B. EAST AFRICA 1: REGIONAL OPERATION
FOR BURUNDI, RWANDA, ZAIRE AND TANZANIA
1. Regional
a) WFP Assistant Executive Director visits the sub-region.
2. Burundi
a) Grenade explosion at a food distribution in Rukuramigabo camp in Kirundo province results in 68 wounded.
b) Serious security incidents involving many deaths reported in Muramvya province and Bujumbura Rural province.
c) Evacuation of Italian volunteers, nuns and priests from Ruyigi province.
d) Two attacks on office of Action Contre la Faim in Ngozi.
3. Zaire - Goma
a) Security situation remains tense; two mines found on the road south of Kibumba camp.
b) Hunde population returning to Masisi central.
c) Skirmishes between military and Ngilima rebels reportedly result in several civilian and rebel deaths in Rutshuru area.
4. Zaire - Bukavu
a) Registration continues in several camps. No food deliveries will be made to camps where census not completed.
5. Rwanda
a) Increase in security incidents in Kibuye, Gikongoro, and the north-east.
b) A further 1,040 Zairian refugees arrive.
B. EAST AFRICA 1: REGIONAL OPERATION FOR BURUNDI, RWANDA, ZAIRE AND TANZANIA
1. REGIONAL
1.1 The WFP Assistant Executive Director, Mr. Jean-Jacques Graisse, visited the sub-region 11-15 June. Mr. Graisse met WFP staff and humanitarian organisation representatives in Kigali, Bukavu, Bujumbura and Ngozi and held several official meetings in all countries visited. In a meeting with the President of Burundi Mr. Graisse reconfirmed that WFP will remain in Burundi, carrying out necessary operations as long as security conditions permit. The Assistant Executive Director also had the opportunity to look at WFP sponsored food-for-work projects in housing construction in Rwanda and the warehouses and the camps of Inera and Kashusha in Bukavu.
2. BURUNDI
2.1 A grenade exploded at the site of a food distribution in the Rukuramigabo camp in Kirundo province on 13 June. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, UNHCR/WFP implementing partner, was carrying out food distributions at the time of the explosion, which resulted in some 68 wounded, five of whom are in critical condition.
2.2 Most NGOs have restarted activities at the end of a week of mourning for the International Committee of the Red Cross delegates killed on 4 June. WFP activities have continued in Ngozi and Bujumbura, and will recommence in Gitega 19 June, two days later than anticipated, due to technical problems with the Twin Otter aircraft.
2.3 Security incidents continue throughout the country. On 13 June, in Rutegama (Muramvya province) between 70 and 100 civilians are reported to have been killed. Several houses were burned on 14 June in Kibimba hill.
2.4 Kabezi commune of Bujumbura Rural has been the site of a series of attacks since early June. Approximately 50 persons were killed on 12 June. A large portion of the population has gathered at the administrative centre of the commune and around the parish of Mutambu (Masama, Kitenga, Citwe). The areas of Migera, Ramba and Mutumba are presently empty of inhabitants. Insecurity has prevented WFP from delivering 30 mt food commodities for the 5,000 beneficiaries. The Matambu parish collected 24 mt, part delivered to the commune of Kabezi, while the remaining distributed directly to dispersed persons around Mutambu parish. An additional 6 mt will be delivered on 19 June to IDPs at Masama, Kitenga and Citwe. CRS will distribute non-food items to 3,800 persons.
2.5 Italian volunteers, nuns and priests living and working at the Parish of Mutoyi in Ruyigi province were evacuated from the area on 16 June following attacks which took place on 11 June, and threats on their lives. The Butezi hospital and six surrounding health centres have been emptied.
2.6 The office of Action Contre la Faim was looted in Ngozi marking the second attack in ten days. Action Contre la Faim has temporarily suspended some of its activities.
2.7 As a direct result of the grenade explosion in the Rukuramigabo camp, and other security incidents in the northern refugee camps, WFP/UNHCR have agreed to move distribution cycles from every two weeks to once every month in Rukuramigabo camp, and once every three weeks in the other three camps (Ruvumu, Kibezi and Magara) in Ngozi.
2.8 Two French nationals were victims of armed attacks in Bujumbura and were evacuated for medical treatment in France.
2.9 The third round of Mwanza peace talks in Tanzania, with the participation of representatives from 18 of Burundi's political parties as well as representatives from the Presidency and the Bureau of the Prime Minister, began on 17 June, one week after the last round ended. Talks were expected to last for two days.
3. ZAIRE - GOMA
3.1 The general security situation remains tense in Goma. Zairian Contingent soldiers found two mines on the north corridor 8 km south of Kibumba camp.
3.2 Following a prolonged calm in Masisi central, the Hunde are returning in large numbers in military-escorted convoys.
3.3 Most of the Tutsi population has left the Kichanga area in Masisi for Rwanda.
3.4 Several civilians and some rebels were reported killed in skirmishes between the military involved in the Mbata ("slap") campaign and the Ngilima rebels in the Rutshuru area.
3.5 WFP reopened the Bunagana office on 16 June (closed on 5 June following attack on the Bunagana village). At present, the Bunagana border area is quiet, but the local military remain uneasy about the security situation along this route.
3.6 UNHCR has postponed the census in the Goma camps to August 1996.
3.7 A total of 86 trucks crossed the Bunagana border from 10-16 June. WFP-Goma received a total of 2,296 mt and dispatched 530 mt by barge to Bukavu.
4. ZAIRE - BUKAVU
4.1 The registration operation, which began during the week of 3-9 June, continued in several camps. In other camps, the operation was suspended due to cheating. Food delivery last week was carried out only in camps where the registration operation was completed and the results were approved. WFP and UNHCR have announced to the refugees that in camps where population figures are still not agreed upon food will not be delivered until the matter is resolved.
4.2 The numerous security incidents near Goma reported over the last several weeks hampered to some degree WFP's ability to maintain a steady flow of food deliveries to Goma and Bukavu via the northern corridor.
5. ZAIRE - UVIRA
5.1 Zairian border with Burundi remains closed. WFP continues enhanced Kigoma-Uvira barge operation to ensure continuity of Uvira and Bukavu pipeline. Some 3,770 mt food commodities on three barges is presently being loaded in Kigoma for Uvira. These barges are booked for two rotations, which will enable a total uplift of 5,900 mt from Kigoma in the next two weeks. This barge capacity will help to significantly reduce the current stock build-up in the port of Kigoma. This build-up has been primarily due to increased barge activity on the lake, and subsequent increased competition for available capacity, resulting from the Burundi/Zaire border closure.
5.2 New sites have been identified by UNHCR in Uvira for a possible influx of refugees from Burundi, with an estimated operational capacity of 90,000 persons.
5.3 Population in Uvira camps is at 189,144 (117,316 Burundian and 71,828 Rwandan).
6. TANZANIA
6.1 New arrivals have brought the refugee population of Keza camp to 40,689, and the camp, established to accommodate new refugees temporarily until their relocation to other camps, is reaching full capacity.
6.2 During the reporting week the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the Tanzanian Red Cross Society officially handed over Keza camp management to the International Refugee Committee.
6.3 Kigoma region continues to receive new arrivals. A total of 501 refugees arrived during the reporting period. 280 entered through Kanembwa, the remainder through Mtabila.
7. RWANDA
7.1 The last week witnessed a number of security incidents in Kibuye (detection of new anti-tank mines on roads), Gikongoro (sporadic cases of insurgency and land mines) and the north- east (sabotage of a water facility in Tabagwe).
7.2 Following a decision made last week by the UN Security Coordinator for Rwanda, the UN agencies have started using the road through Nyungwe forest (between Gikongoro and Cyangugu) only in organised convoys. Several convoys have already passed without incidents and are expected to continue at least three times a week.
7.3 The Prefects of the two most tense Prefectures of Rwanda, Cyangugu and Gisenyi, were replaced last week, reportedly due to their unsatisfactory conduct in security matters.
7.4 A total of 1,040 Zairian refugees entered Rwanda last week, bringing the 1996 total to 13,984 persons. The majority of the refugees are assisted in Umubano camp in Gisenyi, 1,324 await transfer from Nkamira returnee centre and 1,300 from the former CARE transit centre. The previous week some 570 Zairian refugees had arrived.
7.5 Owing to the general poor health and nutritional condition of the Umubano camp population, WFP will increase the general food aid ration by 100 gr of beans per person daily, raising the kilocalorie content to 2,314. EC will provide the additional quantities of food required. Following two to three months of increased distributions, the nutritional situation in the camp will be re-assessed.