Tens of thousands in need of aid

Burundi seems set to slide back into war

Geneva, July 16, 2003—Tens of thousands of people displaced by recent rebel attacks on the Burundi capital, Bujumbura, are in need of urgent aid.

"The situation in Burundi is of great concern," says Bishop Bernard Ntahotouri of the Church of the Province of Burundi, adding that although the fighting has stopped for the moment, "there is still shooting in and around Bujumbura. The attack on Bujumbura has left many homeless and many dead."

Reports have put those displaced by the fighting at more than 20,000 people, with scores of people having been wounded. Government sources have put the death toll at 200.

Juvenal Ntakarashira, who heads up the Faith, Doctrine and Communication unit of the National Council of Churches of Burundi writes that the needs of the people affected by the conflict are enormous. The National Council of Churches of Burundi (NCCB) - a member of the global alliance Action by Churches Together (ACT) International - is helping those organizations responding to the emergency, by assessing and identifying the most urgent needs. Mr. Ntakarashira reports that at least 1,500 of the some 20,000 displaced persons sought refuge from the fighting in churches and church buildings. His concern however is that as the situation "cools down in some areas, the attacks move to other areas. So, (while) some people return (home), while others come."

Immediate needs include food and basic non-food items (sheeting, poles, soap, water and sanitation facilities). Many people are finding on their return that their homes have been destroyed or looted. An added concern is the scarcity of medical supplies in the country.

The recent rebel attack followed prolonged tensions in Burundi between Forces Nationales de Liberation (FNL)-Rwasa and the government. The fighting started early last week when FNL fighters attacked the south of Burundi’s capital city, Bujumbura. The FNL had earlier accused Burundi President Domitien Ndayizeye of having threatened to "wipe their movement out".

By July 9, the fighting had intensified with the rebels shelling buildings in the capital’s center from neighboring hills. According to reports, the attacks on Wednesday were mounted by FNL and supported by a faction of Conseil National pour la Defence de la Democratie (CNDD). FNL is the only group that has not signed a cease-fire agreement with the Burundi government. Three other rebel groups signed agreements with the government in December 2002, in Arusha, Tanzania, but accusations of cease-fire violations have been made by all sides since then.

Church leaders in the city and the area around Bujumbura have appealed to "those who are involved in fighting to come to a peaceful agreement for the safety of our people."

*Additional information provided by Bishop Pie Ntukamazina (Episcopal Church of Burundi, Diocese of Bujumbura) through All Africa News Agency (AANA)