OCHA Situation Report
Burundi
14 - 20 November 2005


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

ACTIVITIES AND UPDATES

Food security: The food security situation in Burundi is deteriorating;
particularly in the northern and eastern provinces.  This is the result
of a combination of factors. Further to poor rainfalls the usual lean
period has been prolonged. At the same time shock absorption capacity is
reduced due to cassava mosaic disease and bad harvests in mid 2005.

Health:

Cholera: The epidemic which broke out in the communes of Nyanza Lac
(Makamba province) and Rumonge (Bururi province) has now been brought
under control due to coordinated efforts of health partners including
the provincial health authorities, UN agencies (UNICEF, WHO, OCHA) and
NGOs (IRC, CORDAID, GTZ). Since the beginning of the epidemic, a total
of 383 cases (195 in Nyanza-Lac and 188 in Rumonge) including 8 deaths
had been recorded. No additional case was reported during the reporting
period.

In Gitega and Mwaro provinces, IMC had to stop medical activities in
September 2005 due to a lack in funding.

Education: Further to the introduction of free universal primary
education as of the current school year there are still a number of
unmet needs in terms of classrooms in Bujumbura Rural, Bubanza and
Cibitoke provinces. Humanitarian actors in these provinces will meet to
discuss immediate interventions to address the issue of classroom
availability.

Refugees:

Repatriation: As of 19 November, UNHCR had repatriated 65,426 refugees
including 63,981 facilitated and 1,445 spontaneous returnees. Compared
to the statistics of previous weeks, there is a decrease in returns. The
reasons for this slowing of the repatriation process are not known.

Influx: The number of Congolese refugees arriving in the Cibitoke
province has risen again after UNHCR reported a first transfer of 98
refugees to Gasorwe camp (Muyinga province) on 11 November.

Food aid distribution: During the last week, WFP distributed 1,378 MT of
food aid to 167,308 beneficiaries.

PROTECTION, SECURITY AND ACCESS

Internal Displacement: Some of the inhabitants in Bugarama (Bujumbura
Rural) were reportedly displaced to Muhuzu area (Rumonge Commune,
Bururi) due to fighting between FNL rebels and the National Defence
Forces (FDN). Night displacements have also been reported in the areas
around Bugarama, which affected the distribution of non food items which
was planned by the INGO OAP. Night displacements have also been reported
in Muyebe, Kivyuka and Ntamba in Musigati Commune in Bubanza Province.

Human rights violations: Arrests of persons suspected of collaborating
with the FNL rebel movement continued throughout the reporting period.
The communes most affected by this were Nyabiraba, Kanyosha and
Mutimbuzi. Allegations continued over acts of targeted killings of
civilians and local authorities by the FNL movement on the one hand and
of summary executions of supposed FNL rebels committed by FDN on the
other..

In Mutambu Commune (Bujumbura Rural), 5 persons were reportedly killed
by FNL rebels. Another person was shot dead as he tried to run away from
a military patrol in Buhonga, Kanyosha Commune. In Musigati Commune
(Bubanza), household items and livestock were reportedly looted by FNL
rebels.

Access: Despite persisting insecurity, humanitarian actors could access
all communes in Bujumbura Rural and Bubanza except for Musigati commune
where clashes between FNL rebels and the National Defence Forces were
reported on 14 November. Three pupils who were abducted by the rebels
during the attack were released in military operations that followed.

COORDINATION

Public Information - 16 days of activism against sexual violence: This
year the campaign in Burundi will carry the theme "Let us protect minors
against sexual violence". It will be launched by the Minister of
National Solidarity, Human Rights and Gender. Actors active in this
sector will complete a series of activities nationwide. The campaign
will draw to a close on 10 December in Ruyigi where partners involved in
the fight against sexual violence will participate in a march aimed at
raising awareness among the local population. Between January and
October 2005, the MSF-Belgium supported "Centre Seruka" for treatment of
victims of sexual violence has reported a total of recorded 1,247 rape
cases in the whole of Burundi

For Information

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

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Appropriate Donations for International Disaster/Humanitarian Needs
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Center for International                  web: www.cidi.org
    Disaster Information             listserv: www.cidi.org/listsub.htm
                                   guidelines: www.cidi.org/donate.htm
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -