Date of Emergency: January 2007

Implementing partners:
ACT Forum National Council of Churches of Burundi (CNEB)
Christian Aid CA)
Norwegian Church Aid (NCA)
Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and
Church of the Province of Burundi (EAB)

Details of the Emergency: Thousands of people have been displaced by flooding in Burundi after heavy rains destroyed homes near the capital Bujumbura. Most of the displaced were residents of Gatumba in Mutimbuzi in Bujumbura Rural Province.

Field visits to Mutimbuzi, the worst hit area, by the ACT Forum Burundi found that 1,000 households were washed away and many people had been left homeless. According to the Forum which comprises National Council of Churches of Burundi (CNEB), Christian Aid (CA), Norwegian Church Aid (NCA), Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and Church of the Province of Burundi (EAB), crops such as beans, maize, potatoes and peanuts were completely damaged, and this may trigger a probable famine for at least the next five months.

According to news reports, the Burundian government has begun distributing food to at least 9,000 people displaced by floods in the north-western province, including Mutimbuzi. In addition, the national water and electricity utility, Regideso, was supplying clean water to Mutimbuzi residents in a bid to curb cases of diarrhoea. Despite these interventions, there is still a great need to provide more assistance to those affected by the floods.

Purpose of Response: To contribute to the improvement of the living conditions of those affected by floods in Mutimbuzi.

Beneficiary information and location of response: The Burundi ACT Forum plans to assist 1,000 households Mutimbuzi.

Proposed Assistance: The Burundi ACT Forum is proposing to distribute emergency food and non-food items to those affected by the floods in Mutimbuzi, in collaboration with the local administration and leaders.

Implementation Period: The implementation period will be one month from January 2007 to February 2007. The humanitarian assistance for this specific case will be limited to this RRF but more assessments by the Forum will be carried out after February, to determine a need for further interventions.

BUDGET

ACTION

The ACT Co-ordinating Office has approved the use of US$ 50,000 towards the budget from its Rapid Response Fund and would be grateful to receive contributions to wholly or partially replenish this payment.