OCHA Situation Report
Burundi
13 - 19 March 2006


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

ACTIVITIES AND UPDATES

Food security: In its early warning bulletin number 44 issued during the
reporting period, FAO/Emergency Coordination Unit reported a slight
improvement of the food security situation. However, recovery was
hampered by caterpillar pests, the cassava mosaic disease and smaller
crop pests. In Bururi, caterpillars have ravaged fields in all communes
but the situation was brought under control. In Kirundo, insects
destroyed rice in marshlands in Vumbi and Ntega communes. The NGO
Tearfund is working closely with the provincial department of
agriculture in affected areas in order to fight against the insects.

The 2006B planting season ended and the next harvest is expected in June
2006. In the meantime continued assistance and monitoring will remain
crucial to mitigate vulnerability. As such, ongoing distributions of
food aid were carried out during the reporting week by WFP and its
partners (see below). The Government of Burundi also continued its
distributions as part of the effort of national solidarity.

To this end, communities in less drought-affected provinces collected
food aid to assist the northern affected areas. In Makamba, 100 MT were
delivered to Muyinga. Another 100 MT are being collected and will be
distributed to Giharo commune in Rutana.

Nutrition: Over the reporting week, IMC conducted nutritional surveys in
Kirundo, Muyinga and Rutana provinces. Preliminary results are expected
early April. Although the number of admissions is stabilizing, the
number of patients remains high both in therapeutic feeding and
supplementary services since December 2005. IMC is supported by WFP and
UNICEF. Due to the severe food shortage in these provinces,
beneficiaries who have recovered refuse to go home and try to stay as
long as possible in the feeding services where they can be assisted with
complete rations.

Rwandan Asylum Seekers: The total number of Rwandan asylum seekers in
the three sites - Musasa, Rwisuri and Songore - is put at 22,800 pending
registration which is scheduled to start on 21 March. Meanwhile, CRS
provided non food items to 1,516 families in Rwisuri site.

Water and sanitation: ICRC in collaboration with the national water
company REGIDESO announced the construction of a water adduction system
in Rumonge town (Bururi). IMC conducted an evaluation of needs in health
centres in Muyinga with a view to supporting the rehabilitation of water
adduction there.

Torrential Rains: following the torrential rains which devastated
Nyamabuye area in Bugabira Commune (Kirundo) on 13 March, FAO, OCHA and
the Governor of Kirundo organized a mission in the affected area in
order to assess the incurred damages. Houses and crops were destroyed
affecting 112 families. CRS and GVC supported by UNICEF distributed non
food items comprised of plastic sheeting, blanket and soap to the
affected households on Saturday 18 March. As livestock and crops, mostly
beans and sorghum, were also destroyed in Bugabira commune, Tearfund
initiated a follow up and support scheme for affected families.

Returnees: During the reporting week, UNHCR has facilitated the return
of 70 refugees. No spontaneous return was recorded. As of 19 March,
UNHCR had registered 2,198 Burundians returning form exile, i.e. 2,045
facilitated and 153 spontaneous returnees.

New Congolese refugee arrivals: A total of 150 Congolese refugees were
brought from Bujumbura to Cibitoke province from 17 March. This transfer
was requested by Immigration and undertaken by UNHCR in order to
determine whether or not the refugees were new arrivals which will
determine the assistance they are entitled to.

Food aid distribution: During the reporting week, WFP distributed 329 MT
of food aid to 32,133 beneficiaries. This comparatively small output was
due to the shift fromPROTECTION, SECURITY, ACCESS

Bujumbura Rural: Over the reporting week, a decrease in the number of
arrests of presumed collaborators with the FNL movement was noted.

In Bujumbura Rural, local administrators and the military cautioned
humanitarian organizations against working in areas of Mutimbuzi commune
(Bujumbura Rural) bordering the Rukoko forest due to alleged presence of
FNL rebels.

Cases of banditry and household looting were reported in Rugombo
(Cibitoke) and Gihanga (Bubanza). On 11 and 15 March, households were
looted in 3 villages in the latter commune whereas three taxis were
ambushed on the road Rugombo - Kayanza on 15 March.

COORDINATION

In Cankuzo, the food security sector meeting was held on 14 March to
analyse the provincial food security situation after the drought and
erratic rainfalls.

The seeds protection campaign to targeted food distributions.

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

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