Burundi Situation Report: 28 Nov - 4 Dec 2005

ACTIVITIES AND UPDATES

Health:

A national vaccination campaign against measles was conducted over the reporting week.

The number of malaria cases increased significantly in Ngozi, Makamba, Gitega and Muramvya without crossing the threshold of an epidemic. Health partners and district health offices were intervening jointly. The situation is under control. Meanwhile, a malaria epidemic has been declared in Gahombo Commune (Kayanza Province). Patients are receiving treatment at their homes; mosquito nets impregnated with insecticide are also being distributed.

Food security: On 28 November a joint press conference was held by the Ministry of Agriculture, WFP, FAO, UNICEF and OCHA in order to communicate a coherent statement and evaluation on the prevailing food security situation. This was done to avoid a repetition of events in 2004 and early 2005 when misleading messages about "famines" sparked confusion. The current situation was described as food shortage which is serious and disconcerting. FAO and WFP have increased efforts to respond to the crisis. FAO will distribute a variety of seeds to an additional 50,000 households and WFP will increase its monthly food distribution to between 7,500 and 8,500 MT for the period from December 2005 to February 2006. This life saving activity will cover immediate needs but cannot address structural food security issues. Meanwhile, the situation in some communes in Eastern Burundi is worsening. Authorities in Ruyigi Province reported that over 700 persons had crossed the border to Tanzania in search of food. The movement, however, still has to be read against the backdrop of seasonal movement of labour to neighbouring countries.

Diseases such as cassava mosaic, the delayed and erratic rainfalls as well as a bad harvest during the 2005B period have contributed to the deterioration of the situation. The most affected communes were being determined on basis of data collected by local agronomists / administration authorities, WFP, FAO and partners in supplementary nutrition centres. In order to address the issue UNICEF, WFP, FAO (Emergency) and NGOs met on 30 November. Discussions covered an update on the food security and nutritional situation, implemented activities, pending responses, and the coordination of anthropometric surveys to be conducted shortly.

Returnees / Refugees:

As of 5 December 2005, UNHCR had repatriated 66,816 persons including 65,322 facilitated and 1494 spontaneous returnees. During the reporting week, UNHCR facilitated the return of 425 refugees and registered 45 spontaneous returns. However the number of returnees has dropped significantly since the month of October 2005.

On 29 November 206 Congolese refugees were transferred from Cibitoke Province to Gasorwe camp in Muyinga province. They had been arriving from South Kivu throughout the month of November due to fighting in the Kamanyola area. Of the 206, 132 were in Rugombo commune and 74 in other areas of the province. Of the latter 20 were new arrivals whereas 54 belonged to a group of Congolese refugees that had been staying in the area since closure of the Mugarama transit centre in mid 2004. This was the last transfer of new arrivals as the influx had stopped.

Food Aid Distribution, Assistance to the vulnerable in Makamba Province: WFP has delivered assistance to 24,420 vulnerable families in Kayogoro and Nyanza-Lac communes through its partner CARE International. The distribution will continue and will cover all the remaining communes. Food aid distributed includes maize, beans and oil. WFP Country Office (CO) distributed 1,641 MT of food aid to 214,138 beneficiaries nationwide.

PROTECTION, SECURITY AND ACCESS

Displacement of population, Bujumbura Rural: According to the local authorities in Nyabiraba Commune, around 200 families have spent the night near military positions for over one month now as they distanced themselves from the FNL movement. The population in Kanyosha Commune (Bujumbura Rural) was temporarily displaced on 1 December following military operations against FNL rebels. Arrests of people suspected of sympathising or supporting FNL continue. On 28 November, the National Police set up three check points and arrested a total of 91 persons in Ruziba (80), Muyira (10) and Gihosha Rural (1).

Public Information:

Update on 16 days of activism against sexual violence: The campaign started on 25 November and is being carried out nationwide. During the reporting week, awareness activities were conducted for secondary school students in the provinces of Makamba, Bururi, Rutana and Bujumbura Mairie. Issues raised by students included availability of Post Exposure Kits and legal, medical and psychological assistance for the victims. The sub-offices of OCHA and UNHCR in Makamba were appointed to coordinate the activities in Rutana Province.

Demobilization: During the reporting week, the Ministry of National Defence and Ex-Combatants has transmitted a list of 563 to the ES/DDR/SSR of the ONUB section for demobilization. The Ministry of National Defense has indicated that they would need to take an additional 2,592 people off their payroll in order to reach the agreed target of demobilizing 30,000 by the end of 2005.

Security: On 4 December, FNL rebels reportedly attacked the military position of Kigina in Nyabiraba Commune (Bujumbura Rural). The attack claimed the lives of 8 persons including 7 civilians and one soldier; 11 persons were injured.

For Information

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