OCHA Situation Report
Burundi
14 - 20 March 2005


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Highlights

Health: the nationwide strike movement initiated by nurses claiming for
free healthcare for their dependents and allowances continues. As of
today, no decision in favour of strikers' claims has been taken.
Meanwhile, in provinces where no minimum service is provided, the health
situation is quite concerning if not precarious. In this regard, WHO
plans to send an evaluation mission in the provinces of Muyinga,
Kirundo, Ngozi, Karuzi, Ruyigi and Gitega. The mission's objective will
be twofold: assess the situation and the impact of the strike on health
facilities.

The World Fund donated US$ 33 million to support the Ministry of Health
through its national programme against tuberculosis (TB). This will help
reinforce the programme and increase access to various services up to
the decentralized level in the country.

Refugee returns: As of 20 March, UNHCR reports 7,195 facilitated and 669
spontaneous returnees. Total: 7,864 returnees. A decrease in the number
of returnees through Gisuru (Ruyigi) entry point was noted. Reasons
remain unknown.

OCHA IDP update survey: started on 21 February, the first phase of the
survey aiming at updating IDP data was completed on 9 March. Preliminary
results are under finalisation and will shortly be available. This phase
covered provinces of Cankuzo, Ruyigi, Rutana, Makamba and Bururi, where
significant returns of displaced persons in collines of origin were
registered. The data will serve for planning the humanitarian response
in emergencies or reintegration/support to local development.
Preliminary results will shortly be available. The second phase will
include Bujumbura Rural and Bujumbura Town and the third phase will
cover the 10 remaining provinces. The last IDP data update was completed
in July 2004.

Activities

Habitat: UNHCR confirmed the construction of 5,000 houses in Cankuzo and
Ruyigi provinces within the repatriation framework. Activities will be
completed in collaboration with implementing partners including Outreach
Initiatives, CED-Caritas, COPED and War affected national commission
(CNRS). In addition to this, in order to assist war affected persons
from Butezi and Butaganzwa communes (Ruyigi), the governmental project
for reinsertion of affected persons supported by GTZ has started
validation of beneficiaries' lists for the construction of 1,000 houses.

Food aid distribution update: over the reporting period, the World Food
Programme supplied a total of 2,490 Mt of food assistance to nearly
290,000 people throughout different provinces. Most of these
beneficiaries received the Seeds Protection Rations that amounted to
1,777 Mt, which were distributed to 42,651 families in Ngozi, Muyinga,
Gitega, Bubanza, Cibitoke, Bujumbura Rural, Bujumbura Mairie and Ruyigi
provinces.

In addition to the above supplied assistance, 329 families who
previously fled from Kirundo to Ruyigi Province have been provided with
an emergency assistance amounting to 72 Mt of food. It should be noted
that if Kirundo residents claim they flee the province for fear of
threats by neighbours, they also wish to get access to wider and fertile
land in eastern regions.

Demobilization activities: verification of lists of candidates to the
demobilization continued in Buramata (Bubanza) site. On 19 March, 400
ex-combatants from Buramata site were transferred to Randa
demobilization centre where procedures are to start soon. In parallel,
voluntary demobilization was completed in assembly areas for ex-armed
political movements. In this regard, 247 CNDD (Leonard Nyangoma)
ex-combatants were transferred in Gitega demobilization centre on
Thursday 17 March.

Coordination

The weekly Contact Group meeting was held on 16 March under the
chairmanship of the UNHCR Representative and Humanitarian Coordinator
a.i, Kaba-Guichard Neyaga. WFP presented its 2005 targeting strategy,
which consists of an inclusive approach and improved distribution
methods in a bid to reach the most vulnerable nationwide. This will be
doe new approach will allow access to assistance for the most vulnerable
through new activities including supplementary feeding in favour of
pregnant and lactating women, family rations, school feeding programmes.

For Information

Adelaide Habonimana, Assistant Information Officer
PH: (257) 910 196
E-mail: habonimanaa@un.org

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