OCHA-Burundi Situation Report 2 - 8 Jun 2003

HUMANITARIAN ACTIVITIES
1. WFP food assistance

The results of the WFP Household Food Economy Assessment (HFEA) rapid evaluation conducted in the recently war-affected communes of Bubanza Province indicate that 1,888 households were displaced and hosted by neighbours who supported their feeding. The 1,961 hosting households already live on meagre food reserves. The assessment teams recommended food assistance to the total caseload of 19,245 persons from both these displaced households and to their hosts.

The assessment was carried out after WFP had distributed 88.8 Mt of food to 18,775 persons displaced by hostilities in that province. Another 61.6 Mt of emergency food distribution was operated for 16,000 displaced persons in Kabezi Commune, Bujumbura Rural Province on [Monday 2 and Tuesday 3 of June]. Moreover, WFP is participating in the joint Food and Crop Assessment mission (FAO/UNICEF/WFP and MINAGRI) as well starting to collect complementary information from various provinces to determine the beneficiary caseload of the targeted distributions for the period between July and December 2003.

Last week, WFP distributed 1,454.3 Mt of food including 1,289.294 Mt of targeted rations to 112,200 persons in Bujumbura Rural, Cankuzo, Makamba, Gitega, Ruyigi and Bubanza provinces, 61.56 Mt of food to social centers including HIV/AIDS victims, 65.38Mt to FFW projects and 38.37 Mt to returnees.

2. Returns to Burundi rise amid fears of pressure in Tanzanian camps

The number of Burundian refugees returning home from refugee camps in western Tanzania has risen sharply over the last few weeks amid rising concern that their return is not fully voluntary. In May alone, more than 4,000 Burundian refugees, who have been living in camps in Kibondo, western Tanzania, (or 30 per cent of spontaneous returns this year) have gone home to the southern provinces of Ruyigi and Makamba under their own means despite the prevailing insecurity. Returning refugees cite the declining levels of assistance as one of the major reasons for return. Other returnees lament new measures imposed by Tanzanian local authorities in camps over security concerns. About 15,000 Burundian refugees who had been living in camps in western Tanzania returned home in May due to what they said was a "hard life" in the camps, an official from the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said on Thursday [4 June].

UNHCR continues to operate weekly return convoys to the relatively safe provinces of northern Burundi as per the three-party agreement signed in March 2002 by UNHCR with the governments of Burundi and Tanzania.

3. Returnees as at 31 May 2003

UNHCR (Burundi): Report 10,732 facilitated and 14,195 spontaneous returnees Y.T.D.

SECURITY

4. Government says Burundi rebels blasted hydroelectric dam

The Burundi Ministry for Defence [Wednesday 4 June] accused the National Liberation Front (FNL) of sabotaging the Mugere hydroelectric dam, southeast of Bujumbura [Bujumbura Rural Province, on the eve of 3 June]. The National water and electricity-producing company reported it capacity has now been reduced, producing just two (2) megawatts instead of eight (8) generated prior to the attack.

5. General

- Fighting reported in Rugazi Commune, Bubanza Province.

- Rebel attack on a military position (National Highway Bujumbura-Bubanza), killing one person, at Mugenge, Mpanda Commune (Bubanza Province) [3 June].

- Rutana Province, Bukemba Commune: CNDD-FDD rebels (according to military sources) attacked a displacement camp at Butare, stealing goods and money [2/3 June].

- Cankuzo Province, Mr Jean Mbonabuca, Cendajuru Commune Administrator, has been reportedly abducted by CNDD-FDD rebels.

- Kayanza Province, Kabarore Commune: FDD rebels led an attack at Jene zone, stealing goods from shops and homes [3 June]. Eight vehicles were ambushed on Kayanza-Cibitoke Highway [3 June].

- Bubanza Province, Rugazi Commune: Displaced people from Ruce Zone (due to insecurity) have been assisted with food and medicines.

- Rebels attack Ministry of Health warehouse in Buterere (Bujumbura Mairie) [5 June].

POLITICAL

6. President Ndayizeye visits Rwanda

Burundian President Domitien Ndayizeye made his first visit to Rwanda [3 June]. During the visit, the President held talks with Rwandan President Paul Kagame. The one-day visit discussed problems facing the Great Lakes Region and bi-lateral relations.

7. Latest Events

- Former President Buyoya attends his first session as Senator [2 June].

- First of June 2003: Tenth anniversary of Sahwanya FRODEBU Party's victory in the presidential elections [June 1993].

- President Domitien Ndayizeye visited Ruyigi Province, the Vice-President visited Kayanza Province [31 May]. President Ndayizeye stated that if CNDD-FDD (Pierre Nkurunziza) refuses to negotiate peace, "the other alternative is to fight them militarily".

- MSP-Inkinzo Party (G-10 political family) requests immediate release of members of Framework for the Restoration of State of Law via an open letter to the Head of State.

- Burundian women demand greater participation of women in decision-making.

- Former president Pierre Buyoya visits Europe (France, Belgium and Germany) [4 June].

- Some political leaders from G10 family accuse the Government of lack of collaboration Interview with Mr Joseph Nzeyimana, RADDES Party Leader].

- Dr Kassi Manlan's assassination (WHO former representative to Burundi): The General Prosecutor gives 48 hours to Mr François Nyamoya (Lawyer for Ms Gertrude Nyamoya) and a Radio Publique Africaine representative to present evidence supporting their accusations implicating state actors [Press Release, 5 June].

- CNDD-FDD (Jean Bosco Ndayikengurukiye) and Palipehutu-FNL (Alain Mugabarabona) combatants expected to be cantoned on 6 June in Muyange site, Bubanza Province.

- Post transition elections: "The issue will be discussed by all (political parties)," stated Mr Alphonse Barancira, Minister for Institutional Reforms, Human Rights and Parliament.

COORDINATION

8. Contact Group Meeting (for the Minutes access: www.ochaburundi.org)

Chaired by Antoine Gérard, OCHA head of Office [4 June]. Participants: 34.

OCHA announced that a workshop of Common Humanitarian Action Plan will be held on Wednesday and Thursday [11-12 June].

9. GTS

A two-day training workshop has been conducted for GTS provincial representatives from Cankuzo, Gitega, Makamba, Ruyigi and Bujumbura Rural [3-4 June].

For Information

Nicholas McGowan
Head of Information
OCHA Burundi
PH: (257) 951 681
Email: mcgowann@un.org