OCHA Situation Report
Burundi
30 July - 5 August 2007


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

ACTIVITIES AND UPDATES
Update on repatriation / refugees

Over the reporting week, UNHCR registered 1,827 Burundians returning 
from refugee camps in Tanzania through the entry points of 
Mabanda/Makamba province (598), Gisuru/Ruyigi province (398), 
Kobero/Muyinga province (828); while 3 Burundians arrived from Ivory 
Coast. The current increase is expected to continue over this period 
(end of school year and harvest season); particularly due to the UNHCR 
Cash Grant incentive. Since January 2007, a total of 8,785 returnees 
have been recorded. So far, some 347,784 Burundians have returned to 
their home country under the UNHCR facilitated repatriation process, 
which began in April 2002.

Concerning Congolese refugees, UNHCR has transferred 86 refugees (21 
families) from Bujumbura to the Musasa/Ngozi province transit centre. 
>From January to date, 5,192 DRC refugees have been transferred to the 
Gasorwe refugee camp and Musasa transit center.

Child protection towards an integrated development policy

Through its assistance programme to Unaccompanied Children, the 
International Rescue Committee (IRC) identified 29 unaccompanied 
children in the province of Ruyigi who received school kits, food and 
assistance towards income generating activities. IRC also provided them 
with medical assistance and shelter. Furthermore, in order to ensure 
better community reintegration for returnee children in this province, 
IRC has nominated three focal points who were given necessary material 
and equipment.

With the aim of raising awareness on sexual abuse and exploitation in 
the school milieu, IRC held a discussion session with the participation 
of pupils, teachers, heads of schools, the press and actors involved in 
the fight against gender based violence in the communes of Makamba and 
Nyanza-Lac/Makamba province.

UNICEF organized a two-day workshop aimed at establishing an integrated 
development policy based on a coordinated effort towards planning and 
setting up of objectives. Participants included members of the 
inter-ministerial committee for early childhood; comprised of the 
following Ministries: Education, Health, Agriculture Interior and 
Finance. Provincial representatives and NGOs involved in the child 
protection sector equally attended the workshop.

Assistance to Burundians expelled from Tanzania

Over the reporting week, the government project for the reintegration of 
war-affected persons (PARESI) registered 324 persons (153 families) who 
arrived from Tanzania. 215 entered through Kobero/Muyinga province and 
109 through Mishiha/Cankuzo province. Since January 2007 until date, 
PARESI has recorded 5,487 expelled persons (2,794 families).

Improved access to water

IRC is about to complete the construction of water adductions and 62 
water points which will benefit 43,787 persons in the communes of 
Gisuru/ Ruyigi province and Nyanza Lac/ Makamba province. In order to 
enhance hygiene, IRC has built 32 blocs of public latrines and has 
organized a session on best practices for potential users who are mainly 
populations in these communes.

Ongoing efforts to rehabilitate livestock

The FAO/Emergency Rehabilitation and Coordination Unit (FAO/ERCU) 
continues to distribute goats with the aim of improving upon the 
situation of livestock nationwide by targeting the most vulnerable 
families; particularly returnees and displaced persons. During the 
reporting period, FAO/ERCU distributed 1,050 goats to 350 beneficiaries 
from the communes of Gishubi, Mutaho, Bugendana and Itaba in Gitega 
province. Each family received 3 goats. The selection of beneficiaries 
was made in collaboration with administrative authorities and the 
provincial department of agriculture and livestock (DPAE). Besides being 
a returnee or an IDP, other criteria for eligibility include access to 
land, land ownership, having constructed a stable following a set model 
and the adoption of modern animal rearing techniques, adherence to the 
solidarity chain which implies giving out the first-born kid (young 
goat) to the next identified beneficiary. Through this livestock 
rehabilitation programme, FAO/ERCU has provided a total of 10,572 goats 
to 3,524 vulnerable households in the provinces of Makamba, Rutana, 
Ruyigi, Cankuzo, Muyinga, Ngozi, Karuzi and Gitega.

Update on food aid distribution

Last week, the United Nations World Food Programme in collaboration with 
its implementing partners distributed 285 metric tons of food aid to 
19,408 persons across the country.

In collaboration with UNHCR, WFP will provide a six months ration 
package to returnees from Tanzania in order to encourage voluntary 
repatriation. A 2 months ration will be given to returnees upon 
departure from Tanzania while the remaining 4 months ration will be 
provided through a "voucher system", allowing them to collect 
entitlements close to their homes in Burundi. For this reason, 45 
permanent distribution centres as well as 72 mobile distribution centres 
have been set up by Caritas in various provinces.

To respond to the needs of an expected influx in 2007 of 60,000 
returnees and 20,000 Burundians (without refugee status) expelled from 
Tanzania, while maintaining other core activities, WFP Burundi would 
immediately need US$20 million (equivalent to 24,000 mt) to ensure 
continuity of activities up to March 2008. It is worth noting that this 
amount is equivalent to unmet funding of WFP's project 'Protracted 
Relief and Recovery Operations Burundi - 10528.0' submitted in the 
Burundi 2007 Consolidated Appeal document.

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


- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Appropriate Donations for International Disaster/Humanitarian Needs
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Center for International              web: www.cidi.org
    Disaster Information          listserv: www.cidi.org/listsub.htm
                                guidelines: www.cidi.org/donate.htm
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -