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UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs |
BURUNDI: WFP food relief for displaced civilians in Kayanza
NAIROBI, 26 June 2003 (IRIN) - The UN World Food Programme (WFP) has provided 157.4 mt of relief food for 41,715 people displaced by fighting between rebel and government troops in Kayanza Province in northern Burundi, a WFP official told IRIN on Thursday.
The displaced were from several communes in Kayanza which, in the last several days, have been hit by heavy fighting between the army and the Conseil national pour la defense de la democratie-Force pour la defense de la democratie (CNDD-FDD) rebel faction led by Pierre Nkurunziza.
WFP Reports and Information Officer Karine Strebelle said the displaced were camped in sites at Rukeco and Mivo in Bugia and Ngozi communes respectively, in Ngozi Province.
She said another site at Ceyerezi in Muganga Commune in Kayanza was inaccessible. She added that WFP had distributed 16.4 mt of food aid to 4,280 displaced people who arrived in Mivo on Thursday.
On Wednesday, she said, WFP delivered 131 mt of food to 33,555 displaced in Ngozi Province.
She said that 8,848 households (about 44,240 people) had fled fighting between government and rebel forces in Muhanga and Gahombo communes in Kayanza on 19 and 21 June.
She added that most of the displaced sought refuge at Rukeco, Busiga and Mivo communes in Ngozi and at Ceyerezi, Muhanga Commune in Kayanza.
On Tuesday, army and local authority officials told IRIN that an unknown number of rebels had been killed in the fighting, that mainly took place at Mufunya, Nyarurama and Buramiro areas in Butaganzwa Commune, and at Matongo Commune.
The officials said they contacted humanitarian agencies seeking aid for the tens of thousands displaced.
"WFP is very concerned about the situation," Strebelle said. "A rapid evaluation has was conducted on Monday to assess the needs of the displaced persons."
The evaluation indicated that the displaced had left their homes without food reserves, she added.
"Cases of pneumonia and respiratory diseases are intensifying due to the lack of shelter and blankets and the cold temperatures at night," she said.
"The security situation remains fragile and more people might move from their homes as they become insecure or might remain displaced for a longer period," she said.
Theme(s): (IRIN) Refugees/IDPs
[ENDS]
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