OCHA Situation Report
Burundi
20 - 26 February 2006


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

HIGHLIGHTS

Food insecurity: The situation remains disconcerting in several
provinces due to severe food shortages. In Cankuzo province, further
movements to Tanzania were reported. Further to the ongoing food
insecurity situation, the Government issued a decree setting up a food
security fund as part of the national solidarity effort. The collected
amount is intended to procure food in order to assist the most
vulnerable population in the five most affected provinces which were
declared such by the Government in the aforementioned decree. These
include Kirundo, Muyinga, Cankuzo, Ruyigi and Rutana. Further efforts to
respond towards national solidarity are ongoing. Over the reporting
period, the Burundi National Red Cross collected over 30MT of food aid
from the community in Muramvya and handed them to the affected persons
of Gisuru and Butaganzwa communes (Ruyigi).

Rwandan Asylum Seekers: As of 24 February, UNHCR reported 20,643 Rwandan
Asylum Seekers. The agency still has to register over half of them. The
extension of Musasa site (Ngozi province) continued. A humanitarian
assessment mission was carried out to Musasa on 22 February.

ACTIVITIES AND UPDATES

Health:

- Cholera update: The situation is largely under control in Cibitoke and
Bururi. During the reporting week only two cases were registered at the
public health facility of Bujumbura Mairie. Meanwhile, three suspected
cases were reported in Gihanga (Bubanza). No further cholera cases were
transferred to the treatment centre of Kamenge (Bujumbura Mairie) from
Bujumbura Rural. All suspected cases from Mutimbuzi commune (Bujumbura
Rural) were admitted at Maramvya health centre supported by the
International NGO GVC. In order to improve access to potable water in
the health centre of Maramvya (Bujumbura Rural) ONUB provides water
through a bladder system installed by UNICEF.

- Malaria: Further to reports of increasing malaria cases in Buganda and
Murwi communes (Cibitoke) there is a growing need to ensure close
follow-up in order to prevent an epidemic.

Food security, agricultural season2006B: The UN agencies FAO/Emergency
Coordination Unit, WFP and their respective partners continued to
provide assistance to the worst affected parts of the population through
the distribution of seeds and seed protection rations in targeted
provinces over the reporting week. FAO/ECU provided additional potato
cuttings to beneficiaries for the 2006B season in the five provinces
declared most affected by the Government.

Food aid distribution: WFP distributed 1,424 MT of food aid to 262,614
beneficiaries. As part of stepped up efforts for the 2006B season, a
total of 3,585 MT out of an available 5,428 MT of seed protection
rations have been distributed since the beginning of the season.

Returnees: During the reporting week, UNHCR has repatriated 222
returnees including 128 facilitated and 94 spontaneous. As of 26
February, UNHCR had registered 1,697 Burundians returning form exile,
including 1,577 facilitated and 120 spontaneous returns.

Education: During the provincial coordination meeting held at Gitega (23
February) communal administrators of Gishubi and Bukirasazi appealed for
urgent assistance for the rehabilitation of primary schools of Remera,
Mugaruro, Ruyengo and Buhanda. Otherwise, roofs risk collapsing.

PROTECTION, ACCESS AND SECURITY

During the reporting week, despite significant improvement of access to
different areas of Bujumbura Rural province, caution was recommended in
Mubimbi commune especially in the area bordering the Kibira forest.
Local authorities however recommended restricted access to 7 collines of
Muhuta commune.

Violations of human rights continued to be reported: The head of Gitaza
Zone (Muhuta) was arrested and two persons were allegedly killed at
Mubanga (Muhuta) on 17 February. Other incidents included clashes
between the National Defence Forces (FDN) and FNL movement in Isale
commune (18 February) and household lootings in Gatumba (Mutimbuzi) and
Mugendo (Muhuta).

COORDINATION

Provincial coordination: A coordination meeting was organized in Gitega
on 23 February.

For more information:

Adelaide Habonimana, National Information Officer
tel: (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
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -