OCHA Situation Report
Burundi
4 - 10 April 2005


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Highlights

Refugees: UNHCR issued a communique announcing the resumption of its
activities in Gihinga refugees camp in Mwaro province and in Gasorwe
camp in Muyinga province. Activities were suspended for a few days after
the accidental death of a Congolese refugee on 31 March. IMC
(International Medical Corps) and NRC (Norwegian Refugees Council) both
resumed support to the Gihinga refugees this week.

World Health Day: 7 April ceremony. 2005 World Health Day was dedicated
to mother and child health. President Ndayizeye visited the Murama
health centre in Muyinga province, where a project of emergency
obstetrical services, part of the Health and Reproduction National
Programme, was launched. The President declared that the current Health
policy should adjust to the population financial limited resources.
UNICEF, WHO, WFP and UNFPA issued a communique introducing an
experimental programme of supplementary feeding for pregnant women in
Makamba, Kirundo, and Muyinga province. Within the framework of the
Extended Programme on Immunization, the Pentavalent vaccine in a single
injection will be used in health centres across Burundi. 300,000
children will then benefit every year from a complete vaccination dose
against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping-cough, hepatitis B and
haemophilius influenzae type B, all this in addition to the customary
vaccines such as BCG, and vaccines against measles and poliomyelitis.

Activities and Updates

Food aid distribution update: Last week, the WFP ensured distribution of
more than 1,617 tons of food assistance to more than 167,000
beneficiaries countrywide and through various programmes.

+ WFP has temporarily suspended targeted distributions in Kabezi
commune, Bujumbura Rural, on account of the obvious traffic of food
items. This measure will be extended to every commune where this kind of
mismanagement is conspicuous. Local administration might be implicated,
according to WFP. However, other programmes like nutritional feeding
with wet and dry rations under family feeding, assistance to vulnerable
in social centres, to HIV/AIDS affected and infected persons continue to
save the poorest.

+ WFP also launched the 'Mother/Child/Health' programme in Muyinga and
more than 4,000 pregnant and nursing women have been assisted during the
week. This programme will be extended to Kirundo and Makamba provinces.
Moreover, important quantities of food assistance were released under
the Food for Work/Training programmes implemented in Rutana, Cankuzo,
Muyinga, Kayanza, Ngozi, Kirundo and Gitega provinces, currently
considered most affected by hunger.

+ In view of the opening of the secondary school feeding programme in
the coming days, WFP has also trained all the storekeepers of the
boarded secondary schools on food management and storage. The training
was organised to ensure WFP food is well distributed in these
institutions.

Non-Food items distribution: CRS plan to implement a non-food items
distribution towards 902 IDPs households, originating from Mutimbuzi
commune, Bujumbura Rural. Their land plots have been occupied by Camp
Espoir.

+ CRS Seed fair US$ 400,000 project reached the most vulnerable
households, with a particular focus on the Northern provinces of Kirundo
and Muyinga. Bubanza, Gitega, Rutana, and Ruyigi have also been
targeted. Under this innovative approach, vulnerable families access
seeds with a clear individual empowerment strategy. Caritas-Burundi and
Tear Fund UK partner with CRS in the seed fair project.

Movements of population: Further movements of population were registered
in Ruyigi province last week. 418 people arrived at the Kabuyenge IDPs
site on Tuesday and Thursday. The Governor of Ruyigi has asked for a
political decision at the central government level to stop these
movements, and has announced that his administration would not support
their long-term resettlement in Ruyigi. Amongst the displaced, only 38
families expressed a desire to return to Kirundo, while the vast
majority said they would rather go to Tanzania. WFP is to continue food
aid in the Kabuyenge site.

Refugee returns: As of 10 April, UNHCR reports 8,587 facilitated and 787
spontaneous returnees. Total: 9,374 returnees.

Security and access

Bujumbura Rural: Alleged FNL attacks continued unabated during the
reporting week. Nevertheless, humanitarian support by INGOs was not
noticeably hampered. Civilian protection remains of concern while
Security System Reform (SSR) process is underway and integrated FDN
forces replace. As a result of the attacks and pressure on civilians,
overnight displacements were reported. Population's fear and weariness
are clearly growing as the security situation worsens, which may lead to
more population displacements.

Coordination

Contact Group meeting: Held on 6 April. ICRC introduced its mandate,
organisation, and activities in Burundi. Elizabeth Twinch, ICRC delegate
restated the strictly humanitarian mandate and constructive/persuasive
rather than denunciation approach. Main activities include victims
protection, assistance and prevention; visits to inmates to improve the
conditions of detention and prevent ill-treatment; gender based and
health activities; economic security (seeds and cattle distribution,
marshes development, etc); water and sanitation and dissemination of
International Humanitarian Law.

Bujumbura Rural meetings: Further to the unstable humanitarian situation
in Bujumbura Rural, the morning coordination meeting at OCHA resume on a
daily basis.

Focal point: Next Focal Point meeting in Bururi province will be held on
19 April at 10AM.

Vulnerability Analysis and Mapping (VAM): The French version of WFP
Vulnerability Analysis and Mapping (December 2004) was issued last week.
Its findings and detailed results allow a better understanding of rural
population food security status, needs and coping mechanisms developed
at the household's level. This key document for humanitarian planning
and programming is available through OCHA's web site
(www.ochaburundi.org).

For Information

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

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