Burundi Weekly Humanitarian News, 10 - 16 Nov 2008

Activities and Updates

Update on utilisation of CERF funding in response to the Global Food Crisis.

FAO was the main recipient of CERF monies in response to the GFC in aimed at increasing food production thus improving access to food for households in rural, peri-urban and urban areas who became food insecure as a result of the Global Food Crisis. Activities started in October, as soon as FAO received the CERF funds in October. BAQN (Bujumbura urban and peri-urban), PARMA ALIMENTA (Rubilizi, Kivoga and Mpanda), CEPBU (Maramvya, Rukaramu, Gatumba and Buringa) Direction Provinciale Agriculture et Elevage - DPAE- (Bujumbura rural Kanyosha) were selected as cooperating partners and the identification of beneficiaries was completed. The procurement of agricultural inputs such as vegetable and other staple food seeds, fertilisers, pesticides and foot pumps for water harvesting is under way and will be available for the 2009B farming season which starts in February. Because of the variety and quantities required and of the limited local availability, some of the agricultural inputs are being imported.

Other activities which involve the rehabilitation of marshlands and the development of micro-irrigation schemes will start as soon as the required inputs are delivered.

Leaflets and booklets in Kirundi with instructions on the proper utilisation of the inputs and tools are being written and will be distributed to the beneficiaries along with the seeds and tools.

Repatriation of Burundian Refugees

During the reporting period, 1,156 returnees arrived in Burundi. All of them returned from Tanzania via Makamba, except for five persons who arrived by air from South Africa. Among those who returned via

Makamba, 628 returnees came from Mtabila refugee camp, whereas 523 were former 1972 refugees from Katumba settlement.

Since the beginning of this year, a total of 87,666 Burundian refugees. FAO's have returned: 435 in January,project 1,991 in February, 8,377 in March, 6,675 in April, 5,272 in May, 19,635 in June, 17,504 in July, 9,642 in August, and 8,439 in September, 6,863 in October, and 2,833 so far in November. The figures include the return of 25,393 refugees from 1972.

UNHCR opens new antenna offices in southern Burundi

UNHCR opened two antenna offices on 18 November in the cities of Bururi and Rutana in southern Burundi, with a total of seven national staff members. They will further programs in the provinces of Bururi and Rutana, in which returnees face a number of reintegration challenges. In particular, access to land remains a concern for many of the former 1972 refugees who have returned to the region.

Protection and community reintegration of returnees

The Legal Aid Clinic Project of the African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (ACCORD) successfully mediated in 6 disputes Nyanza-Lac, Rumonge, Gisuru and Cendajuru communes. Out of 6 disputes, 5 were related to land and 1 related to family law. These disputes were related to land. In addition, ACCORD conducted 2 conflict management trainings in the communes of Rumonge and Gitanga for 50 community leaders. Finally, 18 people received legal advice from ACCORD and were after referred to either Avocats sans Frontières (ASF) or to relevant judiciary institutions. These initiatives assisted towards the reintegration of returnees into communities, the promotion of reconciliation and the protection of returnees.