OCHA Situation Report
Burundi
21 - 27 August 2006


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

ACTIVITIES AND UPDATES

Repatriation: During the reporting week UNHCR encouraged the return of 
1,772 refugees and assisted another 36 spontaneous. So far in 2006, 
UNHCR has assisted a total of 16,482 facilitated and spontaneous 
Burundian refugees.

Update on Rwandan Asylum Seekers: Interviews for asylum seekers are 
expected to be completed by the end of August.

Preparation for the Beginning of 2006-2007 Primary School Year: UNICEF 
is continuing with the distribution of construction material in 7 
provinces (Ruyigi, Rutana, Karuzi, Makamba, Bujumbura Rural, Bubanza and 
Cibitoke) for 597 semi-permanent classrooms, built with adobe bricks 
made through community participation. This will also include permanent 
classrooms in need of urgent roof rehabilitation. UNICEF already 
distributed construction material for the construction of 181 classrooms 
in 3 provinces (Cankuzo, Cibitoke and Bubanza) in June 2006.

Comment: It is foreseeable that the needs for primary school education 
will again dramatically increase this year. In spite of wide spread 
efforts carried out last year to try and accommodate the additional 
student load resulting from the gratuity of access, an estimated 100,000 
children were prevented from attending school due to lack of 
infrastructure, equipment and teachers. This will cumulate with the 
additional first time registrations for the 2006-2007 school year.

World Breastfeeding Week: During the reporting week, activities to 
celebrate the World Breastfeeding Week took place. In collaboration with 
UNICEF and OMS, the Ministry of Public Health organized several 
activities including debates on several subjects: 'breastfeeding and 
HIV', 'international code for breast milk substitutes' and 'maternal 
breastfeeding and public health'. A televised debate took place based on 
the 2006 campaign theme: 'surveillance of the commercialization code for 
breast milk substitutes - 25 years of protecting breastfeeding'. Burundi 
code for commercialization of breast milk substitutes is in preparation 
and has to be voted by the National Assembly and thereafter implemented. 
The week had the objective of sensitizing the public on the importance 
of breastfeeding especially during the first six months of a child's 
life. It culminated in a visit to Ijenda maternity where necessary items 
such as nappies were distributed to new mothers.

Cassava sub-Regional Programme: ECHO is financing a sub-regional project 
for the production and distribution of a variety of cassava that is 
tolerant/resistant to severe cassava mosaic virus. The project will 
cover Burundi, DRC, Rwanda and Uganda. The same project will ensure: 
coordination of cassava related work, capacity reinforcement and 
implementation of a data base regarding cassava and in addition 
communication/information mechanisms.

Burundi will receive 200,000 Euros to prepare 100 hectares in Cibitoke, 
Bubanza, Bujumbura Rural, Bururi, Mwaro, Makamba, Cankuzo, Ruyugi and 
Rutana provinces. This project complements a national programme financed 
by ECHO for preparation of 400 hectares in the provinces mentioned 
above.

Identification of partners and implementation sites is in progress. 
Preparation work on the land will begin in the month of September. The 
programme will commence in October and close end November 2006. In 
addition to seedlings, FAO will provide the necessary fertilizer to 
ensure better production and will provide assistance in the proximity. 
The seedlings will come from plots of cassava put in place by FAO in 
Mparambo (Cibitoke) with assistance from Belgium and OFDA.

PROTECTION, SECURITY, ACCESS AND COORDINATION

Security Incidents: In Bubanza Province, Gihanga commune, village 2, 
there was theft of bicycles, clothing and other items in 20 households. 
The perpetrators are suspected FNL combatants from the Rukoko forest. In 
Bujumbura Rural, Isale commune, Nyambuye colline two people were killed 
by suspected FNL combatants accusing them of collaboration with FDN. 
In the same location 3 people were arrested by FDN accusing them of 
collaboration with FNL. In Bujumbura Rural, Mutimbuzi commune, Gatumba 
zone two households were robbed by about 20 suspected FNL combatants. 
One person was reported injured by gun fire.

Protection/Human Rights: Disarmament of the civil population launched in 
Bubanza in July enabled the recuperation of 170 Kalachnikov guns and 
approximately forty grenades. FDN promised to send reinforcement to 
dangerous zones to better protect the population. There was continued 
recruitment of FNL combatants in view of demobilization.

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