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Burundi

Burundi Situation Report: 11 - 17 Sep 2006

HIGHLIGHT

European Union and UNICEF provide drugs: In support of decision by the Burundian Government to make healthcare for children under-five years and pregnant women free of charge, 63 tons of medical supplies were received in Burundi on 16 September. These drugs, medical materials and equipments were procured with a total US $ 1.6 million in donation consisting in 1.2 million US $ contribution from the European Union via ECHO with the remainder being funded by UNICEF. Another shipment is expected in mid-October, bringing the total amount of medical supplies to 173 tons. These are expected to cover a period of three months to assist 890,000 children under-five years and provide delivery equipment for 32,650 pregnant women. Based on a distribution plan elaborated by WHO in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health and UNICEF, NGOs active in the health sector in support to the provincial health offices - MSF-B, MSF-H, GVC, CORDAID, TPO, IMC, HIF, AHA, JRS and CCM - are currently assisting in the dispatching of the kits to health centres and hospitals throughout the country.

ACTIVITIES AND UPDATES

Update on assistance to Burundians expelled from Tanzania: During the week under review, a total of 63 persons arrived from Tanzania. Since there was no transport assistance to their communes of origin, all the new arrivals remained at the site of Kinazi where they joined the 9 who have no reference. The total number of persons staying in the site therefore stands at 72. WFP confirmed that a three-month return package will be distributed to persons identified for return to their collines of origin.

Rwandan Asylum Seekers: During the reporting week, Rwandan Asylum Seekers registered to return to their country of origin with the next convoy. At the same time, the refugee status determination process was completed and the 27 persons who obtained refugee status were transferred to Giharo refugee camp in Rutana province. As of 11 September, the number of persons remaining in the site of Musasa stood at 5,343. Since the beginning of the repatriation convoys on 12 April a total of 13,831 persons have returned back to Rwanda.

HIV/AIDS: Supported by UNICEF, the provincial council against HIV/AIDS in Makamba organized a twoday campaign of HIV/AIDS prevention on 14 and 15 September targeting children. The session was attended by local authorities, civil society organizations and parents. Four themes were developed: epidemiological situation of HIV/AIDS, its impact on children, national policy with regard to mother-child prevention and protection of youths.

Food security: During the monthly coordination meeting which was held on 12 September, FAO/ERCU informed participants that since the beginning of September, signs of food shortage had been noted. This is a consequence of the shortfall of agricultural output during the harvests of the 2006B agricultural season. Meanwhile, the preparation of seeds distribution for the coming agricultural season continued. FAO/Emergency and Rehabilitation Coordination Unit (ERCU) finished dispatching the seed stocks in the various targeted provinces and is now supervising the seeds voucher campaign. WFP continued the distribution of Seeds Protection Rations (SPR) which helps vulnerable families to conserve their seeds for planting through food aid. Over the week under review, WFP teams delivered SPR to 41,324 families in the communes of Bururi, Ruyigi, Rutana, Muyinga and Kirundo provinces. The operation is expected to last until mid-October.

Refugee returns: During the week under review, UNHCR assisted 2,196 returnees. This brings the number Burundians who have returned home since the beginning of 2006 to 23,982. The majority of returnees arrived from Tanzania (2,062), others from the Democratic Republic of Congo (131), Kenya (2) and South Africa (1).

Non Food items: Further to the hailstorm which hit Mabayi commune (Cibitoke) in late August, CRS completed an assessment in Mabayi commune (Cibitoke) in order to take stock of household needs and to plan assistance. The mission concluded that contrary to initial reports there was no need for a non-food item distribution since no houses were destroyed.

Food aid distribution update: During the reporting period, WFP distributed a total of 1,803 Mt to 245,214 beneficiaries through its implementing partners. Most of these beneficiaries were assisted through the seeds protection rations operation (see above).

Reintegration efforts for displaced persons: The Government project APRS supported by GTZ has completed identification of beneficiaries for its housing project which plans to build 512 houses in Gitega commune (Gitega province). Identified persons include returnees, displaced persons, former combatants and certain vulnerable persons. Further to the decision by the Government to undertake major construction work at Itankoma, displaced persons were encouraged to return to their collines of origin. Whilst all of the approximately 400 IDPs had adhered to the call, only 160 were considered and will be assisted. There is a pressing need of assistance for the remaining group of displaced persons in terms of housing since they have to leave the location.

PROTECTION, SECURITY, ACCESS AND COORDINATION

Coordination: On 13 September OCHA fielded a mission to Cibitoke province with the objective to assess the humanitarian situation after the hailstorm which affected the areas of Ruhororo, Butahana and Mabayi (Mabayi commune). Whilst no major infrastructure destruction was noted, crop fields were seriously damaged. According to administration authorities, several hectares of banana plants, sweet potatoes, tomatoes and cabbage were devastated. It should be noted that this happened at the time when families in Cibitoke continued to suffer from the effects of the cassava mosaic and when the distribution of a new type of resistant plants is still pending. Based on the findings of the mission, a food aid distribution is required.

Consolidated Appeal: An enlarged Comité Humanitaire (IASC country team + donors) met last Friday (15 September) to discuss criteria and parameters of the Consolidated Appeal (CAP) and the Common Humanitarian Action Plan (CHAP) for 2007. The representatives of the government were also present in order to ensure that the CAP would respond to the needs and priorities of Burundi and that it would fit seamlessly into the PRSP framework which will dominate international assistance to Burundi from 2007 onwards.

For more information: Adélaide Habonimana, E-mail: habonimanaa@un.org, Tel: (257) 910 196

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