OCHA Situation Report
Burundi
14 - 20 August 2006


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

ACTIVITIES AND UPDATES

Training of Parents and Guardians of HIV Positive Children: The majority 
of HIV/AIDs infected children take medication without ample explanation. 
Certain parents find it difficult to give the correct answers to all the 
questions asked. That is why FMS-AMADE Burundi organised a training for 
parents and guardians from their partner organizations. 37 out of the 40 
invited attended the four days training which took place in the main 
office of FVS-AMADE Burundi.

The objective of the training consisted of helping the parents and 
guardians of HIV positive children to better cater for specific needs of 
the children. The main needs for such children include communication 
between parent/guardian and child, proper diet, daily intake of required 
medication, informing the child regarding HIV/AIDs test results, 
follow-up and monitoring of the child, etc. Finally it emerged that 
there is a lack of information regarding counselling of HIV positive 
children. Parents are hesitant or are afraid of revealing to their 
children the reason for the daily intake of medication.

Update on Burundians expelled from Tanzania: There has not been any new 
arrival of expelled Burudians since 12-August. In Muyinga, the Red Cross 
in Burundi with assistance from ICRC was preparing a site in Kinazi to 
provide temporary shelter for Burundians expelled from Tanzania. During 
a visit by OCHA representatives on 16th August, there were approximately 
250 persons out of the 598 that arrived on 12-August at the site, 
majority originally from Kirundo and Ngozi. The rest were transferred to 
their communes of origin by PARESI (Ministry of Solidarity Project). The 
proportion of women to men was normal as opposed to those expelled in 
June/July where women were 3-4 times more than the men.

Note that IMC identified and transferred 7 severely malnourished 
children from the group that arrived on 12-August. This could be as a 
result of difficult conditions experienced by the families before they 
were expelled from Tanzania. IMC is providing additional support to 
Kinazi medical centre which is near the site.

Update on Rwandan Asylum Seekers: During the reporting week, UNHCR 
supported the return of 220 Rwandan Asylum Seekers to their home country 
in one convoy that departed on 18-Aug. Note that there were 313 
confirmed for repatriation but only 220 embarked on the convoy.

Repatriation: During the reporting week UNHCR facilitated the return of 
1,847 individuals. So far in 2006, UNHCR has assisted a total of 14,674 
facilitated and spontaneous Burundian refugees. The number of returning 
refugees continues to be relatively high but lower than during the same 
period in 2005. This may be due to a combination of factors, including 
the agricultural calendar and preparations for the school-year 
2006-2007.

Ongoing Efforts to Support Agricultural Activities: Since 2005, FAO has 
been consolidating a data bank with regard to Food Security in Burundi. 
The data comes essentially from the Early Warning System and Food 
Security Surveillance network. This has become a significant tool for 
reflecting the food security situation and evolution. After data 
processing and analysis, there is an archival process that constitutes 
the memory of all the undertaken activities.  Available data includes: 
agricultural prices, some macroeconomic data, rainfall information, seed 
sources, food reserve situation, household budget allocations, follow-up 
mechanism and number of meals per day for reference households. In 
addition, the database contains photos and thematic maps which help to 
review operations and corresponding processes. The main software 
application used in developing the application is Access.

Food Aid Distribution Update: During the period under review, WFP 
distributed a total of 769 Mt to 82,401 beneficiaries in different 
programmes - Refugees and Returnees Feeding, Mother Child Health, Social 
Centres, HIV/AIDS, Food for Work and Supplementary Therapeutic Centres. 
Note that distribution to returnees includes both Burundian and Rwandan 
asylum seekers returning home as well as those staying in the transit 
camp.

Food Security and Nutrition: During a meeting for partners working in 
the food security and nutrition area on 16 August, IMC indicated that 
there are still signs of food insecurity in Kirundo and Muyinga 
provinces. This could be as a result of internal/external migration of 
the population without decrease in the number of poorly nourished. In 
spite of the efforts of IMC with financing from either OFDA or UNICEF 
and assistance from its partners (Care, World Vision and LMTC) a lot of 
work remains to be done, to stabilize the nutritional situation in these 
provinces.

In FAO's presentation on the agricultural situation in Burundi, it was 
noted that in season 2006C there is a net increase in vegetable farming 
as the weather conditions are favourable with rains in July and August.

Shelter: During the focal point meeting in Muyinga on 16 August, CNR 
reported that it is in the process of constructing 150 houses in Kirundo 
commune (Kirundo Province) and in Gashoho and Gasorwe communes (Muyinga 
province). In its criteria, CNR considers returnees and other vulnerable 
persons in the community. To replace the trees used in the contruction, 
CNR distributes 50 seedlings to the beneficiary to plant in their 
compound.

Construction of Classrooms in Bujumbura Rural: UNICEF released a list of 
146 classrooms to be constructed in different communes in Bujumbura 
Rural. If the population comes together to put up the walls, UNICEF will 
provide roofing, cement, nails and other materials. Sensitization of the 
Authorities has already begun.

PROTECTION, SECURITY, ACCESS AND COORDINATION

Security Incidents: Several security incidents were reported during the 
week. On 14/08 in Mutimbuzi commune, Mubone zone, 4 persons were removed 
from Kinama police station irregularly in the night and were shot dead 
two KM from Mubone. An inquiry has been launched. Another incident was 
reported on 15/08 in Mutimbuzi commune, Gatumba zone where a group of 
about 50 alleged FNL individuals from Rukoko forest near the border with 
DRC committed a robbery in a bar on the main route of Gatumba. The 
clients were told to lie down and were robbed of their belongings, 
mainly money and mobile phones. Still in Mitimbuzi commune, Gatumba zone 
on 20/08 a policeman shot his colleague dead and tried to kill himself 
but failed. He seriously injured himself and is being treated. At the 
same time a murder case has been launched against him. In Bugarama 
commune, a farmer working on his farm was killed when an unexploded 
grenade exploded when he lit a fire to clear a bush.

Protection/Human Rights: Recruitment of young combatants by FNL was 
highlighted in Bubanza province. On the other hand, arrests of persons 
suspected to be FNL combatants or collaborators went on in Bubanza and 
Bujumbura Rural provinces. Human rights organizations are closely 
monitoring the situation. In Isale commune, it was noted that households 
were being forced to donate 500 Frs every three weeks. The situation is 
similar in Muhuta commune where the residents give voluntarily or are 
forced to give money to FNL combatants.

Coordination: The thematic group dealing with the fight against sexual 
violence met on 17 August. The main objective of the meeting was to 
discuss activities to fight against gender based violence and also the 
assistance offered to victims by the Swiss Corporation in Burundi. 
Information was also provided on UNIFEM's project to be launched in 
September based on the fight against gender violence. The project is 
financed via CAP 2006.

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

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