OCHA Situation Report
Burundi
18 - 24 October 2004


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

HUMANITARIAN ACTIVITIES
UNESCO, fight aiganst HIV/AIDS in youth

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO), in collaboration with the UNESCO Regional office in Nairobi,
held a two-day regional meeting (19-21 October) for the youth from
Erythrea, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi on the theme "Youth mobilization for
the change of behaviour" in Bujumbura. The meeting is a follow up for a
pan African forum of the youth that was held in March 2004 in Dakar
(Senegal) under the theme "AIDS, an educational issue".

The meeting aimed at raising awareness in the youth from the sub-region in
order to contribute to the reduction of the HIV/AIDS transmission rate.
National action plans in the fight against HIV/AIDS were finalised.

Some 30 youths members of seven main organizations known as "Big Seven
Alliance" attended.

WFP food/SPR distribution

The distribution of the Seeds Protection Rations (SPR) campaign was
completed nationwide. Preliminary figures indicated that 8,129 Mt of food
were distributed to nearly 159,200 households throughout the country. The
SPR distribution has been partly constrained by food pipeline shortfalls;
but compensatory measures have been taken to minimize the impact.

|----------------------------------+-------------+--------|
|            Programmes            |Beneficiaries|  Food  |
|                                  |             |  (Mt)  |
|----------------------------------+-------------+--------|
|        Relief Assistance         |             |        |
|----------------------------------+-------------+--------|
|Seeds and protection rations      |      103,802|     841|
|----------------------------------+-------------+--------|
|Supplementary & therapeutic       |       13,057|      81|
|feeding centres                   |             |        |
|----------------------------------+-------------+--------|
|Returnees from Tanzania           |          325|      18|
|----------------------------------+-------------+--------|
|Congolese refugees in Burundi     |        7,332|      41|
|----------------------------------+-------------+--------|
|       Recovery Assistance        |             |        |
|----------------------------------+-------------+--------|
|HIV/AIDS patients & PLWA*         |       13,993|     150|
|----------------------------------+-------------+--------|
|Vulnerable groups in social       |        1,166|      19|
|centres                           |             |        |
|----------------------------------+-------------+--------|
|Hospital in-patients              |          719|       9|
|----------------------------------+-------------+--------|
|FFW/FFT*                          |          402|       5|
|----------------------------------+-------------+--------|
|Total                             |      140,796|   1,164|
|----------------------------------+-------------+--------|


Refugees update

As of 24 October, 85,534 Burundian refugees (including 79,873 facilitated
and 5,661 spontaneous returnees) had returned to the country, according to
UNHCR. Whilst the movement of repatriation from Tanzania through the
Ruyigi entry point has stopped since 11 October, radio Isanganiro reported
that the flow of Burundian refugees from Burundi's southern province of
Makamba to Tanzania had slowed down.

SECURITY INCIDENTS

Bujumbura Rural: fighting was reported between FNL rebels and Forces for
the defence of democracy (FDD) in Kabezi (20 October) and Kanyosha (21
October), causing the displacement of population.

Makamba: a Catholic priest, Gerard Nzeyimana, was shot dead on 17 October
on the road Rumonge-Nyanza-Lac, on his way from Bujumbura. Three nuns who
were aboard the vehicle got out of safe.

Cibitoke: 5 persons accused of sorcery were lynched. The police had
arrested those responsible.

LATEST EVENTS AND POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS

Elections: following the 23rd regional summit on Burundi, in a meeting
convened by the President of the republic on 20 October, the Parliament
adopted the draft post transition constitution. UPRONA, however, rejects
the Nairobi conclusions whilst Pierre Nkurunziza's CNDD-FDD movement said,
in a press communique issued on 15 October, it would adhere to the
electoral agenda as proposed by the Independent National Electoral
Commission (CENI). The calendar, which was publicised on 16 October, was
approved by the 22nd regional Heads of State summit on Burundi held in
Nairobi on Friday (15 October). The timetable also includes local
elections on 9 February, communal elections on 23 February and legislative
elections on 9 March. Quoting CENI chairman Paul Ngarambe, African Public
Radio (RPA) reported that those dates were tentative, and might be
slightly modified depending on factors such as the availability of funds
and security conditions. CENI chairman further announced that donors had
promised to make available financial means necessary for the organization
of polls over the governmental radio. Meanwhile, RPA announced that at the
request of the recent regional Heads of State Summit held in Nairobi on 18
October, South African Deputy President and facilitator in the Burundi
conflict, Jacob Zuma, would visit European countries to collect funds
promised by donors to Burundi. According to the ONUB electoral division,
US $22 million is the amount required for the process.

On presidential elections due to be held in April 2005, Princess Esther
Kamatari, who wants to restore monarchy in Burundi, is the first to
present her application. She applies on behalf of "ABAHUZA" Party, headed
by her brother, Godefroid Kamatari.

The government has installed a non-stop work day for civil servants, from
7:00 to 3:00 pm and starting 2 November 2004. According to the Burundi
Unions Confederation (COSYBU), such working system is not advisable by
these days when salaries are insufficient for people to eat at work.
Talking to local media, COSYBU representative suggested that the
Government increases salaries. According to certain government workers
interviewed by private local radio Isanganiro, in taking this decision,
the government had ulterior motives other than simply helping the workers.

Gabriel Rufyiri, legal representative of the Observatory for the fight
against corruption and economic misappropriation (OLUCOME) was arrested on
17 October, accused of having attempted to bribe a police officer,
according to local radio station Bonesha.

The national health institute (INSP) is now equipped with a national
laboratory, which was inaugurated on 23 October laboratory of reference.
Among other duties, the laboratory will be tasked with diagnosing certain
illnesses and examining HIV/AIDS cases.

On 20 October, nurses went on strike for the second time in two weeks,
threatening to start another unlimited strike on 25 October if the
government does not meet their demands- report by Isanganiro.

The National Communication Council (CNC) refused African Public Radio
(RPA) to set up a community radio in Ngozi, which "is illegal", according
to Attorney Jean Bosco Ngendakubwayo.

Mechanisms are needed to fight against genocide, according to the World
Summit for the Fight Against Genocide, held in the US. In attendance was
Charles Mukasi of the Burundian anti-genocide organization "AC-Genocide
CIRIMOSO" (source: Bonesha radio)

COORDINATION

IDPs: overall, the number of IDPs in Muramvya Province has noticeably
decreased. Those who remain in sites have access to their fields and they
can spend one or two nights in their hills of origin to cultivate or to
harvest. In Bujumbura Rural, according to news aired by African Public
Radio, the displaced families in Kabezi town center continue to face a
difficult situation while the current rainy season does not contribute to
the improvement of the situation.

Ruyigi: on Tuesday 19 October, OCHA sub office co-facilitated a meeting to
update the provincial contingency planning, with regard to possible
displacement of population or mass return of refugees based on failure or
success of end of transition period.

OCHA sub office of Ruyigi and the Inter agency Coordination unit met with
the Governor of Gitega Province. Discussions included the mandate of the
Inter agency Coordination unit that will soon start its activities in the
province.

Muramvya: OCHA conducted an assessment mission in the province on 20
October. Only two international NGOs namely International Medical Corps
(IMC) and Solidarites operate in the province. On the level of access to
health services, the situation remains precarious because of people's
limited means. Food security is also of concern due to lack of rains.

For further information and contributions to future updates:

Matthew Conway and Adelaide Habonimana OCHA Information Unit E-mail:
conwaym@un.org and habonimanaa@un.org

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