OCHA Situation Report
Burundi
22 - 28 September 2003


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

HUMANITARIAN ACTIVITIES
1. Returnees: New entry point

Another 95 Burundi refugees returned home on Wednesday [24 September] from
Tanzania via the new border post at Gahumo, in the eastern province of
Cankuzo.  The returnees, the majority of whom were women and children,
came from the Kibondo I refugee camp in Western Tanzania.  These
returnees, originally residents of Kigamba Commune (Cankuzo Province)
boarded a truck of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees for
Cankuzo town (Cankuzo Province).  They are being provided shelter while
waiting to return to their respective villages, the Governmental radio
reported.  The opening of that corridor follows the recommendations of the
tripartite meeting in August between Burundi, UNHCR, and Tanzania.  The
meeting also recommended the opening of other entry posts in Rutana and
Makamba.  The Ministry of Repatriation has said that some 400,000 Burundi
refugees are still in Tanzania

2. Rebel fighting displaces 47,500 civilians

Two weeks of fighting between two rival rebels groups has led to the
displacement of an estimated 47,500 civilians in the east and northwest of
the Burundian capital, Bujumbura, local officials told IRIN on Thursday.
"At least 43,000 people have fled their homes in Mubimbi Commune
[Bujumbura Rural], some are at the commune office and others are at Kinama
in Mageyo zone (Mubimbi Commune)," Ignace Ntawembarira, the governor of
Bujumbura Rural, said.  He said some 29,000 displaced had returned to
their homes and that a new request for aid for the 4,500 newly displaced
people would soon be submitted to the UN World Food Programme (WFP).
Nteturuye said that among the displaced at Mubimbi, 15,000 had received
cereals, vegetables and cotton oil while 27,800 others continued to
receive WFP food rations. WFP is highly concerned of the increasing number
of displaced persons as a result of continuing fighting. WFP food has
already reached about 18,000 displaced persons in Mpanda commune. In
August, WFP has already assisted 20,800 displaced people in the same
commune. The displaced people have been receiving an emergency ration
composed of cereals, pulses and vegetable Oil. The agency has also
distributed food aid to about 41,000 internally displaced people at
Mubimbi Commune.

3. Diseases "remain major cause of disability, mortality"

Despite a 10-year civil war in Burundi, diseases remained the major causes
of disability and mortality in three provinces surveyed by the
International Rescue Committee (IRC).  Presenting the results of the 2002
survey on Monday [22 September] in Bujumbura, the IRC reported that
diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, leprosy, polio and measles
accounted for the largest number of disabilities in the provinces of
Bujumbura Rural, Makamba and Muyinga.  The IRC carried out the survey to
establish causes of disability and mortality rates in a conflict-ridden
country.  Out of 169 disabled people in Muyinga, from a sample of 2,068
people, 45 percent became disabled due to diseases that could be prevented
or treated. A similar situation was observed in Makamba, with diseases
accounting for 59 percent of the disabled, and in Bujumbura Rural, where
diseases accounted for the 61 percent of the disabled.  The IRC found that
the cases of disabilities varied from loss of limbs, loss of sight and
speech, to limited capacity to learn or understand issues.  The IRC survey
was conducted with financial support from the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention, in Atlanta, the United States.

4. WFP plans to provide about 8,500 tonnes of food to Burundian farming
households

Over the next month, WFP and its implementing partner CARE are targeting
over 150,000 vulnerable farming households with food aid. Some 750,000
people will benefit from the project, which is part of a co-ordinated
programme with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).  FAO is
targeting more than 210,000 farming households in Burundi with seeds and
hoes and WFP is providing food rations to ensure the farmers have enough
food and do not eat their seeds.

Besides the operation to protect seeds, WFP also continues to supply food
rations to civil war-displaced persons in various parts of the country

5. UNICEF: Increasing community participation

On the 27th of September UNICEF concluded a one week long training of
trainers on Human Rights based Approach to Programming (HRAP).  Sixteen
participants from the University and CPF were trained in order to create a
trainers pool that will conduct session on community and provincial level.
Based on HRAP and Community Capacity Development, UNICEF encourages very
strongly community participation in the elaboration of a new Country
Programme.  UNICEF strives to increase the forum of expression for
children/youth and women using this approach where all individuals (except
for the youngest children) are seen as both claim-holders and duty-bearers
for the realization of human rights and international humanitarian law.

6. Returnees as at 22 September 2003

UNHCR: Report 22,383 facilitated, 37, 665 spontaneous returnees.  Total:
60,048 Y.T.D.

SECURITY

7. General

Insecurity prevails in several provinces including Bujumbura Town,
Bujumbura Rural (Kanyosha, Mubimbi and Mutimbuzi communes), Bubanza
(Mpanda and Rugazi communes) Muramvya, Kayanza, Makamba, Ngozi and Rutana.
Livestock is stolen and people displaced if not killed

CNDD-FDD rebels led an attack in Mubuga (Ngozi Province) on Tuesday.  
Army official reported two girls raped, two civilians killed and several
homes looted.

Burundi's private and public media elaborated a Memorandum of
Understanding with UNICEF for the common plan of action related to
reporting and social mobilization on Malaria, HIV/AIDS and Children's
Rights.

POLITICAL

8. Ethiopian peacekeeping contingent for Burundi

Two hundred and twenty-six Ethiopian troops (226 out of a total 1,300)
arrived in Bujumbura, Burundi, on Saturday [27 September] to take part in
the peacekeeping operation in that country.  Nine hundred more men are
expected to arrive on Tuesday [30 September] and Sunday [5 October].

9. Latest events

Burundi President Domitien Ndayizeye, addressing UN General Assembly,
demands a sustained support to the Burundi peace process.  He urged the UN
Security Council on Monday to push Agathon Rwasa's faction of the Parti
pour la liberation du peuple hutu-Forces nationales de liberation
(FNL-Palipehutu) rebel movement to join peace talks, Radio Burundi
reported from UN headquarters in New York, where the 58th session of the
UN General Assembly has been convened

Opening ceremonies of new entry points for returnees from Tanzania.  In
addition to the entry points of Kobero (Muyinga Province), Ruyigi and
Makamba, new entry points have been opened in Cankuzo and Rutana
provinces.

CNDD-FDD minority wing (Jean Bosco Ndayikengurukiye) Spokesperson judges
unacceptable sharing 10% among other rebel movements who have stopped
fighting, including the 10,000 hutu who are in the National Army - Pierre
Nkurunziza's CNDD-FDD claims for 40% of the total number of security and
defence armed forces.

COORDINATION

10. Contact Group meeting

Mr Sunil Saigal, Humanitarian Coordinator chaired the meeting [24
September].  Participants: 40.

Ms Michele Bradford (IRC) and Mr Francis Perineau (Solidarités),
respectively Focal Points for Makamba and Muramvya provinces presented the
minutes of their meetings [held 2 and 4 September].

11. GTS

Held on Monday [22 September].  Participants discussed displacement of the
population in Bujumbura Rural, Bubanza and Kayanza provinces and agreed to
conduct follow up missions.

For Information: Nicholas McGowan, Head of Information, PH: (257) 951 681,
Email: mcgowann@un.org


distributed by
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Center for International                  web: www.cidi.org
    Disaster Information             listserv: www.cidi.org/listsub.htm
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
comments/suggestions/requests to incident@cidi.org