Highlights
Food stocks are stretched and WFP requires immediate contributions to meet the needs of vulnerable people in Burundi as well as new arrivals and existing refugees in the four countries. In particular, the Burundi operation risks critical pipeline breaks as early as December.
Refugees from Burundi continue to cross borders into neighbouring countries. As at 12 November, more than 216,000 new Burundian refugees had arrived in the DRC, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda.
Overview
Amid attempts led by the International Community and regional bodies to find a political solution to the ongoing crisis in Burundi, violence continues to be reported in some of Bujumbura’s neighbourhoods of Musaga and Ngagara and other provinces such as Cibitoke Province. On 09 November, reports indicate that two people were killed by police forces after a grenade was thrown at a police patrol during security operations in Bujumbura’s Musaga District. Furthermore, on 07 November, at least seven people were killed, including a United Nations staff member in Bujumbura. This resurgence and escalation of violence in Burundi, could lead to an increase in the rate of both internal and cross-border population movement. As of 12 November, more than 216,000 people had fled the country into the DRC, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda.
Burundi
The post-election political crisis in Burundi continues to deteriorate with serious negative effects on the economy. According to the October—December 2015 Humanitarian Outlook for the Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes Region, tax revenues were below target in August and September at 32 percent and 25 percent respectively. This coupled with the scaling back and suspension of foreign aid by donors as a result of the political impasse and reports of alleged human rights violations, is likely to cause further deterioration of living conditions for most Burundians and increase humanitarian needs.
WFP, FAO and other food security partners are conducting emergency food security assessments in the six provinces most affected by the crisis, including Bujumbura, with the aim of the assessments is to determine the impact of the ongoing political crisis on food security and nutrition.
The operation continues to face serious resource constraints, which are negatively impacting WFP’s interventions for the vulnerable people affected by the crisis, as well as normal operations planned under the ongoing operation. If new contributions are not received soon, there is a risk of pipeline breaks starting in December. An increased number of people in need of immediate food assistance resulting from the ongoing crisis, would exacerbate already existing resource shortfalls.