OCHA Situation Report
Burundi
18 - 24 September 2006


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

ACTIVITIES AND UPDATES

Health, distribution of medical kits: All the medical kits which arrived 
in Burundi on 16 September were dispatched to the provincial capitals 
over the reporting week. NGOs active in the health sector provided 
integral support in this exercise. The distribution to health centres at 
provincial level was completed in Gitega and Ruyigi and will continue in 
the remaining provinces.

Refugee returns: During the period under review, UNHCR assisted the 
return of 863 Burundians, mostly from Tanzania (852). Compared to the 
previous number of returns (2,196 last week), there is a decrease which 
is mainly due to a bridge which collapsed near the entry point in 
Ruyigi. In order to ensure that the operation remains uninterrupted, 
convoys will be rerouted via Makamba. The total number of returns in 
2006 so far is 24,367. A Come-and-Talk visit to the Tanzanian camps of 
Mtabila I and II, Muyuvusi and Nyrugisu were organised by UNHCR Makamba 
from 18 to 21 September.

Ongoing preparation of agricultural season 2007-A: The distribution of 
seeds and seed protection rations for the agricultural season 2007-A 
were ongoing. WFP continued the distribution of seeds protection rations 
nationwide. As per its distribution plan, WFP will assist a total of 
169,202 families with an estimated total of 5,300 MT. Meanwhile, 
FAO/Emergency and Rehabilitation Coordination Unit distributed seeds and 
tools. During the current season, FAO will assist a total of 142,586 
vulnerable families with seeds and tools. The same assistance is 
provided to another 46,200 families by CRS and by PRASAB for another 
49,605 households. This will bring the total number of assisted families 
for the seeds and tools programme to 238,311. Provinces which are 
periodically affected by harsh weather conditions, namely Kirundo, 
Muyinga, Cankuzo, Makamba and Ruyigi were the first to be assisted. 
Alongside, FAO has undertaken close follow-up of seed voucher campaigns 
in target provinces. 7,800 families will be supported through said 
campaign in the target provinces of Gitega, Makamba, Mwaro and Ruyigi.

Update on assistance to Burundians expelled from Tanzania: On 19 
September, 51 persons expelled from Tanzania were registered at Kinazi 
transit centre. During the period under review, the governmental project 
for the reintegration of war-affected persons (PARESI) and OCHA 
facilitated a coordination meeting in Muyinga on the issue of expelled 
Burundians. The group also visited the site of Kinazi where 66 persons 
are currently sheltered. Participants included the Governor of the 
province, UNHCR, WFP, ICRC, NRC, Burundian Red Cross, PARESI, IRC, CARE, 
AHA and the Office of the Diocese. The total number of Burundians 
expelled since January has risen to 2,674.

Rwandan Asylum Seekers: As of 24 September, 4,974 Rwandan asylum seekers 
were registered at Musasa site. Since the beginning of the operation, 
133 have been recognized as refugees. During the reporting period, 39 
persons returned home. As for the refugee status determination, all 
first instance recommendations have been completed and submitted to the 
Eligibility Commission. Once first instance decisions are delivered by 
the Commission, asylum seekers have a week to appeal. It is expected 
that the whole operation can be completed within a month once all first 
instance decisions are known.

Education: On 21 September 2006, UNICEF started its distribution of 
school kits consisting of 3 notebooks, 3 pens, 3 pencils, 3 erasers and 
1 box of color pencils per pupil. These will be issued to all pupils of 
all public primary schools in Burundi which are believed to number 
around 1,660,000. The process is being supervised by the provincial 
education authorities, local administration officials and UNICEF staff. 
The distribution should be completed by mid-October 2006 at the latest. 
Meanwhile, school materials procured abroad by UNICEF are expected to 
arrive at the schools shortly. Some 31,000 school desks and benches, 
6,000 blackboards, 70 tents, 850,000 textbooks, 9,000 teaching handbooks 
and 400,000 UNICEF sacks are en route to Burundi. All of these will 
facilitate school attendance for more than 400,000 new pupils within the 
primary education system in Burundi.

Water and sanitation: IRC handed over two water-adduction systems 
constructed in Gisuru and Kinyinya communes as part of achievements 
during the course of 2006. In order to improve hygiene, IRC has equipped 
primary schools in Gisuru, Nyabitsinda and Ruyigi with 19 blocs of 
latrines (totaling 106 latrines which can be emptied).

PROTECTION, SECURITY, ACCESS AND COORDINATION

Coordination, Bujumbura Rural: The provincial coordination meeting was 
held on 21 September. Participants discussed issues related to the 
sectors of health, nutrition, food security, water/sanitation and 
habitat. Actors in the province including the International Fund for 
Agriculture Development (IFAD), PADCO, an American NGO, and ICRC 
announced that they would start implementing projects supporting 
livestock, income generating activities and water adduction systems.

Protection, Human rights: Two persons were reportedly killed in separate 
incidents on (21 September) in Nyabiraba Commune (Bujumbura Rural). In 
Bubanza province, further to a dispute allegedly based on land issues, 
one person was killed and another one severely wounded in a grenade 
explosion.

Consolidated Appeal: As part of preparation of the CHAP/CAP 2007 
workshop, sectoral meetings were held during the course of this week. 
Analyses derived from these consultations will be consolidated in a CAP 
workshop scheduled on 2 October.

Contact Group: During an extraordinary contact group meeting which was 
held on 20 September, UNICEF briefed participants on the situation of 
the education sector on the eve of the beginning of the school year 
2006-2007.

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