SITUATION REPORT 5 – 11 July 2004

UNITED NATIONS NATIONS UNIES Office for the Coordination of Bureau de Coordination des Affaires Humanitarian Affairs in Humanitaires au Burundi www.ochaburundi.org www.ochaburundi.org

ISSUES OF THE WEEK

Humanitarian Activities 1. Update on Congolese refugees in Burundi 2. WFP weekly distribution update 3. UNHCR update on refugee returns Security 4. Rural, Cibitoke provinces Political 5. ICG NGO plea 6. Latest events Coordination Efforts

HUMANITARIAN ACTIVITIES

1 Update on Congolese refugees in Burundi No new refugee arrivals were reported during the week. Approximately, 439 refugees returned to DRC since the first arrivals in early June. UNHCR facilitated the transport of approximately 100 school-aged children from Cibitoke and Rugombo sites to enable them to sit for the primary end-year school exams at the Congolese school in Bujumbura. The Agency also facilitated the transport of 127 students of Banyamulenge origin who crossed from Rwanda seeking assistance to take their school exams in Bujumbura. UNICEF conducted a follow-up mission on issues pertaining to the protection of unaccompanied children, health, fight against sexual violence and HIV/AIDS. ICRC has started family tracing services for unaccompanied children in the sites of Karurama and Rugombo in . The number of cholera cases has diminished in both sites. However, cases continue being registered among the local population in the province.

2 WFP weekly distribution update Food distributions were carried out follows:

Programmes Beneficiaries Food (Mt) Relief Assistance Targeted distributions & family rations 65,836 623 Supplementary & therapeutic feeding centres 0 0 Returnees from Tanzania 2,541 134 Congolese refugees in Burundi 0 0 HIV/AIDS patients & PLWA* 3,124 44 Hospital in-patients 398 7 Vulnerable groups in social centres 1,128 19 Recovery Assistance FFW/FFT* 2,171 186 Total 75,198 1,013 *PLWA: People living with AIDS *FFW/FFT: Food-for-work/Food-for-training

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3 UNHCR update on refugee returns As of 20 June: 48,721 facilitated and 3,341 spontaneous returnees in 2004. Total: 52,062 Y.T.D.

Burundian Refugee Returnees by Province: 1 January – 20 June 2004

Province Total per Province % Muyinga 4,741 9.11% Makamba 3,166 6.08% Ruyigi 26,628 51.15% Kirundo 2,848 5.47% Bururi 550 1.06% Bujumbura Mairie 610 1.17% Bujumbura Rural 197 0.38% Ngozi 1,228 2.36% Cibitoke 200 0.38% Cankuzo 2,081 4.00% Rutana 2,879 5.53% Bubanza 158 0.30% Karuzi 3,394 6.52% 2,028 3.90% Kayanza 795 1.53% Muramvya 523 1.00% Mwaro 36 0.07% Total 52,062 100.00%

SECURITY

4 Bujumbura Rural, Cibitoke provinces • About 8 people from Kabezi Commune, Bujumbura Rural Province, have reportedly been kidnapped by members of the Palipehutu-FNL (Agathon Rwasa), which spokesman Pasteur Habimana denied. The destination and fate of these people remain unknown. Increased presence of Army and FDD troops in the communes of Muhuta and Mutambu caused fear among the population who fled towards Mutumba area.

• A local official reported that at least 100 Rwandan Hutu Interahamwe militiamen entered Burundi's north-western province of Cibitoke on 5 July from the Democratic Republic Congo (DRC). Cdt Adolphe Manirakiza, Burundian army spokesman estimated that the number of militiamen could be 150 in total. “Government forces are tracking them down in Bukinanyana commune,” governor Buzuguri said.

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5 ICG NGO plea In its report entitled “End of the transition in Burundi: The home stretch” issued on 5 July, International Crisis Group calls on the international community to make funds available for Burundi’s recovery and on the Burundian government to assume its responsibilities. ICG recommended donors and other members of the international community: to support implementation of the global ceasefire agreement by backing the integration process to create a new national army, to begin disbursing funds pledged at the January 2004 donors conference in Brussels, to impress upon Burundi’s political class the urgency of having a post-transition constitution in place to facilitate the holding of elections by 31 October 2004 and to work to convince the FNL to enter into negotiations with the government.

6 Latest events • The 3rd African Union summit opened on 6 July in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia). President Domitien Ndayizeye, who attended the summit, met UN SG Kofi Annan, who promised to convene a meeting between a UN delegation and the FNL in order to convince the rebels to join the peace process. President Ndayizeye also met with the US Under-secretary of State responsible for Africa, who pledged US $2.6 million to support elections in Burundi. African leaders called on Burundian politicians to put aside their differences and to put in place laws leading to elections.

• More than 300 soldiers held in Mpimba central prison were on strike, protesting the release of FDD combatants. Meanwhile, Tutsi prisoners protested the granting of amnesty to Hutu prisoners accused of political crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide, while they themselves remain in prison.

COORDINATION

• Café de Presse on food security On 6 July, OCHA hosted a “Café de Presse”, during which FAO and WFP gave presentations for the media on food security, while representatives from UNICEF clarified questions related to nutrition. The Café de Presse aimed at informing local journalists on the usage of accurate terminology to best describe the evolution of the situation in the sector, putting journalists in touch with relevant humanitarian agencies; and promoting visibility of the humanitarian agenda in national media coverage. OCHA plans to host future Cafés de Presse on various topics in the coming months.

• On 5-8 July, conflict analysis workshop was organized by the project Reflecting on Peace Practice thanks to DfID financial support. Donors, international and national NGOs involved in peace and reconciliation programmes attended. Participants identified important issues and analyzed them - discussed what was already being done to consolidate peace in Burundi.

For further information and contributions to future updates: Matthew Conway and Adelaide Habonimana OCHA Information Unit E-mail: [email protected] and [email protected]

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