OCHA Situation Report
Burundi
5 - 11 November 2007


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

ACTIVITIES AND UPDATES

Assistance to Burundians expelled from Tanzania

During the reporting period, the Government project for the
reintegration of war-affected persons (PARESI) registered 120 Burundians
expelled from Tanzania who arrived through the entry point of
Kobero/Muyinga Province. No new expelled persons were recorded at the
entry points of Mishiha/Cankuzo Province and Mabanda/Makamba Province.
So far in 2007, PARESI has recorded 8,793 expelled persons, consisting
of 4, 272 families.

Update on repatriation and refugees

UNHCR registered 2,717 Burundian refugees who mostly arrived from
Tanzania through the entry points of Kobero/Muyinga Province (437),
Gisuru/Ruyigi Province (650), and Mabanda/Makamba Province (1,611).
Sixteen other refugees arrived through the Bujumbura airport from Kenya,
Zambia and South Africa. Three spontaneous returnees were registered in
Mabanda. Since January 2007, 35,753 Burundian refugees have been
repatriated to their home country including 445 spontaneous returnees.
So far, 374,752 Burundians refugees have returned under the UNHCR
facilitated repatriation process which began in April 2002.

Food aid distribution

With the objective to increase food aid beneficiaries in primary
schools, WFP launched its school feeding programme in Muyinga Province.
This increase was earlier implemented in the Provinces of Kirundo,
Karuzi, Makamba, Rutana, Ruyigi and Cankuzo where more schools now
benefit from school canteens. In order to meet hygiene standards, WFP
will distribute 1,340,780 bars of soap donated by UNICEF to all pupils
enrolled in the assisted schools. Whilst parents and local
administration authorities appreciate the implementation of such a
programme, infrastructures and adequate kitchenware remain deficient in
the newly identified schools.

Over the reporting week, in collaboration with its implementing
partners, WFP distributed 1,619 MT of food to 102,298 beneficiaries
through the different programmes.

Health: cholera in Rumonge/Bururi Province

In response to a few suspected cases of cholera in Rumonge, the Ministry
of Health in collaboration with WHO fielded a follow-up mission which
identified a total of 29 suspected cases. Results of the six samples
which were sent to the laboratory for further analysis confirmed the
cholera disease. However, no death has been recorded so far. Thirteen
out of the 29 patients are still receiving treatment at the health
facility of Rumonge.

Ongoing initiatives for the protection of returnees

Under its Legal Aid Clinic Project, the African Centre for the
Constructive Resolution of Disputes (ACCORD) successfully mediated five
land conflicts in: Rumonge/Bururi Province (2), Nyanza-Lac/Makamba
Province (1) and Butaganzwa/Ruyigi Province (2). In addition, 8
individuals received legal advice from ACCORD where after they were
referred to either ACCORD's partner organization Avocats sans Frontieres
(ASF), or to relevant judiciary institutions. These initiatives assist
towards the reintegration of returnees into communities, the promotion
of reconciliation and dialogue, as well as the protection of returnees.

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

Full Report:
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/retrieveattachments?openagent&docid=C976EEE7B3262C2649257395002B424E&file=Full_Report.pdf


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