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UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

BURUNDI: Over 12,000 civilians flee army offensive

BUJUMBURA, 15 May 2003 (IRIN) - More than 12,000 people have fled Bubanza Province, northwestern Burundi, since 8 May when the army launched an offensive against Forces pour la defence de la democratie (FDD) rebels, humanitarian workers said on Thursday.

"Approximately 2,500 households, that is more than 12,000 people, have been forced to flee following heavy clashes between the army and FDD rebels at Ruce and Muyebe localities last week; the majority fled towards Rugazi and Musigati communes in Bubanza," said Helena Mazarro, a humanitarian affairs officer in the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

Mazarro told IRIN that the displaced were yet to receive aid from humanitarian agencies. "We are still waiting to determine the exact number of people who fled in order to begin assisting them," she said.

The governor of Bubanza, Isae Bigirimana, told IRIN that the number of displaced could be higher than originally estimated. "We are compiling a list of those who have left, which we will then give to humanitarian agencies," he said.

Mazarro said OCHA had received reports from an NGO working in Bubanza, known as Cordaid, that three health centres in Ruce, Ntamba and Muyebe had been looted. She said Cordaid was planning to set up mobile clinics at Mugoma and Kayange from 19 May.

Mazarro said OCHA, together with officials from the UN World Food Programme (WFP) and the NGO Catholic Relief Services (CRS), were planning to tour Bubanza on Monday "to evaluate the needs" of the population.

"Aid distribution will probably start on Tuesday, but again we need to know if the area is secure, otherwise the aid can be distributed at Muzinda, 18 km northwest of Bujumbura, the area is somehow safe," Mazarro said.

Army spokesman Col Augustin Nzabampema told IRIN on Thursday that heavy clashes were reported at Ruce on Wednesday, but that calm had resumed. "The army drove the rebels away during the clash at Ruce, and the situation is calm although rebels are still within the surrounding areas," he said.

The army has claimed that it killed more than 100 FDD rebels since 5 May when it launched offensives across central and northern Burundi, a claim the FDD has dismissed as false. An FDD spokesman told IRIN that those killed by the army were civilians.

Themes: (IRIN) Conflict, (IRIN) Refugees/IDPs

[ENDS]

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