OCHA Situation Report
Burundi
1 - 14 September 2008


Source:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Activities and Updates Repatriation of Burundian refugees

During the reporting period, 4,131 returnees arrived in Burundi, including
5 who arrived from South Africa. 351 entered through Ruyigi on two
convoys, and 3,775 through Makamba (2,044 former 1972 refugees from
Tanzania's Old Settlements, and 1,731 from Mtabila camp). Four
returneesarrived spontaneously from the Old Settlements.

Since the beginning of this year, a total of 73,664 Burundian refugees
have returned: 435 in January, 1,991 in February, 8,377 in March, 6,675 in
April, 5,272 in May, 19,635 in June, 17,508 in July, 9,640 in August and
6,045 so far in September. This figure includes the return of 17,392
refugees from 1972, including 32 from villages in Kigoma region.

Assistance to Burundians expelled from Tanzania

The Government project for the reintegration of war-affected persons
(PARESI) registered 428 Burundians (115 families) expelled from Tanzania
who arrived through the entry points of Gisuru/Ruyigi Province 68 persons
(25 families), Mishiha/Cankuzo Province 51 persons (22 families),
Mabanda/Makamba Province 285 persons (60 families) and Kobero/Muyinga
Province 24 persons (8 families) .

Since January 2008, PARESI registered 5,418 Burundians (2,324 families)
expelled from Tanzania.

Update on food aid distribution

WFP distributed 971 MT of food aid to 73,811 beneficiaries through its
various partner's programmes. The big part of 654 MT food aid, going to
50,258 beneficiaries, was distributed to families having known bad
harvests in the region of the east depressions, notably Rutana and Ruyigi
provinces. Together with the government, UNICEF, HCR, the NGO working in
refugee camps and donors, WFP participated in the joint assessment mission
of the recommendations implementation of the previous joint assessment
mission (of 2005) and to formulate recommendations for 2009 and 2010.

The mission is also going to estimate the current situation and the
perspectives 'gender' in touch with the various supplied types of
assistances to the refugees, notably the access in and the management of
the food aid, the food security of the refugees, the nutritional
situation, the social and sanitary conditions of various vulnerable
groups, etc.

Protection and community reintegration of returnees

The Legal Aid Clinic Project of the African Centre for the Constructive
Resolution of Disputes (ACCORD) successfully mediated 6 disputes in the
communes of Nyabitsinda, Rumonge, Nyanza-Lac, Giharo (in provinces of
Ruyigi, Bururi, Makamba and Rutana respectively). Out of 6 disputes, 5
were related to land and 1 related to family law. In addition, ACCORD
conducted 1 conflict management training in the commune of Mabanda
(Makamba province) for 25 members of host committees in charge of
welcoming returnees. Finally, 8 people received legal advice from ACCORD
and were after referred to either Avocats sans Frontieres (ASF) or to
relevant judiciary institutions. These initiatives assisted towards the
reintegration of returnees into communities, the promotion of
reconciliation and the protection of returnees.

Upgrading of school infrastructures ? Contribution to durable solutions
for returnees

The Norwegian Refugee Council successfully achieved the construction and
the equipment of 66 classrooms with latrine blocks in 20 schools in the
communes of Nyabiraba, Kabezi, Muhuta in Bu jumbura Rural province (4); of
Mpanda, Gihanga Musigati in Bubanza province (3); of Kayogoro, Nyanza-lac,
Makamba in Makamba province (3); of Giharo in Rutana province (2); of
Nyabitsinda in Ruyigi province (2); and of Muyinga and Giteranyi in
Muyinga province (6).

These school buildings and furniture funded by the Norwegian Ministry of
Foreign Affairs will enable 2,500 children to access school or to benefit
from improved learning conditions; and will contribute to the durable
reintegration or resettlement of recent returnees.

Intensive French and Kirundi Courses for 875 children of returnees from
Tanzania

On Friday September 5, a total of 875 children of primary and secondary
school age repatriated from Tanzania completed a 7-week intensive language
programme in the Provinces of Makamba and Rumonge. These children are
returnees from the 1972 Old Settlements who until June this year had
largely been taught in English and Kiswahili in Tanzania. The conversion
programme in Kirundi, French and Life-skill education which was organized
by the Ministry of Education, and supported by UNICEF and WFP, took place
in the Lycee Makamba and Lycee Rumonge during the summer break. The
children will now be integrated into Burundi primary and secondary schools
from 15 September, 2008. It is estimated up to 13,000 schoolage children
from the Old Settlements will return to Burundi before the end of the year
and most of them will be re-settled in Makamba and Rumonge provinces.

Human rights violations

Impunity continues to prevail in Burundi as numerous human rights
violations remain unpunished. In addition authorities fail to take
adequate measures to prevent their occurrence. After thorough
investigation, the HR&JD came to the conclusion that the alleged suicide
of a detainee reported in Muramvya prison on 26 August was in fact an
assassination. Moreover, Police authorities displayed a reluctance to
ascertain responsibilities by transferring the detainee's guard on the
night of the incident to another location.

In Bubanza the Public prosecutor told HR&JOs that out of the 82 alleged
cases of human rights violations/abuses presented to him at the beginning
of the month, only 15 were actually addressed. Impunity was also one of
the main topics brought forward during the numerous sensitisation sessions
on sexual violence against women held by the HR&JD during the week. Four
hundred and seven persons participated in such activities organised in
Karusi, Ruyigi, Cankuzo, Kayanza, Muyinga and Kirundo provinces.

As highlighted in the latest report of the Independent Expert on the human
rights situation in Burundi, the right to freedom of expression was at
stake this week. Burundian media widely covered the arrest of Net Press's
editor, Jean Claude Kavumbagu after he had broadcasted the alleged cost of
the President's August trip to the Beijing Olympics. Pending the outcome
of this procedure, Mr Kavumbagu was transferred to Mpimba central prison
on accusation of publishing stories of a "defamatory" and "injurious"
nature. It should be recalled that, over the past weeks, several NGO
members were summoned by the public prosecutor in Bujumbura on similar
grounds, without being arrested.

The HR&JD continued its awareness raising activities this week. Three
sensitisation sessions were held on Transitional Justice for 155
participants, including 40 women, in Kayanza, Ngozi and Kirundo provinces.
Security, political will, true reconciliation, and the relations between
Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Special Chamber were the main
issues discussed. Meanwhile, another conference on how to refer a criminal
case to the International Criminal Court (ICC) was organised for
representatives of media, civil society and trade unions.

Vulnerable supports for the starting up of the agricultural season 2009A

The first agricultural season usually starts with rainfalls of
mid-September. Between September 8th and 13th, the food security sector
actors finalised their plan to provide the most vulnerable households with
agricultural basic inputs so that they can set up the season 2009A.
254,850 households will assisted by various institutions as FAO, CRS, GTZ,
HCB and FHI. The FAO will supply 176,450 households (69 % of assisted
households) with agricultural inputs (10 kg of bean seeds, 4 kg corn seed,
10 g of marsh seeds and a hoe. Of these households assisted by the FAO,
152,450 will receive the assistance by direct distributions while 24.000
will be assisted through seeds fairs. The targeting of the beneficiaries
was completed; the distribution and the organization of fairs will start
on September 22nd and will end in mid-October to conform to the
agricultural calendar. Besides the assistance granted in the beginning of
the season, the FAO/ERCU will supply, in November, 2009, sorghum seeds to
20.000 households of Bubanza, Cankuzo, Cibitoke, Kirundo, Makamba,
Muyinga, Rutana and Ruyigi provinces, which have been the most affected by
water deficit during the last two seasons (2008A and 2008B). Through its
programme of reproduction quality seeds dissemination of healthy farm
inputs, the FAO/ERCU will distribute agricultural inputs to farmers
organized in associations of quality seeds producer. These associations
will receive seed rice for 29,600 households, potato cuttings for 2,580
households, healthy cassava cuttings for 64,095 households, fruit seeds
for 39,460 households, groundnut seeds for 3,500 households and sorghum
seeds for 11,250 households.

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