OCHA Situation Report
Burundi 
10 - 16 February 2003


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

Humanitarian Activities

1.  Cholera epidemic declared in Rumonge (Bururi Province)

Since Monday 10 February there have been 25 cases of cholera in Rumonge
town (primarily in the Swahili neighbourhood) reported Ms Hope Neighbor,
Field Coordinator (Bururi Province) for the International Rescue Committee
(IRC). 10 cases were identified on Friday 14 February, and three cases on
Saturday 15 February. The Ministry of Health declared an official cholera
epidemic on Thursday 13 February. Two cholera related deaths have been
recorded (Friday 14 and Saturday 15, February). The IRC will commence
community education campaigns in the city centre on Monday, in addition to
supplying clean water to the local hospital and affected neighbourhoods,
and coordinating INGO contributions. MSF-France donated 5000 rehydration
sachets for cholera treatment, UNICEF have provided water treatment
products and soap. "The epidemic is caused by the lack of potable water in
Rumonge. There has been an interruption in the water supplied by Regideso
to communal water points in the city. Local people (without private water
supply) tend to carry dirty water from Lake Tanganyika", said Mr Eric
Bigirimana, Bururi Provincial Doctor.

2.  WFP food shortage

WFP's pipeline situation remains critical. WFP still faces food shortages
at the time the admissions in nutritional centres increased and when WFP
is on the verge of launching the Seeds Protection Rations (SPR) campaign.
As a result, WFP could not provide emergency assistance to 177,600
persons.

3.  School feeding programme to commence in Burundi

Children in Burundi's northern province of Karuzi who were likely to miss
school because of hunger have started receiving meals at school through a
major school-feeding programme by World Vision and the World Food
Programme (WFP). Under the working agreement, lunch will be provided to
children in 46 schools in the northern province of Karuzi, 161 kilometres
from the capital Bujumbura. The budget for the first phase is US$1.6
million.

The school feeding programme is mainly to encourage children, especially
girls to attend school. In fact, the enrolment of girls in first grade is
now over the number of boys - 2042 boys to 2061 girls. A successful and
continuous program may help to maintain at least a balance between boys
and girls attending school. "We have waited so long to see the program
start and now that the actual feeding of the children in school has
started, children can stay in school much longer," says World Vision
Burundi Director Maereg Tafere.

4.  Seeds Protection Rations

WFP, in consultation with the Agricultural Coordination Committee members
chaired by FAO and other partners, is preparing the launch of the Seeds
Protection Rations (SPR) campaign scheduled for the second half of
February. The preliminary caseload is estimated at 283,000 households with
160,500 classified first priority in Bubanza, Bujumbura Rural, Gitega,
Kayanza, Muramvya, Ngozi and Ruyigi provinces. This estimate will be
reviewed regularly based on the results of the joint crop yields and Food
Needs Assessment Mission conducted by WFP/FAO/UNICEF and the Ministry of
Agriculture and Livestock.

5.  Returnees as at 8 February 2003

UNHCR (Burundi): report 3,545 facilitated and 2,262 spontaneous returnees
Y.T.D. WFP, in collaboration with UNHCR and GTZ, assisted over 700
repatriates from Tanzania temporarily hosted in transit sites in Ngozi and
Muyinga provinces.


Security

6.  Refugee moved to safer location

UNHCR transferred 406 refugees (Wednesday 12 February) from the Rugombo
reception centre to Cishemeye I transit centre. More than 3,000 refugees
are to be transferred to the newly-built Cishemeye II. Like Rugombo, both
Cishemeye centres are in north-western Cibitoke Province, offering better
living conditions for the refugees. UNHCR officials would like to move
them even further away from the DRC border. "We are grateful to the
government of Burundi for its open door policy towards refugees, and for
its assistance to us," said UNHCR Representative in Burundi, Mr Stefano
Severe. UNHCR began transferring refugees away from the volatile border
with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) at the end of January.

7.  On going fighting between the Army and CNDD-FDD rebels.

As CNDD-FDD fighters left the Kibira Forest (11 February) and took
positions in Rutegama, Mbuye and Kiganda communes (Muramvya Province),
fighting started the following day (12 February) in various areas. Army
sources report twenty rebels killed and several civilians wounded. General
de Brigade Sylvestre Nimubona told journalists that some of the rebels had
come from neighbouring communes of Bugendana and Giheta (Gitega Province).
General Sylvestre Nimubona advised that other rebels left the Kibira
Forest heading towards Bubanza (Karenzi and Rushiha areas) and Cibitoke
(Bukinanyana Commune) provinces.

In Bujumbura Rural, abductions and the targeted killing of local officials
continues. According to the local human rights association, Ligue Iteka,
the Head of Nyambuye Zone, Mr Basile Ndarurinze, is the 85th official
killed in Bujumbura Rural. According to Ligue Iteka, those targeted are
accused of recruiting from within Palipehutu-FNL ranks (Agathon Rwasa) for
the Palipehutu-FNL minority wing of Dr Alain Mugabarabona.

8.  General

   The arrival of AU observers for the ceasefire implementation was
   delayed because of the need for their vaccinations to be completed.
   Eight (from Togo) arrived on Wednesday (12 February).

   One person died after a mine explosion in Kayogoro Commune, Makamba
   Province (8 February).

   CNDD-FDD rebels attacked Gitega Town (Gitega Province) killing three
   and looting 50 homes in Mungwa and Magarama zones (8 February).

   Bujumbura Rural Province: Approximately 6,000 people from Nyambuye
   Zone, Isale Commune Nyakibande, Nyambuye, Gishingano areas returned
   home this week almosta year after they fled fighting (FNL/Army) in
   Kanyosha Commune (Kavumu and Sororezo areas) and Gihosha zone.


Political

9.  Recent developments for the ceasefire implementation

Following the signed MoU (25 January) with the TNGoB, Mr Jean-Bosco
Ndayikengurukiye and Dr Alain Mugabarabona, the minority rebel leaders
(CNDD-FDD and Palipehutu-FNL) returned to Burundi (13 February) to
participate in the peace process. Approximately forty senior lieutenants
accompanied them. Dr Alain Mugabarabona (Palipehutu-FNL) told a news
conference in South Africa that they are returning "to implement all
agreements" they have signed. At week's end, talks continued between the
TNGoB and CNDD-FDD in Pretoria. President Buyoya and Pierre Nkurunziza are
attending the talks, which are evolving gradually according to TNGoB
sources.

The date for the deployment of a Peace Monitoring Force comprising
soldiers from Ethiopia, Mozambique and South Africa remains unannounced. A
visit to Burundi by the South African and Mozambique Defence Ministers was
cancelled this week (Tuesday 11 February).

According to a Voice of America (VOA) report, a US official, speaking
anonymously, told VOA the USA is "...standing by to offer support that
could be in the form of chartered aircraft to move peacekeepers within
Africa to Burundi".

10.  Burundi's Foreign Affairs Minister on visit to London

Mr Térence Sinunguruza, Burundi's Foreign Affairs Minister visited London
(9-10 February) where he met with government authorities including Ms
Claire Shot (DFID) and the Parliamentary Group for the Great Lakes Region.
They discussed Burund's socio-political situation since 1993, the peace
process and the ceasefire agreements. Minister Sinunguruza asked the
British Government to support the Burundi ceasefire implementation at the
UN.

11.  Latest Events

   Three CNDD-FDD senior officials arrived in Bujumbura, Burundi,
   (Saturday 8 February) to prepare the return for Mr Jean-Bosco
   Ndayikengurkukiye, CNDD-FDD Representative.

   An administration source reports FDD rebels continued gathering on the
   border between Tanzania and Burundi (Cankuzo Province, Gisagara
   Commune).

   Six new parties (ALIDE, NADDEBU, SONOVI, PADER, UPD, PAJUDE) call for
   release of political leaders from UPRONA Party wing (including Mr
   Charles Mukasi) and PARENA Party President (former President Bagaza) 8
   February.

   Over 900 hundred young Burundians from refugee camps in Tanzania (Nduta
   and Ngara) have reportedly joined CNDD-FDD ranks (Pierre Nkurunziza).

   President Buyoya and Dr Jean Minani (President of the TNA) are in
   Pretoria in ceasefire talks with Mr Pierre Nkurunziza (CNDD-FDD) (11
   and 9 February).

   The TNGoB and the CNDD-FDD (Pierre Nkurunziza) met in Dar-es-Salaam (3
   to 7 February) to finalise the details of December accord.

   Ligue Iteka, Burundi Human Rights association, held a press café (11
   February) to discuss the ceasefire implementation. Panelists with
   contradictory views included former President Ntibantunganya, Mr Rémy
   Nkengurutse (Senior PARENA Party member) and General de Brigade
   Célestin Ndayisaba (Government/Army).

   Mr Didace Kiganahe, Minister for Good Governance, launched (12
   February)  local committees for good governance. For its pilot phase,
   the programme will cover four provinces: Kayanza, Muramvya, Gitega and
   Ngozi.

   Increase in oil price: Petrol, gasoline and paraffin are up 100 Burundi
   francs. The local news agency ABP, reported an increased bus fare of 20%
   (12 February) for Bujumbura-Bubanza.

   The University of South Africa (UNISA) has announced its intent to
   enter into partnerships with various African universities including the
   University of Burundi.

   The Chinese Army has decalred it is ready to participate in a UN
   Peace-keeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi's
   western neighour.

   The Human Rights Association, Ligue Izere, issued a statement (15
   January) urging the TNGoB to investigate killings in Taba quarter,
   Gihosha Zone, Bujumbura Mairie (6 January).

   The EC announced a EUR 15 million humanitarian aid plan for Burundi (14
   February).


Coordination

12.  Contact Group Meeting (for the Minutes access: www.ochaburundi.org)

Chaired by Mr Stefano, Severe, Humanitarian Coordinator a.i. Thirty-seven
people attended (6 February). Mr Jean-Alexandre Scaglia, FAO emergency
coordinator, presented the report on the evaluation of 2003 A-season.

13.  GTS meeting (Monday 10 February)

Chaired by Mr Emmanuel Jenje, GTS President.

GTS conducted a mission in Ruyigi and will report next week.

14.  OCHA field visits and meetings

OCHA held a session on contingency response plan (13 February).

For Information

Nicholas McGowan, Information Officer, OCHA Burundi
PH: (257) 951 681
Email: mcgowann@un.org



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