Burundi Situation Report: 19 - 25 Sept 2005

HIGHLIGHTS

Education: further to the Burundi presidential decision to free education in primary schools, the number of enrolment has critically increased in most areas. This has resulted in an increase in needs related to classrooms, equipment, teaching staff and material. The Government has issued a request to meet these needs. UN agencies and donors met to discuss joint actions to be undertaken immediately to address the needs. During a meeting with the Government on the issue, agencies and donors agreed to support the Government's policy, to prepare a UN-wide response and advised the GoB to explore supporting funding mechanisms within the framework of the budget support agreements already signed with some donors. In the meantime, a number of interventions in the education sector are currently under preparation to meet additional needs for school classrooms, text books and other school materials. These interventions will be included in the 2006 CAP, which is currently being finalized. In some places, figures have doubled. In some areas like Kayongoro and Nyanza-Lac (Makamba Province), the problem is acute due to the fact that both places record high number of refugee returns.

Demobilization: as of 22 September, the Security Sector Reform/Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (SS/DDR) of the United Nations Operation in Burundi (UNOB) reports that a total of 16,552 ex-combatants have been demobilized. The disarming and disbanding of gardiens de la paix and militants combattants resumed on 12 September and the process has been completed both in Muramvya and Gitega provinces. A total of 2,529 militia members (including 1,326 gardiens de la paix and 1,203 militants combatants) have been disbanded and have received the one-off service allowance of 100,000 Burundi Francs. In the process, 120 weapons and 34 grenades were handed over to the FDN (National Defence Force).

ACTIVITIES AND UPDATES

Food security: the distribution of seeds, tools and seeds protection rations are under way. UN agencies FAO and WFP and their partners have already covered the three fourths of the 150,000 targeted beneficiaries. In order to increase access to seeds for the vulnerable, the FAO/Emergency Coordination Unit (ECU) and CRS have organized a seeds fair in Bujumbura, Cankuzo, Ruyigi, Gitega, and Makamba.

Protection/Human Rights:

- Ligue Iteka, a national human rights association, has registered a rape case on a woman that was attributed to two policemen in Makamba. Investigations are under way. In addition, several domestic cases are reported in Nyanza-Lac.

- The issue over land conflict between displaced and repatriated families in Muyange area (Nyanza-Lac) may be solved shortly. A meeting gathering parties to the conflict (displaced and repatriated families), the provincial governor and representative of the National Commission for war-affected persons (CNRS) recommended identification of the displaced families and assistance with iron sheets to cover their houses to support their reinstallation in their zones of origin. The relocation should be completed by end December 2005.

Non food items: following household lootings that were perpetrated in Bukeye Commune (Muramvya Province), CRS conducted a mission to validate the list of beneficiaries. A total of 372 families have been identified for the coming distribution.

Food aid update: over the last two weeks, WFP has assisted 321,664 beneficiaries with 2,569 MT of food.

Refugee returns: as of 25 September, UNHCR reports 46,094 facilitated and 1,245 spontaneous returnees since January 2005. Total: 47,339. During the reporting week, 2,352 Burundian refugees returned to their home country.

Security and Access

Cibitoke: an armed attack aiming at theft was perpetrated against a household in Rugombo on 19 September overnight.

Bubanza: increase in attacks on demobilized persons has been reported during the reporting period. In Bubanza Commune, a demobilized ex-combatant, his wife and their child were killed on 19 September. Meanwhile, Musigati Commune remains inaccessible to humanitarian actors due to insecurity generated by the presence of FNL elements.

Bujumbura Rural: fighting took place between FNL rebels and FDN forces in Muyira Zone (Kanyosha Commune) on 20 September overnight. Three civilians were reportedly shot dead and households looted. Due to the presence of FNL rebels, temporary displacement of the population fearing rebel attacks was noted in Muhuta and Nyabiraba communes. In Muhuta Commune, families from Buringa area fearing rebel attacks spent the night (20 September) in the premises of Rutongo Zone office. In Mbare-Gasarara in Nyabiraba Commune, around 100 families who hid in the bush returned to their homes the same day. Meanwhile, access to the communes of Muhuta, Kanyosha and Bugarama was hampered by poor road conditions.

Bujumbura Town: gunfire was heard in the neighbourhoods of Kinama and Kanyosha. Household looting blamed on FNL rebels was reported.

For Information

Adélaide Habonimana
National Information Officer
PH: (257) 910 196
E-mail: habonimanaa@un.org