OCHA Situation Report
Burundi
10 - 16 November 2003


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

HUMANITARIAN ACTIVITIES
1. Launching of the new malaria treatment in Burundi

The Ministry of Health and the Resident Coordinator from the United
Nations launched a new malaria treatment, a combination therapy of
artesunate and amodiaquine, on Monday [10 November] and announced the
stoppage of chloroquine and sulfadoxine-pyriméthamine, which have become
resistant to the disease.  The implementation process of this new malaria
treatment protocol was supported by World Health Organization (WHO),
UNICEF, Doctors Without Borders (MSFs) and donors such as the Belgium
Cooperation, DFID, ECHO, USAID/OFDA, USAI/REDSO.

2. Meningitis situation

>From 6 August to 31 October, 17 cases of Meningitis were reported,
including one death and have been cured in Makamba hospital.  Type A (4
cases) and type W 135 (4 cases) serotypes have been identified.  Two cases
of type A meningitis and one highly suspected case were identified among
students of Makamba High School, numbering 828 pupils.  Considering the
outbreak of cases in a high school grouping (1,260 pupils, teachers,
maintenance staff and cooks) vaccination against meningitis will be
organised in the school. This vaccination is ongoing and is conducted by a
team from the Ministry of Public Health.  In Bururi Province: Some
sporadic cases were reported in Vyanda (5 cases to be confirmed) and
Rumonge communes.  The epidemiological surveillance has been reinforced in
both provinces.

3. Emergency Preparedness and Response workshop in Ruyigi Province

On November 10, UNICEF, in collaboration with the local NGO Maison Shalom,
began a two-week training workshop on Emergency Preparedness and Response.
Participants (40) including local authorities, local and international
NGO's, and associations.

UNICEF is being supported in the training by UNOCHA, international NGOs
MSF-Holland, Solidarites and Action Contre la Faim.  The two-week training
has been made possible thanks to funding from DFID, the British Aid
agency. The training aims at a better response to emergencies as they
might occur anywhere in the country.  UNICEF intends to repeat this
training for another group in March 2004.

4. WFP Food assistance

During the week, the Country Office (CO) distributed 1,269 Mt of food to
over 116,000 persons located in Bujumbura Rural, Bubanza, Gitega,
Muramvya, Ruyigi and Karusi provinces.  Of this food, 14 Mt of food
assistance was provided to over 1,800 persons displaced by the fighting in
Muhuta Commune of Bujumbura Rural Province as fifteen-day ration to
sustain them before they could safely return to their homes.  However, the
CO could not assist 59,000 persons planned in Bujumbura Rural and Kirundo
provinces.  In Bujumbura Rural Province, the distributions were not
carried out because of insecurity and in Kirundo Province the
distributions were not operated due to irregularities in the distribution
lists which are currently being reviewed.

Following the persistent insecurity in Bujumbura Rural Province, the
Governor of the province informed World Food Programme (WFP) that 60,000
persons were displaced, of whom 40,000 are in Mubimbi Commune.  Around
12,000 IDPs have not been assisted with food yet.  WFP will assess the
situation and act appropriately to assist those still displaced in need of
food aid.

5. HIV/AIDS patients may get fee drugs by December

Plans are underway to provide HIV/AIDS patients in Burundi with
antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) free of charge by December, an official of the
national AIDS body, the Conseil National de Lutte contre le SIDA (CNLS),
told PlusNews.  "Some of our donors have allowed us to buy ARV medicine.
Now, with the permission of the World Fund against AIDS, we will put all
HIV/AIDS patients under ARV treatment," Dr Tharcisse Barihuta, an official
of the AIDS council, said.  Previously, he said, the council had
difficulties convincing donors to provide money for the purchase of ARV
drugs.  On Thursday [13 November] after attending the first national youth
conference on AIDS in the Burundian capital, Bujumbura, Dr Barihuta said
that efforts had been made to reduce the cost of ARV drugs.  "A
tri-therapy cost 300,000 francs (US $300) per month three years ago, now
it costs 30,000 francs ($30)," he said.

6. Returnees as at 31 October 2003

UNHCR: Report 26,690 facilitated, 42, 103 spontaneous returnees.  Total:
68,793 Y.T.D.

SECURITY

7. General

The UN World Food Programme has condemned the killing of a staff member in
northern Burundi, [Friday, 7 November].  The WFP employee, Philibert
Nsengiyumva, was shot dead at close range by unknown men at his home in
Ngozi town.

Armed men ambushed a transport vehicle [10 November]; one killed,
passengers' belongings stolen.

Bubanza Province: Fighting has been reported between the CNDD-FDD rebels
(Pierre Nkurunziza) and the FNL combatants (Agathon Rwasa) in Rugazi and
Gihanga communes: Two people killed, one wounded and several houses set
ablaze

POLITICAL

8. Burundi government and rebels sign peace agreement

The President of Burundi and the leader of CNDD-FDD finalised peace
negotiations on Sunday [16 November] and signed an agreement in the
Tanzanian capital of Dar Es Salaam endorsing political, defence and
security power sharing in the war-torn country.  At the same time, the
20th summit of the Great Lakes regional peace initiative on Burundi gave
the Forces Nationales de Liberation (FNL) rebel faction led by Agathon
Rwasa three months to enter negotiations with the government or face the
consequences of regional action.  In a statement issued at the end of the
two-day summit, the region's leaders also requested the UN consider
sending a peacekeeping operation to Burundi given the "qualitative change
that has taken place following the signing of the Pretoria Protocols which
have created a total condition of peace and stability in over 95 percent
of the territory in Burundi".

Negotiations were attended by African leaders involved in the Burundi
peace talks, including Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, Mozambican
President Joaquim Chissano, and South African Vice -President Jacob Zuma.

9. South African troops will remain longer in Burundi, Zuma says

South Africa will retain its peacekeeping troops in Burundi until the
country sets up its own security services, South African Deputy President
Jacob Zuma said on Thursday [13 November].  The South African Press
Association (SAPA) quoted Zuma as saying that his country's participation
in the Burundi peace process was for the benefit of South Africa.  SAPA
reported that the cost of the deployment of the troops to Burundi has so
far cost about 800 million rand (US $ 118.8 million).

10. Latest events

President Ndayizeye met with the UN representative for the observatory
mission in Congo (MONUC) Mr William Swing, on the repatriation modalities
of Forces de Défence pour la Démocratie (FDD) (Pierre Nkurunziza)
combatants who are still in DRCongo [10 November].

The Court of Appeal of Bujumbura confirms the detention of Col Gerard
Ntunzwenayo and Mr Emile Manisha, cited in the assassination of former WHO
Representative to Burundi, Dr Kassi Manlan.  Defence attorneys denounce
injustice and talk of judiciary mistake.

COORDINATION

11. Contact Group meeting

Ms Gloria Fernandez, OCHA Head of Office, chaired the meeting [12
November].  Participants: 42.  Mrs Zoundi Marie Therese Gui Gui from WHO
presented the launching of the new malaria treatment protocol on Monday
[10 November].  Mr Sébastien Fesneau (IRC) Bururi Focal Point presented
the minutes of their meeting of 14 October.

12. GTS meeting

Held on Monday [10 November], GTS participants analyzed the current
situation of displacements.  A mission was conducted to Cankuzo Province
to sensitise provincial representatives on participation in the 16 days of
activism against violence to women [25 November to 10 December].

For Information

Adélaide Habonimana, Information Assistant PH: (257) 951 681,
Email: habonimanaa@un.org


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