OCHA Situation Report
Burundi
21 - 27 May 2007


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

ACTIVITIES AND UPDATES

Update on Burundians expelled from Tanzania: During the reporting week, 
the government project for the reintegration of war-affected persons 
(PARESI) registered 319 persons (145 families) expelled from Tanzania. 
114 persons (49 families) were registered at the entry point of Kobero 
(Muyinga) and 205 persons (96 families) at the entry point of Mishiha 
(Cankuzo). Since January 2007, PARESI has recorded 2,594 expelled 
persons (1,405 families).

Update on food aid distribution: WFP in collaboration with NGO partners 
including: World Vision, CARE, Action Contre la Faim (ACF), Gruppo 
Voluntariato Civile (GVC), International Medical Corps (IMC) and Caritas 
distributed 2,442 MT of food assistance to 41, 4734 beneficiaries 
nationwide, through its various programmes: Feeding centers, food for 
work/food for training, assistance to refugees, HIV/AIDS affected 
persons and targeted distribution.

Food security: Under its livestock rehabilitation programme which 
started in 2005, FAO/Emergency Rehabilitation and Coordination Unit 
(ERCU) continued the distribution of goats to vulnerable families. Over 
the reporting week, FAO/ERCU in collaboration with ACF and the 
provincial agriculture and livestock department distributed a total of 
702 goats to 234 targeted beneficiaries in all the communes of Ruyigi 
province. Beneficiaries must meet the following criteria: be a returnee 
in reintegration phase, have access to land property, own a field of 
fodder crops and commit to stable rearing. In addition, they must engage 
in the community solidarity chain which consists of giving the three 
first born kids to another community member who meets the above 
mentioned criteria. This FAO/ERCU livestock rehabilitation programme has 
already covered the provinces of Makamba, Rutana, Muyinga, Karuzi and 
Gitega.

Repatriation of Burundian refugees

During the week under review, UNHCR registered 182 Burundian returnees 
who arrived from Tanzania through the entry points of Kobero in Muyinga 
province (35), Gisuru in Ruyigi province (25) and Mabanda in Makamba 
province (108). Since January 2007, 3,478 Burundian returnees have been 
recorded. There are still over 300,000 Burundian refugees in Tanzania, 
and more than 17,000 in the DRC.

Coordination: OCHA went on mission to the communes of Mutimbuzi and 
Isale in the province of Bujumbura Rural to assess the security and 
humanitarian situation. Despite the presence of Palipehutu-FNL (Agathon 
Rwasa) rebels, the situation remains calm. No security incident has been 
reported in the province for months. The mission also noted promising 
crop harvests for the agricultural season 2007-B, which will improve the 
food security situation for populations in Bujumbura Rural.

For more information: E-mail: ocha-burundi@un.org, Tel: +257 22 205000 
Ext. 5542

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