

First AU peacekeepers in Burundi

The first troops of the African force [130] arrived in Bujumbura on 27
April together with General Sipho Binda, African Force Commander.

However, cantonment has not started yet and the ceasefire signed with the
main CNDD-FDD rebel group has been violated repeatedly.

At a news conference in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), following a joint meeting
[1 April], to discuss recommendations, the Defence Ministers from
Ethiopia, Mozambique and South Africa announced that their countries wound
send 3,500 peacekeeping troops to Burundi.

UN Secretary-General congratulates President and Vice-President

In a message delivered by Berhanu Dinka, Special Representative of the
Secretary-General for Burundi, in Bujumbura on 30 April, UN
Secretary-General Kofi Annan extended his "warm congratulations to the new
President and Vice-President".

Secretary-General Kofi Annan paid tribute to the outgoing President, Major
Pierre Buyoya, and called upon Pierre Nkurinziza's Conseil National pour
la Défense de la Démocratie (CNDD) to respect the commitments undertaken
and the agreements signed, to put an end to indiscriminate attacks against
the civilian population and to cooperate with the Government, the
mediation, the region, the African Union and the Joint Ceasefire
Commission so that the ceasefire can take effect immediately.

"I once again call upon Agathon Rwasa's Parti pour la Liberation du Peuple
Hutu-Forces Nationales de Liberation to cease hostilities and enter into
negotiations with the Government without delay" he said.

EU condemns shelling

The EU condemned the shelling of civilian areas of Bujumbura by CNDD-FDD
forces on 17April 2003, which resulted in the killing and wounding of
innocent civilians.

The EU called on the CNDD-FDD to observe the ceasefire signed in 2002 and
refrain from acts of violence.

Human Rights

Presenting her sixth report in Geneva, Ms Marie-Therese Keita Bocoum, UN
Special Rapporteur on Human Rights, reported an increase in violence
against civilians by both state and non-state actors.

Aid resumption

Germany is to resume aid to Burundi following a nine-year break, its
Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development announced on Tuesday 2
April.

A total of 45,2 million Euros has been earmarked for projects, a statement
said.

The decision put Germany "in harmony" with the rest of the international
community, Parliamentary State Secretary Uschi Eid was quoted as saying.

Political

Head of Mission appointed

Mr Mamadou Bah, the African Union's (AU) Ambassador to Burundi, has been
appointed Head of the African Mission in Burundi (AMIB), South African
Deputy President Jacob Zuma announced on Wednesday [30 April].

Deployment of African Mission mandated

The central organ of the mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management and
Resolution mandated the deployment of the African Mission in Burundi
(AMIB) for an initial period of one year subject to renewal by the Central
Organ.

On arrival in Bujumbura [9 April], General Sipho Binda, Commander of the
African peacekeeping force stated "The force will be here Bujumbura] by 1
May."

Security

In April, fierce fighting took place between the Army and CNDD-FDD rebels
throughout the provinces of Kayanza (Rango and Matongo communes), Gitega
(Bugendana, Giheta, Gishubi communes), Muramvya (Rutegama and Kiganda
communes), Ruyigi and Bujumbura Rural (Kanyosha and Isale communes).  The
CNDD-FDD rebel attack on a military position [16 April] from Kibuye Zone,
Isale Commune (Province) led to heavy clashes with the Army, which
resulted in the displacement of several thousands of people, mostly from
Kanyosha Commune.

Starting early morning on Thursday 17 April, a total of 32 shells were
launched on the capital from the hills surrounding Bujumbura the capital
Musaga Zone [29 rockets] and Rohero neighbourhood [3 rockets].  Official
reports indicate three people killed, several wounded and six homes
damaged.  CNDD-FDD (Pierre Nkurunziza) claimed responsibility for the
attack [Communique 15 April].  In a news conference [17 April], Colonel
Augustin Nzabampema, Army Spokesperson, told the journalists that, "it is
an escalation in the ceasefire agreement violation," [17 April]. The
attack is said launched together with FNL (Agathon Rwasa). CNDD-FDD rebels
also led a bomb attack on the brewery of Gitega, BRAGITA. Despite damage
estimated at 100 million FBu Mr Michel Ndabashinze, BRAGITA Manager,
asserted that "Production will continue."

Humanitarian Update is produced by the Office f r the Coordination of
Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Bujumbura, Burundi.  It is compiled from
input received from United Nations agencies, donors and NGOs working in
Burundi.
  Tel: (257) 218034
  Fax:  (257) 218035
  E-mail: mcgowann@un.org


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