OCHA Situation Report
Burundi
19 - 25 February 2007


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

ACTIVITIES AND UPDATES

Implementation of season 2007-B : Over the reporting week, partners
involved in the implementation of agricultural season 2007-B started the
distribution of seeds, tools and seed protection rations (SPR). In
collaboration with partner organizations including Solidarites, and
COPED, FAO/ERCU completed the distribution of seeds and tools in the
provinces of Bururi, Muramvya, Gitega, Cankuzo, Kirundo, Ngozi, Muyinga
and Kayanza. During the current seed distribution programme, FAO/ERCU
will provide 2,483 MT of beans (10 Kg per family), 2,483 Kg of vegetable
seeds (10g per family) to 248,300 vulnerable families throughout the
country.  Each of the 151,000 most vulnerable families will receive a
hoe.  FAO/ERCU will also assist another 7,800 families through
organization of seed fairs which brings to 256,100 the total number of
families benefiting from this agricultural season assistance. Thanks to
financial support by ECHO and in coordination with FAO, Catholic Relief
Services (CRS) will provide seeds to approximately 60,000 households for
the 2007-B agricultural season. As per its press release, targeted
provinces include Bubanza, Cankuzo, Cibitoke, Gitega, Kirundo, Muyinga,
Ngozi, and Ruyigi in response to the current food security crisis caused
by the heavy rains and floods during the 2007-A season which destroyed
many crops.

WFP delivered 330 MT of SPR to 73,940 beneficiaries in Cankuzo and
Karuzi. For agricultural season 2007-B, approximately 1,500 MT of SPR
will be distributed to 60,000 families (300,000 persons) throughout the
country in order to prevent beneficiaries from consuming the seeds.

Assistance to torrential rains victims: UNICEF, OCHA and Burundian Red
Cross completed a joint assessment mission in Busoro area in Kanyosha
commune (Bujumbura Mairie) further to the violent wind which damaged
several houses (night of Feb 20).  In addition to the 386 houses which
were destroyed by torrential rains early in 2007, another 58 houses had
their roofs blown off.

Update on Burundians Expelled from Tanzania: During the week under
review, the governmental project for the reintegration of war-affected
persons (PARESI) registered 101 Burundians arriving from Tanzania in the
transit site of Kinazi (Muyinga province).  Since the beginning of year
2007, PARESI has registered 728 expelled persons.

Repatriation: The number of returnees continues to decrease.  Over the
reporting period, only 109 Burundian refugees returning home were
registered by UNHCR through the entry points of Kobero in Muyinga (48),
Mabanda in Makamba (31) and Bujumbura airport (30).  Since the beginning
of 2007, 2,287 persons have returned to Burundi.

OCHA Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) allocation for Burundi

The CERF under-funded 'window' allocated $8.5 million for life-saving
projects contained in the 2007 Consolidated Appeal and not yet
sufficiently funded in order to address the current crisis in Burundi.
Four projects were submitted (1 for WFP, 2 for FAO and 1 for UNICEF) and
all of them received approval.  This funding allows the recipient
agencies and their implementing partners to quickly respond to the
effects of the Dec. 2006 and Jan. 2007 rains.

Coordination: OCHA and the UNHCR sub-office in Ruyigi fielded a joint
mission in Gisagara commune (Cankuzo province) to follow-up the arrival
of Burundians expelled from Tanzania.  Another mission was organized in
Buyengero and Burambi communes (Bururi province) as part of follow-up of
the prevailing humanitarian situation and response/assistance delivered.
The mission recommended fair targeting in order to reach the most
vulnerable families, provision of seeds to returnees and assessment of
rehabilitation needs for 12 classrooms which were destroyed in Burumbi
commune further to torrential rains in December 2006 and early 2007.

Assistance to victims of sexual gender-based violence: HealthNet-TPO
held training for victims of sexual violence on setting and management
of income generating activities in Muyinga.  The objective of the
training was to help them for a better social reintegration.

For more information:
  E-mail: ocha-burundi@un.org
  Tel: 205000 Ext. 5558

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