Burundi: Humanitarian Needs Overview 2016 (Feb 2016)

IMPACT OF THE CRISIS

Violations and abuses against civilians is still the key consequence of the political and security crisis which started in 2015. This situation led to the displacement of the population both internally and outside the country, restricted access to basic services and deteriorated the livelihoods of the most fragile populations. Moreover, some communities were also affected by floods at the end of 2015.

Violations and abuses against civilians had serious consequences on the safety and dignity of persons.

Since April 2015, about 1.1 million women, men and children suffered physical and psychological threats, intimidations and other abuses. According to UNICEF, 249 children are reported to have been arbitrarily detained since April 2015. According to the OHCHR, at least 450 people have reportedly been killed and hundreds of others wounded; more than 4 700 cases of human rights violations were registered since the beginning of the crisis.

The crisis has created a feeling of fear throughout the country, with serious effects on the safety and dignity of the people, regardless of their age, sex or ethnic group. According to estimates, 938,000 civilians throughout the country need protection.

The arbitrary arrests of young men and adolescents are reported almost every day in the capital.

Children, who form half of the population of Burundi, are the most vulnerable. Girls and boys were forced to witness violence; some were separated from their families and suffer from the physical and psychological impact related to insecurity. Orphans and separated children are particularly exposed to the risk of trafficking, recruitment and exploitation. In this context, women and girls are all the more vulnerable to gender-based violence and abuses. Girls and boys had their schooling disturbed. This primarily concern those who attended schools that were occupied by security forces or during attacks near the schools.

Displacements of population within Burundi and to neighbouring countries continue.

The violence, fear and intimidation continue to cause the displacement of thousands of Burundians. More than 270,000 people have fled from their homes during the last ten months. Half of them are children under 18.

At the end of February 2016, more than 246,000 Burundians had found refuge in Tanzania, in Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, 70,000 were internally displaced due to the socio-political crisis and 15,000 due to the floods of the late 20151. An inter-sector evaluation undertaken in Bujumbura in January 2016 also showed that close to 40,000 people have fled the districts of Bwiza, Cibitoke, Musaga and Nyakabiga, with 30% decline of the local population in some regions of the capital, primarily due to insecurity and lack of employment opportunities and insufficient access to basic services.

Negative impact on food security, nutrition and livelihoods.

An Emergency Food Security Assessment (EFSA2), confirmed by a second survey by the World Food Program (WFP) in December 2015, indicate a high increase in food insecurity in the country. It is estimated that 690,000 people are severely food insecure. The same assessment indicates an increase in the prevalence of severe and moderate acute malnutrition among children under 5 compared to February 2014. The nutritional centres already report an increase in admissions related to severe acute malnutrition (SAM) in the most affected districts of Bujumbura Mairie where the data indicate that the number of admitted children doubled in seven health centres and one of hospitals in the capital.

In Bujumbura, epicentre of the crisis, where 70% of the country’s economy is concentrated, about half of the population had their livelihoods reduced significantly. The business and labour market sector were severely affected. This situation led to a significant reduction in access to food and basic services in Bujumbura and a significant decline of monetary transfers towards the rural areas, in particular to Rumonge and Rural Bujumbura where food insecurity increase has been the highest. In June 2015, an FSMS3 study showed that in 80% of cases, displacements were directly related to the search for employment opportunities.

Following the crisis, the decline in tax revenue has also had serious consequences in the delivery of essential services to the population. The Ministry of Health is no longer able to provide certain essential drugs nor offer free health care to pregnant and nursing mothers. The resources intended for the purchase of the essential drugs were reallocated to the payment of health staff wages. Reproductive health services were also affected. In recent months, a reduction in the average number of births assisted by trained personnel was noted in the provinces of Makamba (11%) and Bujumbura Mairie (10.1%). The number of family planning consultations dropped by 40%. This decline is particularly significant in the provinces of Bujumbura Mairie, Makamba and Rumonge.

Aggravating factors

Beyond the impact of the political crisis, the floods also exacerbate the country’s humanitarian needs. The government’s assessment shows that 30,000 people were affected by the floods that occurred in November 2015 when more than 5,000 homes and 13,000 hectares of arable land were destroyed or damaged.

In Burundi, ranked 184th country out of 188 by the Human Development Index 20154, 82% of the population live in multidimensional poverty while 2 out of 3 people live below the national poverty threshold (2014). Demographic growth is on the increase (more than half of the population is under 20 years old) while the social and economic opportunities as well as livelihood alternatives outside agriculture are very limited.

Because of its specificity, the crisis has affected the entire country, i.e. more than 10 million people. Its effects are felt even more by the Burundian population already experiencing chronic vulnerability and facing recurrent political and civil unrest.