OCHA Situation Report
Burundi
4 - 10 December 2006


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

ACTIVITIES AND UPDATES

National mobilization for mother and child health: On 5 December, 
Burundi First Lady, Mrs Denise Nkurunziza, presided over the National 
Day of Mobilization for Mother and Child Health, jointly organized by 
the Ministry of Health, UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO). 
The event which was attended by Provincial Governors, provincial health 
Medical Directors from the Provinces and thousands of mothers was to 
prepare for the launch of the Mother-and-Child Health week to be held in 
Rumonge (Bururi) on 12th December, 2006. More than three million 
children throughout the country will be covered by multi-antigen 
vaccination, vitamin A supplements, and deworming while 170,000 pregnant 
women will receive anti-tetanus vaccines and iron supplements.

Food Security: Supported by Sweden, FAO/Emergency Rehabilitation and 
Coordination Unit (ERCU) continues its efforts to improve the food 
security situation for vulnerable households through the distribution of 
livestock. To this end, 6,000 goats will be distributed to families 
identified as the neediest in Makamba, Rutana, Ruyigi, Cankuzo, Muyinga, 
Karuzi, Gitega and Ngozi provinces which have the highest return rates. 
The identified households comprise of the most vulnerable ones in 
particular returnees or displaced persons at the stage of 
reinstallation. During the week under review, 297 families from the 
communes of Kayogoro (230) and Makamba (67), Makamba province received a 
total of 891 goats; that is 3 goats per family. Between March and August 
2006, FAO/ERCU distributed 2,289 goats in the mentioned provinces except 
Ngozi.

As part of efforts to repel the BXW (banana wilt xanthomonas) disease, 
FAO/ERCU, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and 
Livestock, the regional Research Institute for Agriculture and Zoology 
(IRAZ) and CRS organized a training of trainers' session for a total of 
50 agronomists nationwide. Participants included heads of provincial 
departments of agriculture and staff working with NGOs involved in the 
food security sector. Discussions focused on the BXW symptoms, methods 
and prevention strategies.

Rwandan Asylum Seekers: All the persons who were sheltered at Musasa 
site returned to their home country on 8 December. However, 9 sick 
persons who were admitted in Kiremba hospital will stay and will be 
repatriated after they recover. MSF-F continues follow-up. Another 32 
who had declared to be Burundians were transported to their alleged 
commune of origin (Vumbi, in Kirundo province) for identification. As a 
final result of the refugee status determination process, 206 persons 
were recognized as refugees and were transferred to Giharo camp in 
Rutana.

International Children's Day of Broadcasting: In partnership with the 
ministry of Youth, UNICEF organized a press conference on the 
International Broadcasting Children's Day on 8 December. This was to 
help raise awareness against HIV/AIDS among children and the youth and 
thereby give them opportunity to express themselves. The theme retained 
for 2006 was "Let's unite for children, against AIDS", which was the 
slogan for the global campaign for children and AIDS launched in Burundi 
in 2005. UNICEF in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth will support 
a one-month project to allow children journalists trained by UNICEF, 
ONUB and Search for a Common Ground to participate and produce radio and 
TV programmes on this year's theme and the situation of children in 
Burundi.

Repatriation: Over the reporting period UNHCR registered 1,200 Burundian 
refugees. As reported last week, the trend of returns remains low since 
many refugees prefer to spend Christmas and New Year feast in the camps 
with their families. In 2006, 43,182 have returned to Burundi.

Sexual violence: Activities to commemorate the 16 days of activism 
against sexual violence targeting women were officially concluded during 
the week-end in Makamba. Sensitization activities targeted the 
population of Makamba in general including pupils, soldiers, IDPs and 
returnees. Thanks to collaboration among the authorities, ONUB, UN 
agencies, NGOs and Burundian civil society, planned activities were 
fully achieved.

Reintegration efforts: The UNDP Programme for Reintegration, 
Rehabilitation and Fight against Poverty (PRRSLP) held a two-day 
workshop (7-8 Dec) with its partners namely the Government and NGOs in 
order to assess progress made, constraints and then discuss solutions so 
that undertaken activities can be concluded. With regard to coordination 
of interventions, participants recommended control/command by 
governmental technical structures on the ground, of coordination and 
supervision mechanisms in the respective sectors as well as their 
implementation and effective appropriation.

Assistance to the vulnerable: On 9 December, Burundian Red Cross 
National Society handed over 24 houses to vulnerable households from 
Kavoga colline in Muruta commune (Kayanza). Supported by the German Red 
Cross, Burundian Red Cross also provides food aid to Burundians expelled 
from Tanzania.

COORDINATION, PROTECTION AND SECURITY

Coordination:

- OCHA fielded a mission to Rushubi in Isale commune (Bujumbura Rural) 
with the objective of assessing the security and humanitarian situation. 
According to authorities, security is good despite the ongoing presence 
of alleged Palipehutu-FNL rebels who continue to collect money or 
in-kind contribution from the population. On the food security level, 
the mission noted that torrential rains recorded throughout October and 
November had severely affected marshland crops. The drop in the yield of 
beans is therefore estimated at 60%.

- The governmental project for the reintegration of war-affected persons 
(PARESI), OCHA and the administration representative jointly visited the 
Rukaramu site to assess the progress made in the construction of houses 
for registered vulnerable families. Out of 100 houses to be built under 
the current joint project, 60 have been finished. It was requested to 
WFP to deliver an additional quantity of food in order to speed up the 
completion of the remaining ones. However, beneficiaries of these houses 
will be confronted by lack of clean water as no adduction system has 
been installed at the site. OCHA will contact actors in the water sector 
for intervention.

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

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
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
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -