A snapshot of the Consolidated Appeal for Burundi for 2000

How much is required
Total of US$ 70.6 million for:

Agriculture & Food Security: US$ 7 million; Food Aid: US$ 33.8 million

Health, Nutrition, Water & Sanitation: US$ 7.9 million; Education & Campaign for Peace: US$ 5 million; Children in distress: US$ 1.4 million; Justice & Human Rights: US$ 6.1 million

Reintegration: US$ 8 million; Coordination & Telecommunications: US$ 1.1 million

WHERE IS IT HAPPENING?

  • Burundi is one of several countries plagued by the instability of the African Great Lakes Region, particularly by the situation in the DRC. Burundi's neighbors include Rwanda (North), the United Republic of Tanzania (East) and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (West).
  • As a direct result of the conflict between the Government and rebel forces more than half a million people were forced to live in some 300 sites and about 300,000 remained as refugees mainly in Tanzania. Increased military activity during the second half of 1999 led to the forced displacement of some additional 250,000 people which brings the total number of IDPs to over 800,000 or 12 % of the country's population.

WHAT IS OUR COMMON HUMANITARIAN ACTION PLAN?

  • To (a) identify vulnerable populations and their needs, (b) provide emergency aid while planning for recovery, (c) clarify roles and responsibilities of humanitarian actors, (d) establish core standards for the provision of humanitarian assistance and for reintegration, (f) promote an integrated approach to reintegration.

WHAT ARE THE MAJOR CONSTRAINTS WE FACE?

  • Lack of access and insecurity: violence against civilians and relief workers;
  • Disregard for humanitarian principles and international humanitarian law;
  • Insufficient resources in face of enormous needs.

WHAT ARE WE TRYING TO ACHIEVE?

  • Reverse malnutrition levels through food distribution.
  • Assist in the revitalization of the agricultural economy in order to reduce dependency on food aid.
  • Ensure access to essential basic services such as health, education, safe water and adequate sanitation facilities.
  • Undertake a sustainable reintegration programme for IDPs and refugees.

WHAT HAPPENS IF WE DO NOT GET THE RESOURCES?

  • Already deplorable conditions of populations in sites will further deteriorate, increasing the number of victims of communicable diseases and insufficient food sources;
  • UN agencies will be unable to reinforce food production activities, thereby reducing dependency on food aid among the population;
  • Ability to sustain some 220,000 people depending on food aid will be eroded;
  • Mortality rates will increase significantly, at present child mortality is at 210 per 1,000 and maternal mortality rates are at 800 per 100,00 live births while estimated to be worse in some areas.
  • About 25,000 people in vulnerable conditions could be deprived access to adequate sanitary facilities and some 100,000 displaced would be unable to access safe water.
  • Children in distress would lack support, including 160,000 AIDS orphans, 4,500 unaccompanied children and some 3,000 surviving on the streets of the capital.

Please find more information on the Consolidated Inter-Agency Appeals for 2000 at http://www.reliefweb.int/appeals