OCHA Situation Report
Burundi
22 November - 05 December 2004


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

HUMANITARIAN ACTIVITIES

1 Humanitarian Community appeals for US $174 million to help Burundi in
2005

On 3 December, the Burundi humanitarian community launched its 2005 annual
appeal for funding of life-saving activities and community based
reinsertion programmes aimed at helping the country in its efforts to
emerge from 11 years of conflict and subsequent impact on a structurally
vulnerable population. The total amount requested for 2005 is US
$174,171,865, including US$40m that WFP requested through the regional
appeal. "The Consolidated Appeals Process (CAP) is not only a fund-raising
mechanism - it is also a strategic tool for the development of projects
and programs for humanitarian action," Ibrahima D. Fall, the Humanitarian
Coordinator for Burundi, said. "As such, not all stakeholders have
included project submissions in the appeal, but have, through their
participation, committed to work together to meet the needs of affected
populations in a coordinated manner."

Six national NGOs, six international NGOs, and 15 UN agencies and offices
are appealing for funds in the 2005 CAP. The sector requiring the largest
share of the funding - some $63 million - is that called "multi-sector",
which broadly includes community infrastructure rehabilitation and
reintegration of populations into their communities of origin. Other
sectors requesting significant amounts of funding ($5 million or more)
include agriculture; economic recovery and infrastructure; education;
family shelter and non-food items; health; and mine action.

2 National Programme for disarmament, demobilisation, reinsertion and
reintegration launched

The President of the Republic officially launched the National programme
for demobilisation, reinsertion, and reintegration (DDRR) of Burundi armed
forces and ex rebels in Muramvya Province where a total of 216 former
fighters, five of them women, were demobilised on Thursday 2 December. Ms
Carolyn McAskie, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and
head of the UN Mission in Burundi and President Domitien Ndayizeye burned
100 guns at the demobilisation centre to symbolise the beginning of the
disarmament and demobilisation programme for an estimated 55,000
combatants. The executive secretary of the Demobilisation, Reinsertion and
Reintegration National Commission, Liberat Ntunzwenimana, said the
demobilisation started with volunteers. "Some 1,680 government soldiers
and 2,561 former combatants have already volunteered to be demobilised,"
Ntunzwenimana said. The demobilisation programme will be conducted in
three specific sites: Muramvya, Gitega and Randa (Bubanza Province).

3 Burundian refugee returns update

As of 5 December, UNHCR in Burundi reported 82,085 facilitated and 6,252
spontaneous returns of Burundian refugees since January 2004.

4 Fight against sexual violence: NGO urges multisectoral response

INGO Medecins Sans Frontieres/Belgium in collaboration with human rights
association Iteka held a press conference in which participants discussed
the increasing phenomenon of sexual violence in Burundi. Local pubic news
agency quoted the MSF head of Pompetti suggesting that a multisectoral
response be planned in order to provide medical, legal, cultural and
social assistance. The 16 days of activism against sexual violence
campaign is underway and actions have been scheduled over the reporting
period.

5 December 1: World Day against AIDS celebrated in Burundi

In a statement issued on 30 November, the World Health Organization said
that women and girls living with HIV/AIDS must have access to the
antiretroviral medicines that will save their lives. In Burundi, the Day
was marked by the distribution of aid that was conducted by both
government officials, United Nations agencies (UNICEF and WHO) and the
international NGO World Vision. Patients in three main hospitals of the
capital as well as some 100 women members of the local association against
AIDS of Buterere Zone (Bujumbura Town) received powdered milk, sugar, soap
and clothes.

6 Second phase for the Demobilization and Reintegration of Child Soldiers.

In collaboration with UNICEF, the National Structure for the
Demobilisation and Reintegration of child soldiers launched the second
intensive phase of child soldier demobilization on 6 December. From 6 to
14 December, over 650 children from the ranks of the six armed
movements/political parties signatories of cease-fire agreements with the
Government of Burundi will be demobilized. "The recruitment of children is
one of many violations of children's rights committed in armed conflicts.
These children lost an important part of their childhood and need to be
successfully reintegrated in the community again. UNICEF together with the
Government and the National Structure in close collaboration with the UN
family and NGO partners will follow up on the demobilized children during
18 months and provide basic services such as education, psychosocial
assistance, professional training and income generating activities" said
UNICEF Burundi's Representative Ms. Catherine Mbengue. The demobilized
children will be gathered in Gitega Province for a short transition phase.

Since the launch of the demobilization of child soldiers on 23 January
2004, the National Structure for the Demobilization and Reintegration of
Child Soldiers has demobilized and reintegrated 2,261 children in their
families and communities. Most of these children were in the ranks of the
army and the civil defence force "Gardiens de la Paix". The implementation
of the UNICEF supported project was possible thanks to financial and
technical support by all donors including the World Bank, the Governments
of Belgium, the Netherlands and the Great Britain.

7 WFP food distribution update

>From 22 November till 5 December, the United Nations World Food Programme
has supplied a total 2,571 Mt of food assistance to approximately 293,231
beneficiaries in various provinces and through different programmes.
However, the distribution that was planned for some 43,000 people in
Karusi province was postponed in order to avoid interference with
electoral registration activities.

Within the demobilization programme, the United Nations World Food
Programme started to provide food to the demobilization centres through
which ex-combatants are going to be demobilized before reintegrating their
original communities. In collaboration with UNICEF, WFP also provides food
for demobilized child soldiers. Up to 8,000 child soldiers and their
families will be assisted through this programme. The demobilization
programme is a new component of WFP assistance and will be continued until
the demobilization process is completed.

SECURITY INCIDENTS

Bujumbura Rural: according to Bonesha radio report (26 November), 17 FNL
rebels were killed during combat with the national army on 24 November in
Isale and Kanyosha communes of Bujumbura Rural Province. Persons who were
shortly displaced to Buhonga parish have returned to their collines on 25
November. In Kabezi Commune, the First military region reported that FNL
combatants were captured whilst some who surrendered have remitted their
weapons individually to FAB/FDD positions in Rugembe, Mubone and Ruvyagira
areas.

LATEST EVENTS AND POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS

30 November was the last day for registration for voting, as confirmed by
the National Independent electoral Commission (CENI) through local media.
At the end of its 23rd session, the Implementation Monitoring Committee
(IMC) has called on all Burundians of voting age to register to vote.
Awareness campaign conducted by Burundi's highest authorities urging the
population to enrol for the coming elections. The Head of State was in
Mugina Commune (Cibitoke) where he announced that "every Burundian who
will be 18 years by April 2005 must register to fulfil this civil
obligation".

On 1 December, the Security Council renewed for another six months, until
1 June 2005, the mandate of ONUB, which has been set up in May (resolution
1545) to help cement a multi-party, power-sharing government and pave the
way to peace. Through the unanimous adoption of resolution 1577 (2004),
the Council urged all governments and parties concerned to denounce
violence and incitement, condemn violations of human rights, and actively
cooperate with efforts aimed at ending impunity. Enforcement of the
Statutes of the International Criminal Court starting 1 December will
hopefully lead to the end of impunity in Burundi.

During its tour in the Great Lakes region, the UN Security Council
delegation headed by France's UN Ambassador Jean-Marc de La Sabliere,
visited Burundi from 23 to 25 November. During its three-day visit to
Burundi that aimed to support the transition process in Burundi, the UN
Security Council delegation met with the President of the Republic, the
Vice President and the Minister in charge of Good Governance, political
parties, and civil society associations.

The National Assembly adopted two bills: on the creation of a national
police, and the new national Defence Forces on 24 November.

Alexis Sinduhije, director of private medium "Radio Publique Africaine",
was officially awarded the international prize of press freedom by the
American journalists' organization, "Committee to Protect Journalists."

COORDINATION

IDPs, Ruyigi Province: the National commission for the rehabilitation of
war affected persons (CNRS) has distributed 5 MT food and blankets to IDPs
in Musha on 22 November.

Rutana Province: a coordination meeting was held on Monday 22 November.
Despite efforts made by actors, participants noted that there remain lots
of uncovered needs in food security, education and health sectors.

A working visit was conducted in Cankuzo Province where provincial
administration authorities and humanitarian actors including ACORD and
CORDAID discussed issues related to access to health services and
malnutrition. It was noted that poor/lack of access to health services was
due to poverty and insufficient infrastructure as 5 of 12 health centres
need rehabilitation. Actors in the field also said that signs of
malnutrition were visible.

For further information and contributions to future updates:

Adelaide Habonimana, OCHA Information Unit
E-mail: habonimanaa@un.org

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