OCHA Situation Report
Burundi
31 March - 6 April 2008


Source:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

ACTIVITIES AND UPDATES

Repatriation of Burundian refugees: During the reporting week, UNHCR
facilitated the return of 728 Burundian refugees from Tanzania arriving
through Gisuru/Ruyigi Province and Kobero/Muyinga Province. One Burundian
arrived from South Africa through the Bujumbura airport. In 2008, UNHCR
has registered a total of 11,531 returnees. Since the beginning of the
facilitated repatriation in 2002, UNHCR has registered 390,328 Burundian
returnees.

Update on food aid distribution: WFP supplied 38MT of food aid to 6,140
beneficiaries through its different programmes; Health Nutrition, Refugee
Feeding and Return Package.

Assistance to Burundians expelled from Tanzania: The Government project
for the reintegration of war-affected persons (PARESI) registered 41
Burundians (20 families) expelled from Tanzania who arrived through the
entry points of Kobero/Muyinga Province, Mishiha/Cankuzo Province and
Mabanda/Makamba Province. Since 01 January, 1,474 expelled persons (654
families) have returned to their home country.

Prevention activities against the avian flu epidemic: As part of outreach
and sensitization activities being undertaken through its project
"Prevention and monitoring of avian flu and support to veterinary services
in the Great lakes Region", the FAO/Emergency and Rehabilitation
Coordination Unit organized a training session for actors of the most
important theatre group in the country "Ninde" in Gitega Province. The
training will enable actors to perform plays that will raise awareness and
dissemination information on the epidemic. Prepared in Kirundi, (Burundi's
mother tongue) the training focused on four themes: symptoms of the avian
flu, possibilities of an outbreak in Burundi, the impact of the avian flu
on a developing country like Burundi and potential risks. At the end of
this training, two groups which were set up wrote scripts to be broadcast
over the national radio and television. Recording is scheduled to start in
less than two weeks.

Protection and community reintegration of returnees: The Legal Aid Clinic
Project of the African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes
(ACCORD) successfully mediated 2 land disputes in the Commune of
Rumonge/Bururi Province. In addition, 7 persons received legal advice from
ACCORD where after they were referred to either Avocats sans Frontieres
(ASF) (a partner organization), or to a relevant judiciary institution.
These initiatives assist towards the reintegration of returnees into
communities, the promotion of reconciliation, and the protection of
returnees.

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