OCHA Situation Report
Burundi
27 November - 3 December 2006


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

ACTIVITIES AND UPDATES

Update on Assistance to Burundians Expelled from Tanzania: Over the week
in review about 200 persons were admitted at Kinazi transit site. The
German Red Cross Regional Office has submitted to its headquarters a
200,000 =80 project proposal to assist 2,500 expelled persons in the
coming weeks in food and non-food kits.

A 2nd transit site may be set up in Cankuzo province (Mishiha commune)
to cater temporarily for Burundians returning directly to this province.
A joint Red Cross / OCHA / PARESI mission will discuss this matter with
local authorities in the coming week.

Refugee Returns: UNHCR reported the return of 1,235 refugees during the
reporting week. This represents a significant drop compared to previous
weeks but considered usual at this time of the year since many refugees
prefer to stay in the camps over Christmas and New Year's Eve. In
November, a total of 8125 refugees returned compared to 7857 refugees in
October.

Rwandan Asylum Seekers: The Refugee Status Determination operation is
now formally over, including the appeal phase. All asylum seekers have
been notified and about 600 persons returned to Rwanda in 2 convoys
during the reporting period. About 800 persons remain in Musasa as of
4th December.

The Eligibility Commission accepted 46 cases out of 2758 cases and the
Appeal Commission accepted 26 out of 1491 cases, making a total of 72
recognized cases (206 persons).

Remaining persons in Musasa have until 9 December to consider voluntary
repatriation to Rwanda. Beyond this date they will be considered as
illegal migrants by the authorities.

Floods in Southern Provinces: Following OCHA and WFP field missions in
flood-affected areas in Makamba, Bururi and Ruyigi provinces, a special
targeted assistance is being prepared by WFP based upon real needs
assessed on the ground.

Food Security: FAO/CAUR reinforced the horticulture programme during
2007A season with support to intensive market-gardening in several
provinces: Bujumbura Mairie, Gitega, Ngozi, Kirundo, Kayanza, Karuzi,
Ruyugi, Cankuzo, Rutana and Makamba.  Market-gardening associations
received complete kits of seeds, small tools, fertilizer and pesticides.
In parallel, support to school canteens in the form of vegetable gardens
for demonstration is in progress, with support from partner NGOs: ACF
(Kayanza and Ngozi), IMC (Rutana), WV (Karuzi and Cankuzo). Similar
activities are in place for CTN/CNS with support from IMC in Rutana.

A review of activities on the ground by FAO/CAUR during the reporting
week confirmed that market-gardeners are increasingly specializing; in
the fields you can find vegetables at all times at different vegetative
stages: nursery, planted seedlings, growth and harvest. The cabbage is
the most cultivated vegetable during this season. Harvesting of onions
is finished, most market-gardeners are conserving the onions for sale
towards the end of the year when prices increase. The price of a kg of
onions is currently at 400 FBU in Gitega, Ngozi and Kirundo markets.

Distribution of grafted avocado and mango plants is on going in several
provinces. Current high rains have facilitated growth after the plants
were planted in the fields.

Protection/Human Rights: 24th November to 10th December was designated
on a global level for activities to fight violence targeting women.
HeathNet TPO Burundi is organising activities for sensitization and
education to fight violence targeting women. It is with this regard that
the Victims of Torture (VOT) project in collaboration with the Ministry
of National Solidarity and local administration of Muyinga organized a
cultural competition in Muyinga on 30th November.  The population and
students in Muyinga commune participated in large numbers.

Activities are planned to take place between 27th November and 8th
December in Mwaro for camps hosting Congolese refugees in Gihinga, as
part of the 16 days activities to fight violence targeting women. The
reporting week was dedicated to sensitization and education activities.
Several themes were addressed during the week's activities including:
domestic violence, sexual violence, HIV Aids, gender based
discrimination and needs of sexual violence victims.

COORDINATION, PROTECTION AND SECURITY

Coordination:

Provincial, communal authorities and humanitarian partners met in
Kirundo on 30 November for the quarterly 'Point Focal' meeting. While
the overall situation is still considered precarious ample rains have
arrived and the agricultural season 2007 'A' should be better than in
2006. However farmers have only cultivated about 2/3 of available land
due to lack of seeds and/or fears that the season would be wasted as in
2005-2006.

A number of additional NGOs are about to start agricultural or health
activities in the province, among them the religious organization Food
for the Hungry International (FHI) and CONCERN.

Security: The security situation in Bubanza, Cibitoke and Bujumbura
Rural is generally okay but acts of armed robbery are still going on
especially in Bubanza and Cibitoke provinces. Authorities have increase
surveillance to calm the population. The population is expected to be
more vigilant and keep the authorities informed.

For more information:  E-mail: ocha-burundi@un.org, Tel: (257) 219157-8

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