Burundi - OCHA-21: 03-09.Aug.98

HUMANITARIAN OPERATIONS IN BURUNDI
Period covered: 3-9 August - No. 23

The information contained in this report was provided by the Office of the
United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for Operational Activities in
Burundi, UN Agencies, International Organisations and NGOs


Rebellion in the DRC, UN and NGO staff evacuated from Uvira
On Sunday 2 August 1998 clashes between Banyamulenge and Congolese elements
of the DRC army broke out near two military camps in the capital Kinshasha.
The fighting quickly spread to the eastern, western and southern parts of
the country. While the fighting in Kinshasa died down, heavy clashes took
place in the Kivu region. The battle for Uvira was audible in Bujumbura,
where heavy explosions could be heard. The cities of Goma, Bukavu and Uvira
are now in the hands of Banyamulenge units. The atmosphere in Kinshasa is
said to be tense and several western countries have advised their citizens
to leave the country.

On the afternoon of Friday 8 August 1998, 39 expatriate staff from UNHCR,
IFRC and 7 NGOs (ACF, IRC, InterSOS, Coopi, Maltezer, World Vision and
Casco) managed to evacuate from Uvira to Burundi. They had been stuck in
Uvira since the fighting began. The UNHCR office in Bujumbura was
instrumental in facilitating their evacuation.

Close to 1,300 people flee to Burundi from the Kivu
Following the intense fighting in and around Uvira nearly 1,300 people, who
are a mix of Congolese, Banyamulenge and Burundians living in the Kivu,
sought refuge in Burundi between 4 and 9 August 1998. Most of them crossed
the Ruzizi river into Cibitoke province and have been housed by the
Burundian authorities in 6 different sites. UNHCR has distributed high
protein biscuits and non-food items to the new arrivals and continues to
monitor events at the border. It is thought that more people are hiding in
the Ruzizi plains on the Congolese side of the border.

Rebel attacks in Kayanza province lead to population movements
The recent attacks in Kayanza province (27-29 July 1998), which are
believed to have been carried out by a large group (1000-2000) of
well-armed rebels, have led to the displacement of about 30,000 people in
the province. At present the following IDP concentrations are known
(estimated figures): Gahombo (8,200), Rukago (2,000), Nyarurama (8,000),
Buraniro (6,000), Gitara (4,000): Gisyo (4,000), Grand Total: 32,200. Two
groups of IDPs who initially took shelter in Mivo (3225 persons) and Rukeco
(5000 persons) in Ngozi province, were moved back into Kayanza province by
the authorities over the week-end of 1-2 August 1998. WFP managed to
distribute 7-day food rations to the displaced at Mivo on 31 July 1998 and
to about 2100 displaced at Gahombo. Initially, access to these IDPs was
limited, resulting in a lack of information on their condition. The unclear
security situation combined with the fact that several roads in the area
were said to be mined, further complicated potential access. Access
improved towards the end of last week, but remains problematic.

FAO predicts increased 1998 harvest
Following a crop and food supply mission which visited Burundi from 3 to 17
July 1998, FAO predicts a total food crop output of 3.68 million MTs for
1998. This represents a 15 percent increase compared to 1997 and almost
equals pre-crisis harvests. However, adjusted for population growth, the
per-capita supplies in 1998 are significantly below pre-crisis levels. Food
import requirements are estimated at 42,000 MTs of cereals and 69,000 MTs
of pulses. With commercial imports of cereals and pulses anticipated at
6,000 MTs and 44,000 MTs respectively, this would leave a food aid
requirement of 36,000 MTs of cereals and 25,000 MTs of pulses. According to
the FAO, prospects for the small 1998 C season crop from July to September
are promising, mainly due to improved availability of fertilisers. The C
harvest is predicted to be around 1988-1993 (pre-crisis) levels. However,
the food supply situation will remain precarious for the poorer segments of
the population.

Gitega retreat
The UN Humanitarian Coordinator, in close collaboration with OCHA organised
a retreat in Gitega from 3 to 5 August. The retreat was an opportunity for
UN, NGO and donor representatives to reflect and exchange ideas in order to
develop a common approach to Burundi's most pertinent humanitarian issues,
ranging from displacement to re-integration, rehabilitation and
opportunities for sustainable development. The representatives gathered at
Gitega agreed that there is a real opportunity for the international
community to engage pro-actively with political processes underway by
encouraging interventions aimed at reducing long-term dependence on relief
and enabling certain groups of affected populations to return to productive
activity. The main recommendation of the retreat can be summarised as
follows:
1) The abandonment of the practice of calibrating humanitarian assistance
solely on the basis of semantic categories such as -displaced- and
-regrouped-, in favour of neutral such as vulnerability and the capacity
for sustainable reinstallation.

2) The endorsement of mutual agreed standards and conditions attaching to
the delivery of assistance, incorporating key principles such as freedom of
access, targeting based on objectively identified needs and transparency.

3) The development of a genuine partnership between the Burundian
authorities, humanitarian agencies and local communities.

4) The adoption of a broader concept of humanitarian action, including a
comprehensive and integrated approach to reinstallation. Therefore, the
humanitarian actors in the country should, while continuing to provide
assistance to the most vulnerable uprooted populations, place equal
importance on the gradual but definitive reinstallation of all affected
populations. It was viewed as essential that this new approach should be
jointly endorsed by the Burundi Government and the international community.
The report of the retreat will be distributed shortly to the wider
humanitarian community and donor representatives for a discussion leading
to a broad-based consensus on the new humanitarian approach.

Belgian development assistance
After Belgium's Minister for Development Cooperation earlier announced that
his country would resume its cooperation activities with Burundi,
contradictory statements were made by Belgium's Foreign Minister on 3
August 1998. The latter denied that development cooperation would be
resumed and added that such a decision needed to be discussed by the
Belgium government as a whole. The foreign minister added that the issue
would be discussed with the US, Canada and EU member states at a meeting to
be held in Ottawa on 19 and 20 August 1998. The President of Frodebu, Dr.
Jean Minani declared that -rather than resuming development cooperation
with Major Buyoya, it would be better to put pressure-. A CNDD spokesperson
declared himself -astonished- by the statement of Belgium's Development
Cooperation Minister as Burundi had not met the democratic conditions set
by the international community.

Repatriation from Tanzania gains momentum
According to UNHCR 655 Burundi refugees returned from Tanzania during the
first 9 days of August 1998. Most of the returnees originate Muyinga and
Ruyigi provinces. The number of Burundian refugees coming home from
Tanzania has recently increased. Over the month of July, 2,563 refugees
came back from Tanzania, compared with 1119 in June and 880 in May 1998.

Cross-border tracing of Unaccompanied Minors successful UNHCR and its
implementing partner Oxfam-Quebec have been successful in rejoining
unaccompanied minors with their families. Only three weeks after the
operations started, 35 children have been reunited with their families.


This report is available on the internet through RELIEFWEB:
http://www.reliefweb.int

Mr. Kathleen A. Cravero
UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator
Tel.: (257) 218 034
Fax: (257) 218 035
E-Mail: dha@cbinf.com

Complex Emergency Response / Consolidated Appeal Process (CER/CAP) - Geneva
Mr. Ernest Chipman - Chief
Mr. Thierry Delbreuve
Tel.: (41 22) 788.7019
Fax: (41 22) 788.6386
Registry E-Mail: Abu.Conteh@dha.unicc.org

Complex Emergencies Division (CED) - New  York
Mr. Ramesh Rajasingham
Tel.: (1 212) 963.0308
Fax: (1 212) 963.1388
E-Mail : rajasingham@un.org

Information Service
Ms. Therese Gastaut Director
Tel.: (41 22) 917.2300
Fax: (41 22) 917.0030
E-Mail: tgastaut@unog.ch