Burundi Situation Report: 08 - 15 May 2006

HIGHLIGHTS
Rwandan Asylum Seekers: After the first results of the refugee status determination process were issued, some Rwandan asylum seekers returned home. This included some whose claim had been rejected but the vast majority of people had not yet started the determination process. Over the reporting week, UNHCR in collaboration with its implementing partner GTZ facilitated the repatriation to Rwanda of 1,203 persons in convoys organised on 10 and 12 May.

Burundian asylum seekers - returns: After some 13,500 Burundian asylum seekers returned within a couple of days from Tanzania in early April and were brought back to their communes of origin, some of them originating from Kirundo started to flee again due to food insecurity. According to UNHCR an estimated 200 Burundians attempted to cross the border into Tanzania via Ruyigi towards Kibero transit centre but Tanzanian authorities refused to accept them. They were brought back to Burundi and half of them stayed in Gisuru commune (Ruyigi) whereas some 110 went to Cankuzo where they have been staying at a transit centre since 7 May. They demand that authorities provide them with assistance and transport to return to Kirundo. The NGO Solidarités is providing small supplementary assistance.

International Day of the Red Cross and Red Crescent:. Over the reporting week, the Burundi Red Cross conducted a series of activities in different areas of Bujumbura Mairie to mark the international day of the Red Cross and Red Crescent on 8 May. As part of efforts to improve urban hygiene conditions, the National Red Cross Society through its volunteers disinfected 168 households and dormitories at a secondary school in Ngagara commune (Bujumbura town). Further activities included distribution of 504 mosquito nets to displaced persons Carama site (Bujumbura Mairie) and food aid to 200 highly vulnerable persons in the communes of Kinama, Kamenge, Buterere and Cibitoke.

ACTIVITIES AND UPDATES

Food Security: Over the reporting week, torrential rains were reported and have affected crops for the 2006B agricultural season for which the planting period had just ended. The most affected crops include beans which were ready to be harvested. This will have a negative impact on the yield of crops for 2006B harvest which is expected to start at the end of the month. To address the consequences of drought recurring since 1999, farmers had moreover opted for cultivation in marshlands which are among the most affected by the rains. In addition to bean crops, rice and sweet potatoes in marshlands were affected by the floods.

Food aid distribution: Over the reporting week, WFP distributed 2,269 MT of food aid to 290,936 beneficiaries through its implementing partners. In this regard, further to the identification of beneficiaries in Bukemb, Gitanga and Musongati communes (Rutana), Tearfund distributed a 15-day ration to 5,805 families (225MT).

HIV/AIDS: Within its project aimed at mitigating the impact of HIV/AIDS among orphans, the local NGO FVS/AMADE (Famille pour Vaincre le SIDA/Association des Amis des Enfants) with the support from the NGO Family Health International (FHI), organized a training session in cooking for child (orphans) headed households. 28 youths were trained.

Assistance to IDPs in Makamba: Displaced persons in Kibago (Mbizi) and Mabanda (Kije) are gradually returning to their collines of origin. Only 35 families remain in the site of Mbizi. OCHA has started close follow-up in order to monitor the trend of return.

Torrential Rains: OCHA conducted an assessment mission to Murwi commune in Cibitoke which suffered from torrential rains on 24 April. It was found that one person had died, 10 were injured and 39 houses had been destroyed. Further to rains over the week, more areas were affected, particularly Gihanga commune (Bubanza). The NGO Catholic Relief Services (CRS) dispatched an assessment mission on 12 May during which they requested local authorities in Gihanga to compile lists of damages and needs. CRS was not able to access all villages since roads were flooded and access therefore impeded.

Repatriation: During the reporting week, UNHCR facilitated the return of 210 refugees of whom 79 arrived through the Muyinga entry point, 121 through Makamba and 10 through the international airport of Bujumbura. No spontaneous return was registered. As of 14 May 2006 UNHCR had repatriated 3,411 Burundians including 3,256 facilitated and 155 spontaneous. Burundian refugees from Tanzania concluded the "Go and See" visits to the provinces of Makamba, Rutana and Bururi in order to better understand what conditions would await them upon return. Despite improved security situation, refugees voiced concerns with regard to housing. They are also worried by continuous reports about land conflicts in the visited areas.

Non food items: During the week under review, CRS conducted evaluation missions to assess the needs for the most vulnerable groups including the Batwa community in Ijenda, orphans in parts of Bujumbura Mairie, elders in Gatumba (Bujumbura Rural) and the rain-affected population in Gihanga (see above). Further to hailstorm which destroyed the roofs of two primary schools in Busoni commune (Kirundo), CRS provided roofing material to rehabilitate the damaged roofs and technical assistance for two primary schools.

PROTECTION, ACCESS, SECURITY AND COORDINATION

Human rights violations in Bujumbura Rural,Cibitoke and Bubanza: On 9 May, one person was killed by unidentified armed people in Gasenyi area (Mutimbuzi Commune). Summary execution of alleged FNL rebels was reported at an FDN position in Murwi Commune (Cibitoke) during the week.

Security: Clashes were reported between National Defense Forces and FNL rebels in MbareGasarara (Bujumbura Rural) on 9 May. In Bubanza province, continuous insecurity was reported in areas along the Kibira forest. Several cases of looting were also reported repeatedly in Bubanza over the week. On 9 May, FNL rebels allegedly looted 24 families and stole the whole stock of medicines at two health centres in Bulamata area (Bubanza). Due to the persistent insecurity and looting, certain parts of the population are running the risk of suffering from food shortages even after the harvests.

Coordination: OCHA held the concluding workshop on the inter-agency contingency plan (IACP) on 11 May.

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