ACTIVITIES AND UPDATES
Health, UNITAID donates anti malaria combination treatment
On August 24, with logistical support from UNICEF, UNITAID officially donated 8.3 tons of anti malaria combination treatment to the Ministry of Health through WHO. This donation which is worth 785,105 US dollars will help in ensuring treatment for 722,953 malaria cases. The handover ceremony was attended by the representatives of UNICEF and WHO, the Ambassador of France and the Head of the French Cooperation in Burundi.
Assistance to Burundians expelled from Tanzania
Over the reporting period, the Government project for the reintegration of war-affected persons (PARESI) registered 585 persons (255 families) who arrived from Tanzania through the entry point of Kobero/Muyinga Province (465 persons/203 families) and through Mishiha/Cankuzo Province (120 persons/52 families). Since January 2007 until date, PARESI has recorded 7,161 expelled persons (3,521 families).
On August 22, actors involved in managing and providing assistance to expelled Burundians in the Kinazi/Muyinga Province and Munzenze/Cankuzo Province transit sites met to discuss improvements made in the registration of new arrivals. In order to limit fraudulent cases, the representative of PARESI and the Head of Burundian immigration services (PAFE) had initially stated that, only expelled persons bearing official documents from Tanzanian immigration services should be registered by the PAFE upon arrival at the Burundi frontier in Kobero.
Child rights, UNICEF supports participation of children for the promotion of their rights
With the objective to enhance communication on child rights issues, UNICEF organized a threeday training for 15 new child journalists. At the end of the training, UNICEF donated a set of equipment comprised of 1 computer, 1 colour printer and accessories to the Ministry of Communication and 2 private radio stations namely African Public Radio (RPA) and Isanganiro. This equipment which is worth 6,089 US dollars will be used in training programmes for child journalists.
Education, support to Burundian returnee pupils
As part of efforts to support the return of Burundian refugee pupils and in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, the Refugee Education Trust (RET) fielded a mission to the Provinces of Muyinga, Ruyigi, Rutana and Makamba, which have been identified as Provinces with high rates of returns from Tanzania. The objective of this visit was to assess the needs of secondary schools in the four Provinces. The mission's findings mainly highlighted the need for more classrooms and the lack of sufficient space in dormitories to meet the requests of returnee and other vulnerable children; who are mostly in desperate need of accommodation facilities. RET will soon start the construction of additional classrooms for secondary schools in Mugano and Giteranyi/ Muyinga Province. In order to support the educational reintegration of Burundian children returning from exile, more funding is required to meet their school needs.
Over the last two years, RET's achievements have focused on preparatory activities for the return from exile of secondary school children. Among other services, these preparations include; rehabilitation, construction of more classrooms, distribution of school kits, the provision of accommodation facilities, kitchen utensils and water installation.
The decision by Tanzanian authorities to close secondary schools in refugee camps last June will result in a significant increase in the number of pupils in the secondary schools of Muyinga, Ruyigi, Rutana and Makamba Provinces which register the highest figures of returnees.
Update on repatriation, refugees
UNHCR registered 2,359 Burundian refugees who mostly arrived from Tanzania through the entry points of Mabanda/Makamba Province (914), Gisuru/Ruyigi Province (510), and Kobero/Muyinga Province (935). Since the beginning of the UNHCR cash grant implementation process which allocates 50,000 Burundian francs to every returnee upon arrival, the number of returns continues to rise. This increase is expected to continue even further with WFP's decision to distribute sixmonth food rations. Since January 2007, a total of 15,444 returnees have been recorded. So far, some 354,443 Burundians have returned to their home country under the UNHCR facilitated repatriation process which began in April 2002.
|
Province
|
20-26 Aug.
|
Total in 2007
|
Total in 2006
|
Total in 2005
|
Total in 2004
|
Total in 2003
|
Total in 2002
|
Total from 2002-2007
|
| Bubanza |
69
|
332
|
233
|
282
|
356
|
211
|
1,483
| |
| Buja Mairie |
1
|
121
|
539
|
1,328
|
1,413
|
2,053
|
1,192
|
6,646
|
| Buja Rural |
5
|
197
|
514
|
389
|
419
|
1,707
|
971
|
4,197
|
| Bururi |
200
|
830
|
2,745
|
1,092
|
1,648
|
5,268
|
3,649
|
15,232
|
| Cankuzo |
109
|
693
|
1,656
|
1,599
|
2,879
|
8,361
|
1,453
|
16,641
|
| Cibitoke |
79
|
1,115
|
631
|
348
|
937
|
601
|
3,711
| |
| Gitega |
15
|
406
|
1,694
|
1,803
|
2,730
|
2,952
|
1,257
|
10,842
|
| Karuzi |
113
|
803
|
3,945
|
4,363
|
5,925
|
3,910
|
1,882
|
20,828
|
| Kayanza |
19
|
88
|
748
|
631
|
1,004
|
736
|
356
|
3,563
|
| Kirundo |
144
|
1301
|
2,149
|
8,545
|
6,194
|
4,147
|
6,633
|
28,969
|
| Makamba |
308
|
3210
|
11,063
|
16,550
|
11,975
|
19,611
|
4,418
|
66,827
|
| Muramvya |
7
|
88
|
656
|
613
|
820
|
949
|
130
|
3,256
|
| Muyinga |
620
|
3858
|
6,217
|
15,932
|
12,676
|
11,988
|
20,152
|
70,823
|
| Mwaro |
2
|
72
|
39
|
54
|
62
|
11
|
240
| |
| Ngozi |
85
|
451
|
1,577
|
2,679
|
2,737
|
1,758
|
1,838
|
11,040
|
| Rutana |
393
|
1255
|
3,487
|
4,006
|
7,850
|
4,312
|
2,065
|
22,975
|
| Ruyigi |
340
|
1993
|
6,359
|
7,674
|
31,370
|
13,247
|
6,438
|
67,081
|
| Without address |
47
|
1
|
3
|
12
|
26
|
89
| ||
| Total |
2,359
|
15,444
|
44,915
|
68,108
|
90,327
|
82,366
|
53,283
|
354,443
|
UNHCR transferred 874 Congolese refugees from Bujumbura to the Musasa/Ngozi Province transit centre bringing the total number of persons in this centre to 5,200. From January till date, 7,395 DRC refugees have been transferred to the Gasorwe refugee camp and Musasa transit center.
Update on food aid
In collaboration with its implementing partners, WFP distributed 493 metric tons of food aid to 30,489 beneficiaries nationwide. With regards to the ongoing increase in the number of returnees, WFP in partnership with Caritas continue to deliver food aid in the 45 identified distribution points which are mostly located in parishes and in 72 other mobile points. Implementation of the sixmonth ration started on August 15 with the distribution of two-month rations to returning refugees in Tanzania while the remaining four-month rations will be received in Burundi from September 15.
Food security and nutrition partners set up the integrated humanitarian phase classification tool for Burundi
With the overall objective of providing a quick, adapted and targeted response to the needs of vulnerable persons, several Government officers, UN agencies, national and international NGOs participated in a five-day workshop aimed at analyzing and setting up an integrated tool for the humanitarian phase classification (IPC). This tool will be used to assess the humanitarian situation with regards to food security and nutrition, while making planning and response delivery more effective in the short and long term. Prior to this workshop, the technical team comprised of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, the Ministry of Health, FAO, WFP, UNICEF, OCHA and ACF in its capacity as representative of the NGO network (RESO) were trained on IPC procedures.
Latest developments
On August 28, Mr Ross Mountain, DSRSG for the UN mission in the DRCongo (MONUC), made a short visit to the BINUB to meet with Mr Youssef Mahmoud, the ERSG, and part of the Country Team. The purpose of the visit was to share information and discuss the deteriorating security / humanitarian situation in Eastern DRC, and for the DSRSG to be briefed on the BINUB experience of developing a partnership with the Burundian Government for implementation of the Peacebuilding projects.
For more information: E-mail: ocha-burundi@un.org, Tel: +257 22 205000 Ext. 5542
Disclaimer
- UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
- To learn more about OCHA's activities, please visit https://www.unocha.org/.