OCHA Situation Report
Burundi
21 - 27 March 2005


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Highlights

Assistance to IDPs in Ruyigi: the Minister of Reintegration of
Reinsertion of War affected persons visited the displaced persons from
Burundi's northern provinces - Kirundo mainly -who are hosted in
Kabuyenge IDP site, in Gisuru Commune. On this occasion, assistance
including food aid and non food items was distributed to both the
displaced persons from Kirundo and the host families in the site. In
this regard, humanitarian actors in the province including UNICEF, OCHA,
UNHCR, MSF-Holland, ACF, AAB and local NGO SOPRAD continue to bring
their assistance to these needy persons.

22 March: World Water Day. The day was celebrated worldwide, which
marked the launching of the International Decade for Activities
2005-2015 supporting the theme "Water, source of life". In Burundi, NGO
Solidarites produced a broadcast programme aimed at raising awareness on
the management and ownership of water facilities by the communities and
sanitation issues.

In order to contribute to the reduction of infant-juvenile mortality and
morbidity due to unsafe water and poor hygiene, through a communique
issued on 24 March, UNICEF committed to improve access to clean water
and sanitation services at community level, in schools and in health
centres. UNICEF actions will be implemented in needy targeted provinces
including areas of return bordering with Tanzania and will meet the
needs of both displaced and repatriated persons in terms of hygiene and
drinking water. Nearly 290,000 persons and social services in the
covered zones will benefit from these actions in a permanent and
sustainable manner in 2005. To this end, the UNICEF Water and Sanitation
Programme will be implemented in synergy with other UNICEF programmes
and in collaboration with sector partners including UNHCR, UNDP and
NGOs. Further to this, the Water and Sanitation Programme will remain a
key component of UNICEF's contingency plans and will be paid special
attention in case of emergency crisis.

Activities

Food aid distribution update: during the reporting period, the World
Food Programme distributed more than 2,059 Mt of food aid to 252,395
beneficiaries in different areas of the country. However, some small
scale distributions continue to take place in areas where distributions
had been cancelled due to insecurity. Seeds Protection Rations (SPR)
programme for agricultural season 2005B has now been completed in most
parts of the country. More than 745 Mt of SPR were distributed in
Karusi, Makamba, Bururi, Mwaro, Cibitoke, Bujumbura Rural and Kayanza
provinces.

Demobilization activities continue. On 25 March, 25 child soldiers who
were assembled in the Buramata (Bubanza) cantonment site were
demobilized through the national programme for the demobilization,
reintegration and reinsertion of demobilized. They are currently in the
demobilization centre of Muramvya where they follow reinsertion session.

Nutrition: during the nutrition meeting held on 24 March, participants
discussed support to supplementary feeding centres implemented
nationwide. Participants included UNICEF, OMS, WFP, OCHA, ECHO, GVC,
Concern, MSF and Cordaid. In Makamba Province, two communes (Kayogoro
and Nyanza Lac) show a high number of beneficiaries. Cordaid expressed
concern as it will remain alone in the sector when the time for MSF to
withdraw comes.

Whilst the main problem is thought to be health based, issues pertaining
to the weak impact of the nutrition programme will be discussed in
another meeting. With regard to the provinces of Rutana, Ruyigi,
Kayanza, Ngozi, Kirundo and Muyinga, a general improvement was noted.
The situation is rather stable.

The results of the nutrition survey that covered 480 collines as sample
are under finalization. They will feed in the analysis and
recommendations of the joint inter-agency health evaluation.

Refugee returns: As of 27 March, UNHCR reports 7,776 facilitated and 747
spontaneous returnees. Total: 8,523 returnees.

Coordination

The weekly Contact Group meeting was held on 23 March under the
chairmanship of the UNHCR Representative and Humanitarian Coordinator
a.i, Kaba-Guichard Neyaga. UNDP presented its 2005-2007 cooperation
strategy, which covers funding priorities, national priorities, UNDAF
and main programme orientations. Throughout 2005-2007, UNDP will operate
in the fight against poverty, democratic governance, energy/environment,
HIV/AIDS and crisis prevention and recovery.

For Information:

Adelaide Habonimana, Assistant Information Officer
PH: (257) 910 196
E-mail: habonimanaa@un.org

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