OCHA Situation Report
Burundi
12 - 18 December 2005


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

ACTIVITIES AND UPDATES
Health:

On 17 November first reported a cholera outbreak in Rugombo commune 
(Cibitoke province). At the end of the reporting week the total number 
of cases reported since the outbreak climbed to 73 and 3 deaths. WHO was 
supporting the Ministry of Health (Cellule de la Lutte contre les 
Maladies Transmissibles et Carentielles) in its intervention. The 
cholera outbreaks in Rumobge commune (Bururi province) and Nyanza-Lac 
commune (Makamba province) have been brought under control.

The rise in Malaria cases continued. All provinces are affected, 
however, only in the commune of Gahombo (Kayanza province) has the 
threshold for an epidemic been crossed so far. The Ministry of Health, 
provincial health authorities (BPS) and WHO are coordinating the 
response which is supported by MSF-H, MSF-B, JVIS, Cordaid, Handicap-F, 
ACF and UNICEF.

Returnees:

UNHCR reported the facilitated return of 324 Burundian refugees during 
the reporting period. Another 105 returned spontaneously. As of 18 
December the total number of returns in 2005 (facilitated + spontaneous) 
is 67,560.

On 15 December UNHCR officially handed over 1,500 houses to Burundian 
authorities in Kirundo and Muyinga as well as one primary school in 
Kabirizi (Kirundo). This brought the total number of houses to 18,000 
and schools to 13 constructed by UNHCR and its partners in 2005.

Refugees / Asylum Seekers:

Development of the transit site Musasa (Ngozi province) which will be 
used for the refugee status determination of Rwandan Asylum Seekers 
advanced. The first hangars and water and sanitation facilities were 
built by NRC and IRC. UNHCR and the Government put together joint 
refugee status determination teams which continued to compile lists for 
the swift processing of claims upon transfer of asylum seekers to 
Musasa.

In an unrelated development, the Governor of Cibitoke province announced 
to expel all illegal Rwandans and Congolese by 15 January 2006 some of 
whom have been in the province since 1994. The main reason cited was 
security, as they are suspected of supporting and accommodating FDLR 
rebels in the area. UNHCR was called on for support and is investigating 
the cases to ensure compliance with relevant international conventions.

Furthermore, some 150 Congolese refugees staged a protest outside UNHCR 
on 12 December to complain about their destitute. They demanded 
assistance from the organization whilst refusing to relocate to refugee 
camps fearing a repeat of the 2004 attack on Gatumba. Refugee delegates 
met with the UNHCR Representative who explained that assistance could 
only be made available in the two camps (in the provinces of Muyinga and 
Mwaro). The refugees continued a sit-in until 16 December.

Food Security Situation:

Certain communes in Kirundo, Cankuzo Ruyigi and Rutana continued to 
suffer from food shortages. Local authorities and NGOs in Ruyigi 
launched a separate warning about the seriousness of the prevailing 
situation in the province. Delayed rains (by 2 months) and the spreading 
cassava 'mosaic' disease put 14 zones at moderate and elevated risk, 
particularly in the communes of Gisuru, Butaganzwa and Bweru. In 
response WFP in partnership with CARE distributed supplementary 10 day 
rations, whereas FAO supplied additional seeds (mainly sorghum).

Food Aid Distribution:

WFP Country Office (CO) distributed 641 MT of food aid to 77,917 
beneficiaries nationwide. Food aid distributed includes maize, beans and 
oil. WFP also publicly validated beneficiary lists in five communes in 
Karuzi and Cankuzo provinces.

Education:

Coordination of efforts to support the Government's policy of free and 
unrestricted access to primary education continued between Ministries, 
donors and UN agencies. In a joint update on 16 December it was reported 
that the Ministry of Education (MINEDUC) was able to recruit 60% of the 
5,315 teachers needed. 2,000 teachers who lack the necessary 
qualifications will be trained before Christmas. A total of 427,000 
school books were made available which represents 30% of the needs. 
UNICEF and its partners continue to set up temporary tented class rooms. 
MINEDUC and UNICEF were also conducting a study looking into a 
rehabilitation and construction programme covering the period from 2006 
to 2008.

PROTECTION, SECURITY AND ACCESS

Protection and Access:

In Bujumbura Rural two reception sites will be kept for ex-FNL (Buramata 
and Gakungwe) which serve as assembly point (incl. shelter) rather than 
detention facilities. The first tents were put up in Gakungwe on 15 
December. These sites are intended for persons with a military or 
political background who surrender to the authorities in the area. 
According to officials it is not meant for the civilian population 
including those who publicly dissociate themselves from the 
FNL-PALIPEHUTU movement.

In Kabezi an acute lack of judiciary police was flagged up which means 
that prisoners kept in local detention facilities (cachot) for presumed 
collaboration with FNL can only processed with extreme delays. OHCHR and 
ONUB (Human Rights) have conducted missions to the area.

Public Information:

On 14 December OCHA in collaboration with humanitarian agencies 
organized a joint presentation to the local media of the Consolidated 
Appeal (CAP) for Burundi for 2006.

Coordination:

The 2nd Humanitarian Committee was convened on 15 December. The main 
issue presented and discussed was the humanitarian reform and its 
implications.

NB: OCHA Burundi will move premises from 27 to 30 December and therefore 
suspend all activities between including the weekly situation report. A 
consolidated report covering two weeks will be sent out in the first 
week of January. Thank you for your understanding.

For more information:

Volker Schimmel
Associate Humanitarian Affairs Officer (Information)
Tel: (257) 21 80 34
E-mail: schimmelv@un.org

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