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Office for the Coordination Bureau de Coordination Of Humanitarian Affairs in Des Affaires Humanitaires au Burundi http://ochaonline.un.org/Burundi http://ochaonline.un.org/Burundi Burundi Weekly Humanitarian News 12 – 17 January 2009 Activities and Updates

Food Security - In Bugabira, on the Gitwe colline 300 households Joint rapid assessment in Kirundo and preliminary already left altogether and in 300 others results of the evaluation of harvests, season 2009A households, at least one active member of the family left for Rwanda, children are sometimes Findings left in the care of other families; - Rains have stopped as early as November 2008 - Admissions in the nutritional centres have in the Bugesera natural region (Kirundo increased 14%between November and Province); December 2008 - As a result crops planted for the 2009A farming - The drop out rate in schools stands at 30% in season have dried out in the communes of Bugabira as of December 2008 as compared to Bugabira, Busoni. Some areas of Ntega and 19% for the last school year); Kirundo communes were also affected by this - Criminality is on the rise; several burglaries as drought; well as thefts in the farms have been reported. - Households have no stocks and crops usually Constraints harvested during the lean season have either - Weak coordination at the provincial level; failed or run-out (e.g. cassava, sweet potato) as - Poor harvest of 2009A will have a negative result of back to back droughts and failed impact on the preparation of the 2009B season; harvests; - Lack of lean season crops will worsen food - As most farms have failed, those who relied on insecurity in households in the most affected harvesting other households’ farms for labour are provinces. jobless; Progress of urgent prospects response - In addition, consequently to the completion of the Kirundo-Rwanda road project have also reduce - The Government has made available some 36 employment opportunities; tons of food as of January 2009 - Daily labour now pays 700BIF per day as - WFP is distributing a 15 days food ration to opposed to BIF 1000/1200; 16,500 households in the most affected areas; - Food prices are high (e.g. 1 kg of cassava flour this will enable them to prepare the season costs BIF 500 in Bugabira commune), 2009B - FAO and CRS will provide seeds and tools to the Consequences (Kirundo/Bugesera) most affected households. FAO will also - Drastic reductions in the quality and quantity of distribute cassava cuttings tolerant to the severe meals (sometimes hardly a meal per day); mosaic. Cassava, a lean season crop, will - Households reverting to severely negating coping increase the resilience of households faced with mechanisms such as the selling of the corrugated erratic climate. iron sheets used to roof homes, sale of livestock Elsewhere in the country and consumption of unsafe foods such as wild leaves; - Serious water deficit in Imbo (Western Burundi) - Economic migrations towards Rwanda and and Moso (Eastern Burundi) regions, unaffected provinces in Burundi (over 50 people - Southern Moso and Imbo are the areas where were leaving Gasenyi for Rwanda every day most returns take place and are also affected by before movement across the borders were the severe cassava mosaic, restricted).

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- Hailstorms have severely damaged crops of the Human rights season 2009A in most of the communes in high Human rights and Justice Officers (HR&JOs) and average altitudes, documented serious violations committed by the - Unavailability of fertilisers has strongly affected Burundian National Police (PNB) and the National the outputs. The price of the most commonly Defence Forces (FDN). In Muhato Commune, Gitega used fertilisers rose 150%; Province, a 14-yr-old girl was allegedly raped by a - Unavailability of the lean season crops will policeman. In Gatumba zone, Mutimbuzi Commune, negatively impact the food security of most Bujumbura Rural province, two men were reportedly households in affected areas. (The map below murdered by PNB agents, while cruel, inhuman or shows areas affected by adverse weather). degrading treatment or punishment were inflicted on Principaux aléas climatiques de la saison 2009A three others in Bujumbura Mairie, Ngozi and Rutana

N provinces. Although two police officers were reportedly arrested in connection with the Gatumba Bugabira Busoni Giteranyi zone murder case, the perpetrators remain Kirundo Bwambarangwe Ntega unpunished in the other cases. Meanwhile, the FDN Gitobe

Mugina Butihinda Mabayi Marangara Vumbi was accused of ill-treating eleven men and a woman

Gashoho Nyamurenza Mwumba Muyinga and detaining arbitrarily nine people for at least one Busiga Rugombo Murwi Kabarore Gasorwe Bukinanyana Gashikanwa Kayanza night, at their premises in Ngozi and Ruyigi Tangara Muruta Ngozi Gitaramuka Gahombo Buhinyuza Buganda Gatara Ruhororo Musigati Kigamba provinces. HR&JOs will follow up on these cases Bubanza Muhanga Buhiga Matongo Bugenyuzi Mwakiro Mishiha Butaganzwa Gihogazi with relevant authorities. Mutaho Rango Mpanda Gihanga Bukeye Mutumba Rugazi Cankuzo Gisagara Mbuye Bugendana Nyabikere Mutimbuzi MubimbiMuramvya Shombo Bweru HR&JOs were informed that a joint delegation Rutegama Cendajuru Isale Kiganda Giheta Ndava Butezi Mugongomanga composed of Prosecutors and Police officers from Gisuru Kanyosha Gitega Ruyigi Nyabiraba Rusaka Nyabihanga Mutambu Karuzi and Ruyigi Provinces conducted a field visit in Kabezi Kayokwe Mukike Gisozi Makebuko Butaganzwa2 Nyanrusange Itaba Kinyinya Tanzania from 7 to 9 January. The mission aimed at Muhuta Bisoro Gishubi Nyabitsinda Bugarama Ryansoro Bukirasazi identifying and dismantling criminal networks that Buraza Musongati Giharo Burambi target albino people. Pursuant to the field visit, two Mpinga-Kayove Buyengero Rutana people accused of involvement in the recent killings Rumonge Gitanga of albinos in Burundi were arrested and are currently Bukemba detained by the Tanzanian Police. Makamba Vugizo Kayogoro

Kibago Nyanza_Lac HR&JOs also followed up developments in several Mabanda politically sensitive cases during the reporting period. 30 0 30Km Following public hearings held before the Supreme Déficit hydrique très prononcé Communes très frappées par la grêle Court on 13 January, the case of former CNDD-FDD parliamentarian, Mr. Pasteur Mpawenayo, detained Limites provinciales Limites communales since 11 July 2008 on charges of threatening state security is presently under deliberation. In the case Food distribution of the non-registered party Mouvement pour la Solidarité et la Démocratie (MSD) leader, Mr. Alexis WFP assisted during 16,043 most affected Sinduhije, Bujumbura Mairie’s tribunal de grande households in province of Kirundo by serious food instance (TGI) has yet to render its decision on the insecurity. 652 MT were distributed in the communes defendant’s recusation of the jury. Meanwhile, on 13 of Busoni, Bugabira, Ntega and Kirundo to stabilize January, Mr. Sinduhije’s lawyer filed for his the movement of migration. This food aid will also provisional release. help these households to prepare the season 2009B farming. For the moment, a durable and integrated On 13 January, the weekly discussion with solution is being studied in collaboration with other representatives of the media, trade unions and civil humanitarian organisations working in Burundi. society, focused on «the mechanisms of protection and of promotion of human rights in Burundi». Eighty During the same period, WFP also distributed food seven participants, including 34 women, were in in the school canteens, with the refugees and attendance. repatriates. 719 MT were thus distributed in the provinces of Ngozi, Kirundo, Muyinga, Cankuzo, Karuzi and Ruyigi, with 187,561 beneficiaries.

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