OCHA Situation Report
Burundi
19 - 25 June 2006


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

HIGHLIGHTS

Update on food security: The National Aid Coordination Committee (CNCA)
and UN agencies - FAO/Emergency Rehabilitation Coordination Unit, WFP,
UNICEF and OCHA jointly held a "Cafe de Presse" on 20 June. It was aimed
at sensitizing the Burundian media towards relief and recovery
activities undertaken by all involved partners further to the food
insecurity which was declared by the Government in five Northern
provinces.

The cafe de presse was particularly important in a context where
humanitarian assistance remains necessary to safe lives and where NGOs
still play a critical role. Presentations revolved around the food aid
and seeds distribution interventions carried out in the first half of
2006 and the outlook for the remainder of the year including elements on
the response to rains and floods.

Health, measles vaccination campaign: From 19 to 23 June the Burundi
Ministry of Health (MoH) conducted a "Measles vaccination campaign"
nationwide supported by UNICEF and WHO. The objective of the vaccination
campaign was to contribute to the reduction of the mortality rate by
reaching 95% of coverage for measles vaccination for children under
five. This vaccination campaign was coupled with the distribution of
vitamin A to children for the same age plus a distribution of deworming
drugs to children. The target population for the campaign was estimated
to 1,117,400 children and early feedback from the MoH and UNCEF has
indicated a strong attendance at all public health centers throughout
the country.

ACTIVITIES AND UPDATES

Food Security: Rehabilitation of the food security sector continues
through various activities aimed at generating income for the vulnerable
again after over ten years of insecurity and subsequent poverty. To this
end, FAO representative in Burundi and the FAO /Emergency Rehabilitation
Coordinator provisionally handed over drying trays and smoke curing oven
to target beneficiaries living along Lake Tanganyika in Gatumba
(Mutimbuzi) and Nyamugari (Kabezi) in Bujumbura Rural on 21 June. A
fishing kit will be distributed after final handover. Around 1,000
fishers from Gatumba, Nyamugari, Gitaza and Magara who are gathered into
associations and whose members were affected by the crisis will be able
to start up income generating activities and therefore meet basic needs.
This will be the first equipment provided since the last equipment was
destroyed during the war.

Repatriation of Rwandan Asylum Seeker: Over the last week, a total of
1,000 Rwandan asylum seekers voluntarily returned to their home country
with the facilitation from UNHCR through GTZ. There remain 14,800
persons in the sites of Songore and Musasa. However, the trend of a
certain number of persons who have enrolled for return but who fail to
show up on the day of transfer is of concern. To address the issue,
sensitization sessions will be organized throughout the site.

Burundians expelled from Tanzania: During the last week, the
governmental project for repatriation and reintegration (PARESI)
supported by UNHCR confirmed the forced return of 25 Burundians from
Tanzania. In collaboration with local authorities, the Burundi Red Cross
volunteers provided assistance with registration and transport of the
returnees to their communes of origin. Some of the ones who arrived last
week came from Mwumba in Ngozi (7) and the others (18) from Muyinga. As
of today, PARESI has recorded a total of 790 expelled persons who
arrived through the entry points of Kobero, Gisuru and Makamba since
early May.

IDPs reintegration: Further to the IDP survey completed by OCHA in 2005,
OCHA regularly organizes follow up missions in IDP sites. Over the week
under review, OCHA visited Mubanga and Ruhororo IDP sites in Ruhororo
commune (Ngozi). Main findings were the confirmation that most IDPs have
preferred to stay in sites-villages and have further integrated with
neighboring communities, for example by being elected in last year local
polls. This trend shows that in many places we should rethink our
approach to these issues and even stop using stereotypes such as 'IDP'
or 'site' as these words do not necessarily reflect evolving situations.

CARE and Red Cross training for volunteers in Bujumbura rural: In
partnership with CARE, the Burundi Red Cross branch of Bujumbura Rural
organized a training session for volunteers in Bugarama and Muhuta
communes over targeting techniques of most vulnerable persons on
community level. A group of 10 volunteers were trained in each commune.
The training still has to cover Mubimbi commune and will be concluded on
7 July.

Non Food Items: Further to a request by a local association comprised of
vulnerable persons supported by Caritas Burundi, CRS distributed non
food items to 3,604 vulnerable families from Muramvya and Mwaro through
Kiganda parish.

New bacteria threatening banana plants in Burundi: Crop pests continue
to be reported in the Great Lakes Region. After the cassava mosaic, a
new bacteria known as Xanthonomas which was first reported in Uganda
(2000), East DRC (2004) Tanzania, and Rwanda this year is a threat for
Burundi. Although research has not yet confirmed its presence in
Burundi, the risk of spreading across the country remains high due to
cross border movements of people and exchange of goods with neighboring
countries which have already been affected. In case of confirmation,
researchers affirm that the production can be affected by 70%. So far no
resistant type of banana plant has been found yet; the only way to
combat the disease is the destruction of affected plants. Meanwhile no
significant success has yet been registered in the fight against the
cassava.

Repatriation: Over the reporting week, UNHCR reported a total of 380
Burundians who returned from Tanzania including 378 facilitated and 2
spontaneous. In 2006, UNHCR has recorded 5,558 returnees of whom 5,395
were facilitated and 163 spontaneous. In Ruyigi province, UNHCR
registered 208 returnees and 43 illegal immigrants who had fled food
insecurity towards Tanzania end of 2005. 39 among the 43 were
transferred to Kirundo their commune of origin against their will as
they wanted to join the 102 families who had settled in Kabuyenge
(Gisuru, Ruyigi) after they had fled food insecurity around December
2004.

SECURITY AND COORDINATION

Security: Security: cases of armed banditry have reportedly increased in
Ruyigi and Gitega. On 18 June, armed persons broke into a bar and stole
goods and money. On 19 June, a civilian originating from Gahemba area at
9 Km away from Ruyigi Town centre was shot dead by an armed person who
then stole the victim's bicycle. According to the local authority,
investigations are underway. The situation of insecurity due to armed
banditry was also reported in Burundi' central province of Gitega where
armed bandits have perpetrated three attacks successively.

Coordination: OCHA participated in a workshop held by UNICEF on
emergency preparedness response plan (22-23 June) in order to respond
timely and efficiently in case of emergency situations affecting
children and their mothers. OCHA shared its expertise in coordination
and quick evaluation.

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

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