Burundi's socio-political crisis, compounded by economic sanctions imposed by neighbouring countries, has led to economic decline and increasing impoverishment (per capita income is estimated to have fallen from USD 180 in 1992 to a low of USD134 in 1997). This seven-year IFAD-initiated programme has, as its objectives, the reduction of rural poverty and the promotion of sustainable market-led growth. The overall goal is to strengthen the enabling socio-economic environment in a manner conducive to the reduction of rural poverty. The programme seeks to accomplish

Health, Peace and Humanitarian Cease-fires
by Jon M. Ebersole

Militarised violence presents what is perhaps the most vexing challenge to the achievement of the goal of health for all. While not a member of the UN’s Executive Committee on Peace and Security, WHO is nonetheless positioned to play a crucial peacemaking role in some of the world’s most difficult trouble spots.

BUJUMBURA (Reuters) - A British aid worker killed by ethnic Hutu rebels in Burundi earlier this week was murdered in cold blood, a survivor of the attack said.
Charlotte Wilson, 27, who was working with Britain's Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO), was among 21 people killed after rebels opened fire on a tourist bus and two other vehicles on Burundi's main road near the capital Bujumbura on Thursday.

Witnesses said almost all the victims had survived the initial ambush but were then executed one by one, including Wilson, who worked as a VSO teacher in neighbouring Rwanda.

UNITED NATIONS
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DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: Council urges end to fighting

The UN Security Council on Thursday called on the Ugandan and Rwandan armies in the Katanga and Equateur provinces of the DRC to stop fighting and withdraw from both areas. In a statement presented to the press by the Council's president, Ambassador Sergey Lavrov

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REPUBLIQUE DEMOCRATIQUE DU CONGO : Le Conseil exige la cessation des hostilités

Le Conseil de sécurité de l'ONU a exhorté jeudi les armées du Rwanda et de l'Ouganda engagées dans les provinces congolaises du Katanga et de l'Equateur d'arrêter les combats et de se retirer de ces deux régions. Dans une déclaration, rendue publique par

HAVANA, Dec 27 (AFP) - Cuba will send 100 doctors, nurses and medical technicians to Burundi in January under a cooperation agreement reached between the two nations, officials said Wednesday.
Cuban medical teams are an important part of the Communist island's foreign relations. The official AIN news agency said Wednesday that more than 2,400 Cuban medical specialists currently are working in 14 countries.

gt-cb/ceh/ch AFP

Copyright (c) 2000 Agence France-Presse
Received by NewsEdge Insight: 12/27/2000 16:48:29

=A9AFP 2000: The information provided

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DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: Fresh fighting in Katanga

There has been been renewed fighting between government and rebel forces in the southeastern province of Katanga. The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) on Tuesday quoted Lola Kinsanga, spokesman for the Rwandan-backed Rassemblement congolais pour la democratie

BUJUMBURA, Dec 27 (AFP) - One among a group of rebels launching an attack in Burundi's southern Makamba province was killed during the operation while two civilians were wounded, locals told AFP on Wednesday.
The attack took place early Tuesday morning in Kihange, in Kibabo commune, on the Tanzanian border, a local administrative official said.

The official said one rebel was killed, two civilians were wounded, shops were looted and cows stolen.

Soldiers engaged the rebels before pushing them back to the neighbouring settlement of Nyarubanga in Kayogoro commune,

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REPUBLIQUE DEMOCRATIQUE DU CONGO : Le Conseil de Sécurité de l'ONU demande à toutes les parties d'observer la trêve

Les membres du Conseil de Sécurité de l'ONU ont demandé vendredi la cessation immédiate des hostilités en RDC. Dans une déclaration lue à la presse par son Président, M. Sergey Lavrov de la Fédération de Russie, le Conseil a tenu à exprimer sa "vive