Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Bujumbura (Fides Service)- Tension is rising in Burundi after the explosion of mortar bombs in the capital Bujumbura thrown by rebels of the National Liberation Forces (FNL).
A warning with regard to the situation in Burundi was issued by the office of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees UNHCR in Rwanda. In a report to Fides UNHCR said that at least 800 Burundians have crossed the border into Rwanda fleeing growing tension in the Burundian provinces of Ngozi, Kirundo and Muyinga.
The refugees, a large group of Batwa Pygmies and about 600 ethnic Tutsi, told UNHCR operators in Rwanda they had not actually seen any violence but they had heard reports of attacks. Some said they had received threats from their neighbours.
The new arrivals are in Gitonko, in the Rwandan province of Butare, assisted by the Rwandan government. Many of them are in a state of very poor health and serious malnutrition. The northern regions of Burundi are affected by a serious food shortage due to scarcity of rain and a poor harvest. However the refugees said they were not fleeing from hunger, but for fear of violence in the period of the elections.
One fifteen year old boy from Burundi told UNHCR workers he had heard that anyone who stayed behind would be killed. A mother, when asked why she had brought her son to a strange country, told UNHCR operators: “it is better to die of hunger in a foreign country than to be hacked to pieces with a machete”.
Last year about 4,000 Burundians crossed the border into Rwanda in search of safety. About one thousand of these returned home a short while afterwards. For the three thousand who remained in Rwanda UNHCR set up a camp at Nyamure in the province of Butare where now it hopes to transfer the new arrivals as soon as possible to assure them adequate protection and assistance.
UNHCR said it is concerned for the growing food shortage and tension in northern Burundi, which could slow down the repatriation of Burundians. Last year about 90,000 Burundian refugees were repatriated thanks to UNHCR which hopes by the end of 2005 to help 150,000 return home to Tanzania.
Burundi is living a difficult time after the civil war in 1993. Following a February 28 referendum on the constitution (see Fides 1 March 2005), the country is preparing for local and presidential elections in the next two months. The present electoral process should mark the end of the interim period started in 2000 with an agreement signed in Arusha (Tanzania) to form an interim government including all the main political parities in Burundi. In 2003 the main rebel group FDD (Forces for the Defence of Democracy) signed the Dar es Salaam agreement and joined the interim government. Whereas the National Liberation Forces did not sign the agreement. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 16/3/2005 righe 43 parole 551)
