OCHA Situation Report
Burundi
20 - 26 October 2003


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

Humanitarian Activities
1. Burundi: FAO gives 1 million people farming inputs

At least one million Burundian farmers, whose food security has become
increasingly precarious, are receiving emergency agricultural inputs from
the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), the UN agency reported on
Wednesday [22 October].  The FAO office in Nairobi reported that 2,000 mt
of locally procured bean seeds would be distributed to 210,937 households
in time for planting in October.  "In a collaborative intervention, seeds
and agricultural inputs will be distributed at the same time as UN World
Food Programme (WFP) provides seed protection rations to prevent
beneficiaries from consuming seeds provided by FAO and NGO partners," it
said.  Some 350 mt of maize, various vegetable seeds and 95,800 hand tools
would be distributed nationwide, "but particularly in the country's
central and eastern provinces, such as in Gitega, Ruyigi, Kayanza, Ngozi
and Bujumbura Rural".  The targets for the distribution were internally
displaced, repatriated and returning groups; children, women and elderly
headed households; and farmers whose crops and fields had been looted by
armed groups.  The European Community Humanitarian Organisation (ECHO),
the Office of US Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA), and the governments
of Belgium, the Netherlands and Sweden have funded this multi-donor
project.

2. Contingency Plan for Bujumbura Rural Province

With UNICEF as the leading agency, the elaboration of a contingency plan
for Bujumbura Rural, one of the most conflict affected provinces in
Burundi, started this week with a three-day workshop [22-24 October].  
The socio-cultural adviser from Bujumbura Rural Province, GVC
(international NGO), UNOCHA and UNICEF, facilitated the workshop with NGOs
active in the province, UN agencies and governmental authorities.

3. Returnees as at 27 September 2003

UNHCR: Report 23,232 facilitated, 38, 206 spontaneous returnees.  Total:
61,438 Y.T.D.

Security

4. Intense fighting between CNDD-FDD and FNL rebels groups

Security is deteriorating in neighbourhoods of Gihosha and Kamenge zones
following fighting between the FDD and the FNL rebels.  Shooting was heard
Thursday [23 October], inhabitants of Gituro and Taba neighbourhoods fled
to Kavumu and Heha, Kamenge Zone.  The FNL spokesperson, Mr Pasteur
Habimana, denies their presence in Bujumbura.  Clashes also occurred [23
October] at Busoro, Buruhukiro Zone in Rumonge Commune (Bururi Province),
between Pierre Nkurunziza's and Léonard Nyangoma's CNDD-FDD factions.

Fighting is also reported between the CNDD-FDD and the Palipehutu-FNL in
Gihanga (Bubanza Province) and Kamenge (Bujumbura Town).  Ten people have
reportedly been killed since September 2003 in Gihanga Commune (Bubanza
Province).  In Bubanza Province, 1,484 households from Murengeza (Mpanda
Commune) and (Gihanga Commune) have been reportedly displaced due to
fighting between the FDD and FNL.  More than twenty people were abducted
Thursday morning [23 October] by FDD (Pierre Nkurunziza), accused of
belonging to the FNL (Agathon Rwasa).

5. General

In Bujumbura Rural Province, increasing concern for local populations has
been reported over intensification of preparations for fighting by
Palipehutu-FNL (Agathon Rwasa).  In Kabezi Commune, the Head of Zone
Mubone was reportedly killed Friday morning at his home [17 October] by
armed men. In Muhuta Commune, Gitaza Zone, clashes have been reported
between the Army and armed groups [17 October].

Political

6. African force at full strength with arrival of Mozambicans

Mozambique has sent another 91 troops to Bujumbura, bringing the African
peacekeeping mission in Burundi (AMIB) to full strength, Burundi National
Radio and Television, reported on Sunday [20 October].  They arrived on
Saturday to join their 139 countrymen, as well as the Ethiopians and South
Africans already in Burundi that make up the force of 3,128 troops.

7. Parliament approves power-sharing deal

Burundi's Parliament has approved the power-sharing agreement signed on 8
October between the transitional government and CNDD-FDD of Nkurunziza,
the Burundian news agency, ABP reported.  Transitional National Assembly
publicised on Wednesday [22 October] a resolution approving all clauses
and provisions of the Pretoria protocol [8 October].  The Assembly
congratulated the GoB and CNDD-FDD.

8. EU Parliament calls for respect of human rights

In a statement issued on Thursday [23 October] in Brussels, the EU
parliament expressed its concern over the ongoing hostilities and the
degradation of the human rights situation in Burundi, in particular in
regard to women and children.  The EU called on the Government to take
firm action against groups that were still destabilising attempts to reach
peaceful settlements: "to prevent the country from slipping back into a
further civil war".

9. Latest events

Commemoration [21 October] of the 10th anniversary of the assassination of
President Melchior Ndadaye-21 October 1993.

Over one thousand CNDD-FD (Pierre Nkurunziza) combatants in Murambi,
Kibago Commune, Makamba Province have been supplied with food [Monday 20
October].

Commemoration Wednesday [22 October] of the 10th anniversary of the
genocide committed in 1993 remembering the pupils burnt alive by their
educators.

International Day for Eradication of Poverty [17 October].  A press lunch
was organised for all UN agencies representatives in Burundi and local
media representatives to mark the end of activities which have been
conducted over the week [17-24 October] on the theme Fight against
poverty, HIV/Aids and other illnesses.

United Nations Day: The UN SGSR read a declaration issued by the UN SG.

Coordination

10. Contact Group meeting

Mr Malick Sene, UNICEF Representative and Humanitarian Coordinator a.i.
chaired the meeting [22 October]. Participants: 41

Mr Mamadou Kane from UNOB discussed the Pretoria Agreement signed on 8
October 2003 between the Government of Burundi and the CNDD-FDD (Pierre
Nkurunziza).

11. GTS meeting

Held on Monday [20 October].  Participants discussed the preparation of a
three-day workshop for the training on Guiding Principles for Displaced
People [22-24 October].

For further Information

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


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