Military

DATE=11/23/2003

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=BURUNDI/AID (L O)

NUMBER=2-310144

BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN

DATELINE=GENEVA

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Despite an ongoing peace process, the U-N Humanitarian Coordinator in Burundi tells V-O-A the situation remains desperate for most of the country's seven-million inhabitants. Lisa Schlein in Geneva reports the U-N official says more than 70-million dollars in international assistance is required to provide basic survival needs throughout the coming year.

TEXT: The United Nations says conditions in Burundi are among the worst in the world. It says almost every province in the country has had to endure sporadic fighting, looting or armed banditry this year.

The U-N Humanitarian Coordinator in Burundi, Sunil Saigal, says people are cautiously optimistic that the peace process will make things better for people in the country. A cease-fire agreement recently was signed between the government and three of the four rebel groups.

But, Mr. Saigal tells V-O-A that until the improvements on the political level filter through to fighters on the ground, the hostilities will continue.

/// SAIGAL ACT ///

We have seen increased tendencies of banditry, lawlessness in certain parts of the country which affects the civilian population very strongly. One of the very tragic trends that we have seen over the last few months has been an increasing number of rapes.

/// END ACT ///

Mr. Saigal says women are at risk of rape by government soldiers and rebels alike. These acts of violence, he says, not only increase the level of trauma among women, they also cause H-I-V/AIDS to spread.

U-N statistics show about 60-percent of Burundi's population lives below the poverty line and 70-percent is under-nourished. It says an estimated 300-thousand people have been made homeless during Burundi's decade-long civil war. Another 800-thousand Burundian refugees still live in Tanzanian refugee camps, villages, and communities.

/// OPT /// The U-N coordinator says during most of this year, about 100-thousand people were forced to flee their homes every month because of fighting. He says there are many social and economic indicators which show how seriously the situation in Burundi is deteriorating.

/// 2ND SAIGAL ACT ///

I think one of the most dramatic is that life expectancy has declined drastically. Ten-years ago or 11-years ago in 1992, the indicator was an expectancy of 53 almost 54 years. Today the average life expectancy is 40 years.

/// END ACT // END OPT ///

Mr. Saigal says the United Nations is asking the international community to contribute more than 70-million dollars to provide food, water, health care and other basic services for millions of Burundians. He says the money also will be used to protect the civilian population, support the Arusha peace process and prepare for recovery and rebuilding. (SIGNED)

NEB/LS/DW/RAE