U N I T E D   N A T I O N S
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Integrated Regional Information Network for Central and Eastern Africa

Tel: +254 2 622147
Fax: +254 2 622129
e-mail: irin@ocha.unon.org


CENTRAL AND EASTERN AFRICA
IRIN-CEA Weekly Round-Up 438
5 - 11 July 2008


CONTENTS:

BURUNDI: Rebel group slowing peace process, says government
KENYA: Lack of facilities hampering bid to halt black fever outbreak
UGANDA: Too many guns threaten returnees, say officials
AFRICA: IMF steps into food crisis


ALSO SEE:

DRC: Ituri returnees struggle to rebuild lives
[Full Report: http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=79161]

DRC: Pacifying Ituri: Achievements and challenges ahead
[Full Report: http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=79138]

GLOBAL: Proposal for new US$10 billion disaster fund wins plaudits, 
criticism
[Full Report: http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=79174]

KENYA: IDPs hold out for better compensation
[Full Report: http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=79124]



BURUNDI: Rebel group slowing peace process, says government

Burundi's government on 9 July accused the rebel Palipehutu-Forces for 
National Liberation (FNL) of recruiting new combatants and delaying the 
peace process by insisting on political recognition before cantonment.

"The Palipehutu-FNL is not respecting the ceasefire accord by demanding 
legalisation [as a] political party before combatants assemble," 
government spokeswoman Hafsa Mossi said.

FNL leader Agathon Rwasa returned to Burundi on 30 May after years of 
exile in Tanzania and has since denounced rebellion. Before his return, 
he signed an agreement with the government, committing his group to end 
rebellion

[Full Report: 
http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=79176]


KENYA: Lack of facilities hampering bid to halt black fever outbreak

A lack of laboratory facilities, transport and skilled medical workers 
is hampering efforts to tackle an outbreak of visceral leishmaniasis, a 
parasitic disease also known as kala azar or black fever, in northern 
Kenya's Isiolo and Wajir districts.

"We have a serious shortage of personnel to cover the affected area. We 
are also faced with the problem of mobility as we have only one vehicle 
for the work," said Ali Wario, a public health officer in Isiolo, said.

An outbreak of the disease has killed five people since it was first 
recorded in April 2008. Ten more cases were confirmed in July by a 
special surveillance team. In early June, the total number of confirmed 
cases was 66.

[Full Report: 
http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=79122]


UGANDA: Too many guns threaten returnees, say officials

Northern Uganda has enjoyed relative peace following years of clashes 
between government troops and rebels, but the prevalence of illegal 
weapons across the region poses a new challenge to displaced civilians 
returning to their villages, officials said.

"The region has seen a great deal of violence and so many guns are still 
on the loose," Phenihensas Arinaitwe, the regional police commander, 
said. "Some rogue elements are robbing IDPs [internally displaced 
persons] and people in villages."

Between January and June, 308 cases of robbery were reported in the 
northern districts of Gulu, Kitgum, Amuru and Pader. During these 
incidents, 168 IDPs were murdered as they tried to return home.

[Full Report:
http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=79178
Also see: Officials head to Sudan for meeting with LRA leaders over 
stalled talks
http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=79183]


AFRICA: IMF steps into food crisis

The International Monetary Fund is augmenting an existing facility and 
reshaping a second to help countries worst hit by the food and fuel 
price crisis, especially in sub-Saharan Africa.

The Fund had already increased low-interest loans under existing 
arrangements with Benin, Burkina Faso, Kyrgyz Republic, Central African 
Republic, Haiti and Madagascar under its Poverty Reduction and Growth 
Facility (PRGF) to provide balance of payment and budget support, opened 
new PRGF arrangements with Mali and Niger, and is in discussions with 
more countries.

[Full Report: 
http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=79119]


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