OCHA Situation Report
Burundi
22 - 28 May 2006


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

HIGHLIGHTS

Torrential rains: According to a preliminary report by the National
Coordinator for Disaster Response and Preparedness dated 26 May, a total
of 46 casualties have been recorded since the rains started in late
April. Local authorities claimed that 6,690 houses were completely
destroyed and that 33,096 households are in need of assistance. This
remains to be verified by the National Coordinator and humanitarian
agencies.  The entire plain of Gihanga stretching over 12 km was
inundated and the cemetery of Mpanda (see below) was flooded. ONUB
engineers cleared the cemetery and repaired a bridge on the main road
connection to Cibitoke. Further to an assessment mission conducted by
WHO on 18 May and in order to prevent outbreaks of epidemics, Burundi
Red Cross volunteers assisted with the disinfection of tombs, exhumed
bodies and all around.

Forced Returns from Tanzania: UNHCR Burundi confirmed the arrival of 387
Burundians on 24 May at the Burundian-Tanzanian border in Muyinga. This
is the result of the Government of Tanzania recently having started to
crack down on illegal immigrants from Burundi who reside and are
gainfully employed in Tanzanian villages. Whereas some returned directly
to Burundi as they were expelled from said villages, others made their
way to Lukole refugee camp seeking assistance from UNHCR. A total of 500
arrived over the last two weeks. UNHCR registered and screened. The
agency, however, found that they were not eligible for international
protection. Of this group 387 were forced back to Burundi whilst the
remainder fled the camp prior to deportation.

Rwandan Asylum Seeker returns: As of 24 May, the total number of returns
to Rwanda stands at 1,805 Rwandan Asylum seekers including 1,679
voluntary returns and 126 whose refugee status application was rejected.
As of today, out of 2,127 Rwandan Asylum Seekers who went through the
refugee status determination process, 68 were offered the refugee status
and transferred to the Giharo refugee camp (Rutana). In order to speed
up the process, the Burundian Government accepted to assign 8 additional
legal experts to the existing refugee status determination teams.

ACTIVITIES AND UPDATES

Food aid update: WFP Country Office (CO) distributed 1,491 MT of food
aid to 172,799 beneficiaries through its various feeding programmes
supported by its partners including German Agro-Action (AAA), Tearfund,
World Vision and CARE International. Further to torrential rains in
April and May, WFP already assisted parts of the affected population
through targeted distributions in Gihanga commune (Bubanza). WFP teams
also concluded the validation of beneficiary lists in Mpanda (Bubanza).

Food Security: Over the reporting week, FAO/Emergency Coordination Unit
reported a new type of caterpillar which ravaged crop fields. This new
type known as Hyppotia Celerio affects leafy plants and cereal crop
fields including rice, wheat and maize. A sub category was reported in
Bugabira (Kirundo) where potato fields were devastated. FAO/ECU has
initiated close surveillance and is ready to provide assistance such as
pesticides if need be.  Meanwhile, despite an estimated 15% loss in
swamp based harvests subsequent to the recent torrential rains, the
2006B agricultural season is still expected to be the best mid-year
harvest since 2004. According to preliminary findings of the joint OCHA,
WFP and FAO mission in areas affected by the torrential rains, the loss
is localized and will have a rather low impact. However, in some areas
like Rutana Province the bean crops in particular have been seriously
damaged. Evaluations of the 2006B harvest which are underway are
expected to yield a more comprehensive picture.

Repatriation, reintegration: Over the reporting week, UNHCR facilitated
the return of 264 Burundians and assisted another 6 spontaneous
returnees. As of 28 May, UNHCR had repatriated 4,062 Burundian refugees
including 3,901 facilitated and 161 spontaneous. Within its
habitat/reintegration project, UNHCR will assist 16,300 families with
the reconstruction of a house throughout 2006. The identification of
beneficiaries has been concluded.

SGBV: The national NGO Nturengaho held a two-day sensitization session
(22-23 May) for 20 staff from the National Police on prevention of
sexual violence and assistance to SGBV victims. Participants recommended
extending sensitization activities nationwide in order to encourage the
population to report cases immediately to the police. During the
reporting period, the NGO furthermore assisted 3 rape victims and
referred another one to legal experts for counsel.

SECURITY AND COORDINATION

Security, Bubanza: FNL rebels allegedly ambushed an FDN (National
Defense Forces) patrol in Kagwema area in Gihanga commune on 21 May. One
soldier was wounded and household goods looted. Further to increasing
cases of looting attributed to FNL rebels in Musigati commune on 23-24
May, National Defense Forces (FDN) shelled FNL positions in the Kibira
forest. Ten (10) FNL rebels were killed and two FDN soldiers wounded in
a landmine explosion. On 24 May, two persons - a civilian from Cibitoke
and an FDN soldier (in Musaga commune, Bujumbura Mairie) were shot dead
in separate incidents. Perpetrators remain unidentified.

Coordination: During the reporting week concluding sectoral
consultations were held for the mid-year review of the Consolidated
Appeal (CAP) by the lead agencies.  On 22 May a high level UN mission
led by the Assistant Administrator of UNDP, Mr Gilbert Houngbo, to
hammer out the details of the UN structures in Burundi to follow the
departure of the peacekeeping mission ONUB scheduled to leave at the end
of the year.

For more information: Adelaide Habonimana, E-mail: habonimanaa@un.org,
Tel: (257) 910 196

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