OCHA Situation Report
Burundi
17 - 23 December 2007


Source:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

ACTIVITIES AND UPDATES

Cases of meningitis reported in Rutana Province

Further to reports of suspected cases of meningitis in the commune of
Mpinga-Kayove in Rutana Province, close monitoring was undertaken by the
provincial health authorities. All of the 4 samples which were sent to
the laboratory for analysis confirmed the disease. Affected persons were
admitted in the health facilities for treatment. No vaccination activity
has been envisaged so far since the situation is under control.

Update 24/12/2007 on cholera in Rumonge/Bururi Province and
Nyanza-Lac/Makamba Province

Health partners (UNICEF, CORDAID, Solidarites, Red Cross) continue to
provide medical and sanitation assistance through the management of the
cholera treatment center and the disinfection of households and public
facilities in affected neighbourhoods. In Rumonge, 136 infected persons
have been recorded but no death so far. 11 patients are currently
hospitalized. Disinfection has been completed for 1,550 households and
11 public facilities. In Nyanza-Lac, health staff have recorded 260
cholera cases and 14 patients were admitted on 24/12/07. 4 deaths have
been reported. 3,699 households and public facilities have been
disinfected. Despite reports of new cases, no new affected places have
been registered during the reporting period.

Second and third rounds of immunization campaign for children and
pregnant women

As part of promotion activities for the Mother-child health week, the
Ministry of Health supported by WHO and UNICEF has completed the second
and third rounds of immunization campaign. The second round which
involved immunization of infants up to 11 months, providing vit A to
children under 5 years and deworming for the children between 1 to 14
years old was held nationwide on 17-21 December. The third round
immunization covered pregnant women and women of childbearing age who
are the most exposed to the tetanus disease and was completed in the 7
provinces identified as high-risk provinces - Bujumbura Rural, Ruyigi,
Rutana, Bururi, Gitega, Kirundo and Muramvya. Pregnant women also
received iron and folic acid.

Repatriation of Burundian refugees

During the week 17-23 December 2007, 380 Burundian refugees returned
voluntarily to Burundi. In December, 1,083 Burundians have repatriated
so far. 5,728 returned in November, 6,597 in October, and 8,431 in
September. Since the beginning of this year, a total of 39,764 Burundian
refugees have returned, most of them from Tanzania. No further voluntary
repatriation convoys are planned until the end of the year.

Ongoing transfer of Congolese refugees

146 persons were transferred from Bujumbura to Musasa camp (Ngozi
province), 127 of whom passed the screening in Musasa (others were not
identified as refugees). To date, the refugee population in Musasa
stands at 6,860 persons.

Update on food aid distribution

Last week, WFP assisted 73,318 beneficiaries with 1,217 MT of food, 96%
of which was distributed through Food For Work projects.

Assistance to Burundians expelled from Tanzania

The Government project for the reintegration of war-affected persons
(PARESI) registered 162 Burundians expelled from Tanzania. In 2007,
PARESI has recorded a total of 9,705 expelled persons (4,579 families).

In order to improve the support to expelled persons, the Norwegian
Refugee Council (NRC), in partnership with UNICEF organized a two-day
workshop in Muyinga on the management of transit sites in line with the
Camp Management Toolkit project. The workshop was attended by the local
authorities and humanitarian partners involved in the assistance to
expelled persons in the four transit sites - the Burundian Red Cross,
PARESI, NRC, Africa Humanitarian Action (AHA), HealthNet-Transcultural
Psycho-social Organization (HN-TPO), and Solidarites. Topics discussed
were: the roles and responsibilities of all actors, standards and
indicators in camp management, protection for expelled persons,
participation by expelled persons in the management of transit sites and
coordination between administration, camp management team and service
providers. Participants were given a copy of the Camp Management Toolkit
for further reference.

Towards better management of the community seed warehouses

On 11-21 December, the FAO/Emergency Rehabilitation and Coordination
Unit (ERCU) organized a series of training sessions for agronomists in
the provincial agricultural and livestock departments, heads of units
for the production of quality seeds, and the technicians from partner
NGOs who assist the local associations in the management of the
community seed warehouses. A total of 49 participants were trained in
the management of the warehouses, setting up a structure of the
management of the warehouses, income generation, the conditioning and
the conservation of quality seeds. The newly trained persons will in
turn train the members of community associations in the production of
quality seeds. FAO/ERCU has already rehabilitated 26 community seed
warehouses throughout the country. Under the Project for the
rehabilitation of sustainable food security supported by the European
Union, 8 additional warehouses will be constructed by October 2008.

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

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