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Home , Bubanza Province, Bujumbura, Buramata, Cibitoke Province, Karuzi Province, Kayanza Province

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UPDATE OF THE HUMANITARIAN SITUATION IN BURUNDI1 WHO Summary of June 2003

1. General Context and Security

1.1. The rebellion cantonment process in Burundi following the cease fire agreement was officially launched by the Burundi Minister of Defence on the 6 June. Since then and after several attempts of cantonment, 22 combatants of FNL could be installed on the site of ( commune in province) located about fifty km from . 1.2. However at the time when a group of 300 other combatants were awaited on the site, a shelling attack on the site was done on the 30 June by the rebel group FDD-CNDD (faction which did not adhere yet to the cantonment process) with 4 died among the rebels. 1.3. This attack was condemned by the Government of Burundi which called all political actors not signatories of the cease fire agreement to continue negotiation because the cantonment should continue with the support of the African Union Mission in Burundi and the International Community ( already the World Bank freed 500,000 US$ for the construction of the first cantonment site by the Government). 1.4. A mission of the Security Council of the United Nations which was in the Great Lakes region visited Burundi and recommended to the International Community to make all necessary efforts to support the peace process initiatives mainly to help the African Union Mission in Burundi. 1.5. In addition the insecurity was marked this June by fighting between the rebels and the National Army in Kayanza, Bujumbura Rural, Muramvya and and also by the assassination of the local administration officers and the abduction of four Members of the Parliament (belonging to FRODEBU political party). So far no news obtained from these Parliament Members abducted. . 1.6. The security instructions prevailing for UN staff in Burundi remained unchanged.

2. Humanitarian Situation

2.1. The World Refugee Day was celebrated in Burundi and the demonstration to mark this day were organized in Gasorwe Refugee Camp in and in Cishemeye Refugee Camp in with the support of UNHCR. 2.2. UNHCR facilitated this month the repatriation of 12,787 burundese refugees coming from Tanzania while 18,000 other refugees spontaneously went back home especially because of the difficult living conditions in the camps in Tanzania 2.3. A rebels displacement movement from Ruyigi towards was noted this month with violent fighting with the National Army throughout the corridor (Ruyigi, Gitega, Muramvya and Kayanza) thus causing the temporary displacement of approximately 50,000 people. 2.4. WFP facilitated food distribution for about 20,000 temporary displaced persons in Kayanza, Muramvya, Gitega and Bujumbura Rural provinces. 2.5. The nutritional situation is globally improving in Burundi with a decrease of the number of new cases in nutritional centers (supplementary and therapeutic) but the situation remained a concern in some provinces ( Bujumbura Rural, Makamba and Ruyigi).

3. Health and Epidemiological Situation 3.1. Malaria Situation: - Malaria situation was without any particularity this month of June according to the reports from EPISTAT. The full epidemiological report on the number of cases notified by province will be available on the next situation report. - The new malaria treatment protocol process with the new drugs combination (Artesunate/Amodiaquine) was marked this month by a health partners meeting called by the Minister of Health. - During this meeting, it was decided that the new treatment protocol should start in August instead of July as initially planned due to the fact that the new drugs combination will not be available on the market before July. - A technical commission mandated by the Minister of Health worked on the training module necessary for the staff training on the new protocol treatment planned to start at the beginning of July with the technical support of WHO Regional Office and MSF. - A purchase order of about 340,000 doses of the new drugs combination was issued by UNICEF with the financial support of some donors (ECHO, OFDA, USAID, Cooperation). This first order will be soon air freighted to Burundi (some other orders will be planned according to the delivery time) and will allow the effectiveness of the new malaria treatment protocol as planned. Some samples of the new drugs combination will be delivered in few days to support the health personnel training programme. 3.1. Meningitis situation in Burundi: Few sporadic cases of Meningitis W135 were reported this month in Burundi. The epidemiological surveillance was strengthened in the concerned provinces. 3.2. Other epidemic situation: - No other epidemic situation was reported in Burundi this month.

4. WHO among partners

4.1. The WHO Representative participated to a UN Inter Agency field mission ( UNDP, UNHCR, WHO and OCHA) from the 5 to 7 June in the South part of Burundi (Bururi, Makamba and Rutana provinces). The field mission objective was to appreciate the humanitarian situation in that part of the country which is not yet ready for a possible repatriation exercise of burundese refugees from Tanzania.

1 This document is not an official transmission of epidemiological data. This will be done through the normal channel. 4.2. Another field mission of the WHO Representative was undertaken in located about 200 km North of Burundi to support the obstetrical emergency referral system and to appreciate MSF/B activities in that province.

4.3. The technical group of Africa Union Mission on the cantonment process met with all partners involved for a follow up and also to obtain a commitment from UN Agencies on their support to the process. So UN agencies expressed the participation that should be awaited from them: food will be supplied by WFP, GTZ will be in charge of food transport, World Bank will give the financial support for the construction of the site, UNICEF will take of child soldiers and WHO will supply the process with medical kits. For the identification of the needs for the implementation of health services for the cantonment site, WHO/HQ gave its technical support with a field visit to by a team (composed of EHA/HQ and EHA/Burundi). Bubanza is the area where the first cantonment site is located.

4.4. The Common Humanitarian Action Plan workshop was organized by OCHA from the 11 to 12 June in the process of the elaboration of the Consolidate Appeal Process (CAP 2004) with the support of Dr Rayana Bu-Hakah of WHO/HQ as a facilitator. Besides of this workshop, some visits to donors and partners were organized for Dr Rayana B. by WHO Country Office: Minister of Health, French Cooperation, Belgium Cooperation, Africa Union Mission, South Africa Peace Keeping Force in Burundi.

4.5. Health partners information exchange meeting was organized at OCHA Conference Room on the 18 June. Discussions were about the preparation of CAP 2004 and the process of the new malaria treatment protocol in Burundi.

4.6. Thirteen blue libraries where donated to the Ministry of Health by WHO to strengthen the documentation of the health personnel all over the country. This donation was followed by a training of trainers session supported by WHO / AFRO Documentation Unit.

4.7. In line of WHO/Belgium Cooperation project entitled "Improvement of home care access for people living with HIV/AIDS", WHO donated 80 bicycles to six local organizations intervening in 7 provinces and caring for people living with HIV/AIDS.

4.8. A donor briefing meeting was organized by EHA/HQ and presented by WHO Representative for Burundi on the 27 June at Geneva on his way back from a mission. The objective of this meeting was to present the needs for improving basic health services (in particular the access to an essential minimum package) for IDPs and to create better conditions for refugees repatriation in Burundi.

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