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Humanitarian Operations in Burundi=20 Information Bulletin, Dec. 18, 1998 Jan. 3, 1999=20 Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Sender: owner-irin-extra Precedence: bulk
General
OAU Conflict Resolution Committee supports lifting the embargo
On 17 December the OAU=92s Conflict Resolution Committee declared that Burundi had abided by all of the conditions necessary for the lifting of the embargo as stated by the regional leaders which originally imposed it.= =20 They cited in particular the fact that three rounds of negotiations had been held between the parties to the conflict.
Japan recognises Buyoya Government
Japan recognised the Government established by Major Pierre Buyoya in July 1996, basing its decision on increasing stability, reported the Burundian Press Agency. The Japanese had not recognised the Burundian Government earlier, according to the report, because of the ethnic conflict which erupted after the change in power.=20
Peace conference in Nairobi: CNDD representation at Arusha questioned
The Burundian organisation =93Compagnie des apotres de la paix (CAP)=94 organised a conference in Nairobi the week before Christmas, bringing together Burundians from inside and outside of the country, including parliamentarians, to discuss peace. Regarding the Arusha peace process, participants reportedly proposed that mediator Julius Nyerere recognise the rebel CNDD-FDD faction of Colonel Jean-Bosco Ndaykengurukiye as a negotiating party, rather than or in addition to Leonard Nyangoma.=20 Burundian press has reported that Nyerere asked Father Matteo Zuppi, President of the Commission on Security organised by the Arusha negotiations, to use his good offices to address the problem.=20
National Assembly takes three days to review "Good Governance"=20
In the week before Christmas, the National Assembly reviewed the peace process and how best to promote good governance. Among the more contentious topics, the Commission for Defence and Security of the National Assembly presented a proposal calling for an ethnic equilibration of the armed forces by integrating various combatants, instituting commune-level recruitment of the armed forces, and creating a civilian police force. With regards to democracy, the Azanian Press Agency reported that the President of the Assembly noted in his closing speech that there persisted two camps: one which favoured =91one man one vote=92, = and another arguing that such a system was impossible because Burundian society was fractionalised, divided by =93double-speak, genocide, and fear of =91the other=92=94. The latter camp, he said, preferred a voting system = based on the use of an electoral college.=20
UN and Canada to host Burundi consultation in New York in early January
UNDP and the UN=92s Department of Political Affairs, in collaboration with the Government of Canada, will be hosting a donor consultation in New York in early January. The consultation follows an August meeting held in Ottawa, at which donors agreed to support the concept of =91enlarged humanitarian assistance.=92 At the meeting in January, UNDP, UNHCR and the World Bank will be presenting programmes based on this expanded mandate.
Government appoints new public prosecutor
The Government of Burundi appointed a new public prosecutor, Gerard Ngendabanka, a former Minister of Justice and a member of the mainly Hutu FRODEBU party. He was also Deputy Cabinet Director of the Office of the President under Buyoya=92s first government. Burundian delegates attending the Nairobi peace conference organised by CAP (see above) suggested that Ngendabanka was a =93consensus=94 appointment emerging from the internal political partnership.
President of the Supreme Court dies unexpectedly
The President of the Supreme Court, Salvator Seromba, died unexpectedly on 28 December of natural causes, reported the Burundian press. Judge Seromba had presided over all of the sessions of the case of the assassination of President Ndadaye, which has recently gone into deliberation.=20
Security increased for holiday season in Bujumbura; calm prevails in the city
Though rebels were reportedly distributing tracts proclaiming an imminent attack on Bujumbura in the weeks leading up to the holiday season, calm prevailed in Bujumbura through to the new year. In response to the heightened tensions, the Government increased the presence of soldiers and had senior Government officials hold security meetings on the afternoon of 22 December. The meetings requested citizens to be extra vigilant and report any =91infiltrations=92 to the authorities.
Violence continues unabated outside of Bujumbura town
Though the city of Bujumbura remained calm during the holidays, attacks continued in conflict-ridden areas in Bujumbura rural, Bururi and Bubanza. Incidents also occurred in Muramvya and Ruyigi. In Bujumbura rural, major fighting took place on 30 December, leaving 28 dead in Mukike commune;=20 four people were in the same commune four days earlier. On 27 December, four people in total were killed in Kanyosha commune during the assassination of the provincial Director for Agriculture and Animal Husbandry. Earlier, on 22 December a failed ambush of the communal Administrator for Mutambu commune left two soldiers and two civilians wounded. In the province of Bubanza, there was an attack in town on 17 December. In the province of Bururi, fighting or an attack occurred every few days during the period, leaving more than 10 dead in the commune of Rumonge, where the fighting was most intense. Fighting also took place in Burambi commune. In the province of Muramvya, 8 people were killed in two separate incidents on 29 December. In Ruyigi, a Christmas day attack resulted only in theft. The attack was nevertheless disturbing, as Ruyigi has otherwise been calm for more than a year.
Humanitarian Activities
Relief distributions blocked in Bujumbura Rural
Continuing conflict and disputes over the distribution of relief goods are contributing to high tension in Kabezi commune, south of the capital. At the displaced camp at the center of Kabezi commune, the military district commander stopped a food distribution on 22 December for fear that food would be inappropriately distributed. The distribution was also disrupted by disputes over the beneficiary list. The agreed-upon list did not cover new arrivals, causing beneficiaries to react angrily and declare that no distribution should take place if it was not for everybody. NGO workers had to withdraw under the protection of the military. Meetings with the Government have resulted in an agreement to establish a new beneficiary list based on need. This list, however, which was supposed to be prepared in time for a 29 December distribution, has not yet been established. The disruption has also affected other sites in Kabezi commune. The displaced in Mubone, for example, who were told on 8 December to leave their houses by the local authorities while the army searched for rebels, have not yet received the planned food assistance (see Bulletin of 30 Nov. 17 Dec.).=20
FAO studies effects of low rainfall in Burundi
An evaluation carried out jointly by FAO and the Ministry of Agriculture from 16 to 24 December has revealed that the shortage of rain during the present growing season will have a significant impact on agricultural production. The mission visited all 16 provinces and met with local and provincial authorities and NGOs operating in the area. The production of beans has been particularly affected. Harvests will be significantly reduced in Kirundo, Cibitoke, Cankuzo and Rutana. As a result, FAO has stated that the anticipated bean seed distribution of 600MT will no longer be sufficient. CRS has indicated that it will be able to contribute another 200MT. The Italian Development agency has also indicated that it will be able to contribute 1,500kg of garden vegetable seeds. In 1999, FAO anticipates a shortfall of 22,000 MT (out of an estimated need of 72,000 MT) and 3,300 MT in food and seed imports, respectively.=20
FAO completes distribution of seeds in all but three provinces
FAO has completed the distribution of sorghum seeds necessary for the next agricultural season in all of Burundi=92s provinces except Bururi, Makamba and Bujumbura rural.
CARE activities in December
During December, CARE, with funding from UNDP/UNOPS and the Canadian Government, finished the construction of 250 houses and latrines in the province of Kayanza. In Ngozi, a self-construction project rehabilitated 9 primary classrooms, a water system for 7,000 beneficiaries and the construction of 700 houses in Ruhororo commune. The Environmental Protection Project, funded by the Canadian Government, has produced 400,000 tree seedlings and 100,000 anti-erosion plants. Trees and plants are in the process of being planted and distributed to rural landowners in three provinces. In December, CARE also distributed 1,309 MT of food to 128,825 beneficiaries in nine provinces. Before distribution, independent CARE teams did a validation exercise of the beneficiary lists. The Food Distribution Project is funded by OFDA through CARE USA.
Avocats Sans Frontieres (Lawyers Without Borders) to open in January
Avocats Sans Frontieres (ASF), a Belgian NGO, will open its office and begin a legal assistance project in January. The programme=92s objectives are to i)provide legal assistance to those involved in cases related to the events of 1993, whether as accused or as civil claimants, and ii)contribute to the respect of the right to defence and to improved justice in general, since justice and the respect for human rights are essential elements for re-establishment of peace and national reconciliation in Burundi.
This bulletin is prepared by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Bujumbura, Burundi. It is compiled from input received from humanitarian organisations working in Burundi.=20 Tel: (257) 218034 or 219157/8 Fax: (257) 218035 E-mail: dha@cbinf.com
Item: irin-extra-97
subject: Humanitarian Operations in Burundi=20 From: owner-irin-extra@ocha.unon.org Date: Thu, 7 Jan 1999 12:35:29 +0300
Editor: Dr. Ali B. Ali-Dinar, Ph.D
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