OCHA Situation Report
Burundi
1 - 7 May 2006


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

HIGHLIGHTS

Rwandan Asylum Seekers: Out of the 275 persons who entered the appeal
phase after the refugee determination process, 96 cases were refused the
refugee status and will return to Rwanda. Furthermore, just under 1,000
persons signed up for a voluntarily repatriation convoy next week.
Assistance will be provided upon departure and UNHCR and GTZ will ensure
transport. Meanwhile the planned transfer from and closure of Rwisuri
site has been delayed due to the substandard shelter and water and
sanitation conditions in Musasa and Songore which could have caused life
threatening conditions upon transfer. Rwandan asylum seekers will be
moved from Rwisuri gradually as capacity in the other sites becomes
available.

Congolese Refugees: In order to address problems facing Congolese
refugees in Bujumbura, which has led to frequent sit-ins in front of the
UNHCR office in town since December 2005, the agency moved the 67
Congolese urban refugees to Giharo site in Rutana province. This
transfer aims at decongesting the situation in Bujumbura town where
refugees are not entitled to full assistance by UNHCR. It is only
provided in the two camps which are already full and thus require the
opening of Giharo. However, the Giharo site which is also home to the
Rwandans who obtained refugee status is not yet developed enough to host
the Rwandan and Congolese refugees and at the same time serve as a
transit centre for Burundians returning from Tanzania. A one week ration
comprised of rice, maize flour, beans and salt was distributed to the
transferred Congolese refugees.

ACTIVITIES AND UPDATES

Health: Provincial health authorities in Cibitoke have reported large
scale diarrheic diseases due to lack of clean water and poor hygiene
conditions. The NGO Population, Sante, Information (PSI) plans to launch
a water disinfection product to address the issue and to contribute to
an improvement of access to potable water.

Food Security: FAO/Emergency Coordination Unit (ECU) finalised the
rehabilitation of Nyabibugu marshland in Cendajuru commune (Cankuzo).
The marshland which was not used since its owners fled to Tanzania due
to insecurity is now covered by rice crop fields. The owners had already
started to return to their property before the rehabilitation was
completed.

Out of the 520 hectares of marshland to be rehabilitated in the
provinces of Cankuzo, Makamba, Muyinga, Ngozi and Ruyigi by end of May
2006, FAO/ECU has already rehabilitated a total of 200 ha.

Over the reporting week, WFP distributed 1,155 MT of food aid to 217,109
beneficiaries through its partners. In view of impending targeted food
aid distributions, the WFP partner Tearfund has completed the
identification of beneficiaries in Bukemba and Gitanga communes of
Rutana.

Nutrition: As part of efforts to address malnutrition in Mabanda commune
(Makamba), nutrition teams from Tearfund in collaboration with
authorities carried out cooking demonstrations involving the local
population in three collines. Furthermore, in order to ensure
sustainability and to develop local capacity to address chronic
malnutrition, sensitization sessions were conducted with local groups.

Torrential Rains: After torrential rains reportedly caused severe
damages in Cibitoke province on 24 April, a joint assessment mission was
fielded to Mabayi and Mugina communes on 4 May by WFP, UNICEF and OCHA.
The mission found that reports about damages incurred had been
exaggerated. No major infrastructure damage was found, however, some
fields were affected which will have a localized impact on food security
in light of the harvests expected in June.

Repatriation: During the reporting week 318 Burundian refugees returned
home from exile including 1 spontaneous return. In Makamba province
alone, 225 returnees were registered at Mabanda entry point. As of 7 May
UNHCR had repatriated 3,201 Burundians in 2006.

PROTECTION, ACCESS, AND SECURITY

Human rights violations: Cases of human rights violations blamed on both
FNL rebel movement and National Defence Force patrols continued to be
reported over the reporting week in Bujumbura Rural, Cibitoke and
Bubanza province.

Access: Although there were no restrictions on field visits in Bubanza
and Bujumbura Rural, caution was recommended by authorities in parts of
Mutimbuzi and Musigati communes bordering Rukoko and Kibira forests
which are transit areas of FNL rebels.

Security: During the week under review, large scale looting was reported
in Bubanza province in communes bordering the Kibira and Rukoko forests
(Gihanga, Musigati and Rugazi) further to attacks by the FNL movement.
On 2 May, FNL rebels were reported to have looted around 20 households
stealing livestock and household property. Two persons were reportedly
abducted as well to help transport the stolen goods.  On 4 May, FNL
rebels led an attack on 46 families and looted livestock, poultry,
clothes and household property in Muyebe Zone (Musigati commune,
Bubanza).  In Mbare-Gasarara area of Nyabiraba commune (Bujumbura
Rural), each family is forced by FNL or FNL sympathisers to contribute
in kind (mostly food) twice a week or pay a fine up to 50,000 Burundian
Francs. The same phenomenon was reported in Muhoma and Mwita areas in
Gitaza Zone (Muhuta commune, Bujumbura Rural) where FNL rebels
continuously threaten the population to either contribute up to 2,000
Burundian Francs or risk being beaten up.  On 2 May, clashes were
reported between FNL rebels and the National Defence Force patrol as the
latter was in search of hidden arms in Musigati commune (Bubanza).

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

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