Highlights
On October 13th, 3 children as well as a staff member of the International Organisation for Migration were killed in a police operation in Ngagara which killed at least 13 people in total.
Security forces continue to conduct operations including cordons and night time shooting in contested neighborhoods of Bujumbura.The children charged with involvement in armed groups have been transferred to the re-education center in Rumonge. The family assessment is underway to ensure the conditions for safe reintegration are met.
Minors continue to be at high risk on police raids and the number of children arrested continues to be high. UNICEF and its partners are following up all these case to ensure their prompt and safe release.
Key figures
At least 198
People killed in Burundi since 26 April 2015, 63 of them in the last three weeks alone, 15 of them children
(OHCHR, 23 October)
66
Minors still detained & charged with ‘involvement in armed groups’
(UNICEF, 29 October)
Over 207,167
Number of refugees seeking asylum in neighbouring countries
(UNHCR, 27 October)
Situation Overview & Humanitarian Needs
In the capical Bujumbura, targeted neighborhoods continue to experience frequent cordon and search operations. Furthermore, politically orientated violence is now subsequently also spreading outside of the 'traditional’ neighborhoods. On October 13th, at least 13 people, including three children as well as a staff member of the International Organisation for Migration, were killed in a police operation in Ngagara.
Beyond these atrocities, socio-economic consequences of the crisis threaten to void achieved progress and to further deteriorate the well-being of Burundi’s more than five million children. Socio-economic deterioration of the country is expected if donor nations continue suspension of cooperation with the Government of Burundi and withdrawal of bilateral aid. On September 29th 2015, the European Union announced targeted sanctions against three key members of ruling regime and one person involved in the May coup attempt. The sanctions along with the Dutch Government withdrawal from security sector reform projects and the US military suspension of the African Contingency Operations Training and Assistance further isolates Burundi from the international community. In October 2015 during the absence of the Belgian Ambassador, the Burundian Government suspended the agreement with the Belgian embassy.
Burundi is already one of the poorest countries in the world and highly-aid dependent with budget shares of up to 80% of social sector Ministries relying on external aid. Thus, a shortfall in funding severely threatens access to adequate nutrition, health facilities and quality education for children. Especially, in the health sector, the Government is confronted with shortages of essential drugs and is calling for support.