ACT News Update

Burundi 0104

Attack on refugee camp affects work of ACT member

Geneva, August 19, 2004--The attack on August 13 by rebel forces in western Burundi that left 160 people dead and 101 wounded occurred in a camp of Tutsi Congolese refugees where the Conseil National Des Eglises du Burundi (CNEB, or the National Council of Churches of Burundi) is working. CNEB is a member of Action by Churches Together (ACT) International, a global alliance of churches and related agencies.

The Banyamulenge Refugee Camp was attacked late Friday night allegedly by Mayi Mayi, Interahamwe and Hutu Forces for National Liberation (FNL) and launched from neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

CNEB assists refugees from DRC who are living in the camp through the provision of food, non-food relief items and education.

Staff of CNEB visited the camp the morning after the attack along with representatives of other non-governmental organizations working in the area. CNEB reports that its activities to assist the refugees, carried out with support of ACT members around the world under ACT appeal AFBI41, are affected because the supplies of relief items that CNEB distributed earlier were lost when shelters belonging to the refugees were burned in the attacks.

CNEB reports that the wounded are in different hospitals in the area. CNEB was not able to help other refugees affected by the attacks because it had exhausted its supplies purchased with Rapid Response Funds from ACT, which were sent in late June to allow CNEB to offer additional assistance to a new wave of refugees from DRC. "We noticed that all the food they had was burnt, [as well as] clothes, shelter, and all utensils," a spokesperson for NCCB says. Other NGOs, however, were able to supply some food.

Residents of the camp are in need of replacement clothes and other non-food items. CNEB has also learned that the wounded refugees in hospitals need food.

The United Nations has asked that the camp, near the border between Burundi and DRC, be moved, which CNEB expects would affect its work there. CNEB also believes that last week's attack will handicap the peace process in Burundi and DRC.

According to CNEB, yesterday morning the Banyamulenge refugees rioted in town and broke cars, attacked the DRC embassy and were dispersed by the police. After that, they went around the town throwing stones at cars. Meanwhile, a special meeting was being held in Dar es Salaam on the issue of elections which may take place before the beginning of November 2004.

The ACT appeal for CNEB, AFBI41, which was issued in February 2004, is still open. Only 32 percent of the requested funds have been received, and the ACT Coordinating Office is encouraging members to continue sending funds for this appeal.