OCHA Situation Report
Burundi
9 - 22 May 2005


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

HIGHLIGHTS

Update on humanitarian assistance to Rwandese asylum seekers in Burundi:
sensitization sessions by the Rwanda-Burundi joint committee have
continued and response was extremely timid in terms of return with
unconfirmed results during the reporting period. Cases of forced
repatriation were reported and only a few hundreds of returns to Rwanda
were registered.

By mid-May, all sites except Marangara (Ngozi Province) were deserted.
Only around 2,000 people were remaining in the transit centres of
Cankuzo Ttown (Cankuzo Province) and Songore (Ngozi Province). On
Saturday (21 May), Rwandan asylum seekers started to massively come back
to Busiga and Mwumba (Ngozi). As of today, there are, again,
approximately 7,000 asylum seekers from Rwanda in Burundi. Most of the
newcomers have received little or no assistance and are in great need of
shelter, access to water and latrines. Following a health assessment
conducted by MSF, the limited access to water and latrines on some sites
could cause serious sanitary problems. Free access to some local health
centres has been provided, while forbidden in some others. On 20 May,
local authorities in Mihigo and Gatsinda (Ngozi Province) allowed the
construction of shelter and latrines to accommodate asylum seekers
temporarily.

On 16 May, UNHCR and OCHA met with the Minister of Public Security to
address concerns about the treatment of the asylum seekers. UNHCR
underlined that in order to allow a proper assistance of the asylum
seekers it would be advisable to transfer them further inland. The
Minister of Public Security replied that the asylum seekers must be
assisted where they currently are and that the GoB does not have the
intention to recognise them as refugees. The meeting between Rwanda and
Burundi planned on 20 May to reassess the outcome of the sensitization
sessions has been postponed for the second time to 25 May.

ACTIVITIES AND UPDATES

Habitat, assistance to affected persons: efforts are deployed to provide
shelter to war affected persons in Ruyigi and Rutana provinces, which
are among provinces of the biggest caseload of returns. In Ruyigi, a
total of 4,000 houses are under construction in Butezi and Butaganzwa
communes by various partners supported by UNHCR and the German supported
project (APRS/GTZ). In Rutana, UNHCR/GTZ has completed identification of
2,000 beneficiaries (returnees) of houses in Bukemba, Gitanga, Rutana
and Musongati.

Food aid distribution update: during the week of 16-22 May, the WFP
Country office (CO) distributed 1,497 Mt of food aid to 180,534
beneficiaries through various feeding programmes (feeding centres, food
for work, and assistance to persons living with AIDS-PLWA). Displaced
persons in Ruyigi from Northern provinces continue to be assisted
through the targeted distribution.

Refugee returns: As of 19 May, UNHCR reports 11,505 facilitated and 836
spontaneous returnees. Total: 12,341 returnees.

SECURITY AND ACCESS

Bujumbura Rural: provincial administrations authorities have reported
killings blamed on unknown groups in Mubimbi, Kanyosha, and Isale. On 10
May, 4 persons including a CNDD-FDD ex combatant were killed due to
alleged collaboration with FDN.

Cankuzo: in spite of cases of armed banditry that are reported during
the night, there is no problem of access.

COORDINATION

During the last weekly Contact Group meeting held on 18 May, ONUB
electoral unit and the Security Services Reform/Demobilization,
Disarmament and Reintegration (SSR/DDR) presented updates on the
progress of elections and DDR programme. The meeting was chaired by
Ibrahima D. Fall, Humanitarian Coordinator.

Assistance to the vulnerable in Bujumbura Rural: WFP distributed food
aid to 3,000 displaced persons in Tenga, Mutimbuzi Commune. CRS also
distributed non food items to persons who either recently returned to
their collines of origin or whose property has been looted. OAP NGO
continues with activities aiming at construction of houses for orphans.
A hundred houses will be allocated to each commune. Identification of
beneficiaries in Isale Commune is finished.

Bujumbura Rural: during the daily meeting that was held on 19 May,
provincial actors discussed the landmine presence in the province. The
head of the UNICEF funded Mine project indicated that Bujumbura Rural is
among provinces at risk due to landmines. These include Ruyigi, Bubanza,
Rutana and Makamba.

Makamba: the protection sectoral group held its meeting on 18 May. On
the agenda: exchange on activities undertaken in this sector.
Participants included: HR/ONUB, NRC, Governmental project aiming at
education and prevention against landmines, Handicap International
Belgium, Dan Church Aid, SFCG, UNHCR and Reinsertion cell (CIR) and
OCHA.

CAP 2005 mid-year review: sectoral meetings aiming at the review of the
strategy/fiches de projets have been finalised. OCHA will soon circulate
draft document to partner organisations.

Agricultural Coordination Committee: FAO/ Emergency Coordination Unit
(FAO/ECU)and partner organizations met in their regular agricultural
coordination meeting and discussed progress of season 2005-B.
Participants expressed concern over this season crop yield, which may
not meet food security needs. Due to drought and poor rains, season
2005-B is expected to be worse than season 2004-B. In addition, the
cassava type that is resistant to the cassava disease is not yet
available in necessary quantities. FAO/ECU, WFP, UNICEF and the ministry
of Agriculture will jointly conduct an evaluation of this season crops
and food supply.

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

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