OCHA Situation Report
Burundi
20 - 26 November 2006


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Activities and Updates

10th Meeting of the Tripartite Commission: The 10th Tripartite 
Commission session on voluntary repatriation of Burundian refugees 
living in Tanzania took place in Bujumbura at ONUB's conference room. 
The main recommendations include:

- rehabilitation of access roads to improve the repatriation process

- 2 additional transit centers (Gitega and Ngozi/Songore) to be used as 
temporary housing for returning refugees unable to access their home 
immediately

- better facilitation of spontaneous return from Mabanda entry point 
(Makamba)

- better cooperation to ease the repatriation of livestock

- need for a comprehensive approach to the 1972 refugees and for 
updating existing data including an intention survey among this group

- ensuring that family unity is respected in case of couples of mixed 
nationalities


It should be noted that the issue of illegal Burundian immigrants 
expelled from Tanzania was not discussed during this sessions as the 
Tanzanian delegation insisted on a strictly bilateral approach through 
existing mechanisms.

Food Security: Heavy rains in Kayogoro (Makamba) and Rumonge (Bururi) 
communes caused damage along Mutsindozi, Rukoziri and Malagarazi 
(Makamba) and Murembwe (Bururi). The most affected crops are beans, 
maize, sweet potatoes and cassava. Some crops were nearing maturity. 
Those recently planted can be saved if the rains reduce as they are 
beginning to turn yellow. Food prices in the market have risen and there 
is a risk that households may sell their remaining stock and find 
themselves without food in the next two months. In Bubanza province, in 
addition to cassava mosaic virus, other plant diseases are attacking 
sweet potatoes and beans. Food prices in the province have also risen. 
In Kanyosha and Nyabiraba communes in Bujumbura Rural a certain plant 
disease is attacking beans and making the leaves turn yellow before the 
whole plant rots. It appears to be as a result of too much water, the 
harvest for the season doesn't look good.

Update on Assistance to Burundians Expelled from Tanzania: Over the week 
in review about 250 persons were admitted at Kinazi transit site. Among 
them were 33 Rwandan nationals who were hand over by the Burundians 
authorities to their Rwandan counterparts.

Refugee Returns: UNHCR reported the return of 2,076 Burundian refugees. 
Since the beginning of the year, 40,747 refugees have returned to 
Burundi.

Protection/Human Rights: On Saturday 25th November, ONUB, UNHCR, OCHA, 
International NGOs, the Civil population and the administration and 
students of the Community School of Makamba manifested against violence 
targeting women as part of the 16 days activities for 2006. However, 
participation from the civil population was limited due to lack of 
mobilization.

Coordination, Protection and Security

Coordination:

On 23rd November a joint mission was conducted in Cankuzo province by 
PARESI, HCR, OCHA, UNICEF, Red Cross and UNDP to find solutions to 
better support local authorities in reinstalling

expelled persons in this province. Recommendations include bilateral 
contacts between Burundian and Tanzanian neighbouring authorities to 
ensure that expelled persons get official papers, rehabilitation of an 
old UNHCR camp into transit site for expelled persons and the set up of 
a local committee to improve the identification process.

A coordination meeting presided by OCHA was held on 24th November in 
Muyinga to discuss expelled persons. Participants included Economic 
Council, Red Cross Burundi, PARESI, IRC and NRC. The Red Cross and 
PARESI indicated that cases of cheating had reduced with participation 
of the administration at the border and at Kinazi. However, the rate of 
expulsion from Tanzania has not gone down and there are on average 200 
persons expelled per week.

Security:  In Bubanza, Cibitoke and Bujumbura Rural alleged FNL 
combatants are progressively taking up their previous positions. The 
army is also taking up positions that had been abandoned after the 
security situation improved. The authorities are accusing the alleged 
combatants of collecting money and other items by force from the local 
population. The local population fears that the situation may 
degenerate, they are urging the government to ensure that the cease fire 
agreement with the FNL is implemented.

In Bururi province, it appears that security on the roads is 
deteriorating in Rumonge commune. Passengers have experienced ambush and 
robbery on several occasions since the beginning of the month. On 24th 
November one person was killed during an ambush and a non identified 
person was found dead in Gatete zone.

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

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