Security deteriorating rapidly in east, southeastern provinces

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Burundi expressed concern on Friday at the rapidly deteriorating security situation in the country's east and southeastern provinces OCHA Information Officer Nicholas McGowan told IRIN. The humanitarian community, he said, would remain on high alert this weekend throughout the eastern province of Ruyigi, and southern provinces of Rutana and Makamba. Tensions flared on 6 July when an estimated 1,500 militia attacked Ruyigi. The state-owned broadcaster, RTNB, reported that eight rockets were fired into Ruyigi town. Fighting intensified on Sunday, engulfing Nyabitsinda, Gisuru and Kinyinya communes. Up to 5,000 people are reportedly displaced. "The number of casualties and wounded cannot be assessed at this time," he said. "We are, however, continuing to receive regular updates from our field officer in Ruyigi. Coordination mechanisms and emergency contingency plans are in place to assist those as soon as the security situation permits." Fighting lulled mid-week, as the militia retreated to the Mpungwe Mountains, 12 km outside Ruyigi. Local residents had hoped their withdrawal would be permanent. However, on Thursday the militia regrouped for another attack. Current reports are that people fleeing the small town of Bisinde, for Ruyigi, tell of the encroaching militia. Also on Thursday, militiamen ordered HIV-positive children out of a van going from Ruyigi to a hospital in Butezi; then set the vehicle ablaze. "The children were left stranded," McGowan said. Some 1,500-armed militiamen now surround Ruyigi and occupy the townships of Rugango, Kigamba, Rugongo and Bisinde. Blankets and basic food items have been distributed in Ruyigi, where residents said they were prepared for a siege. Makamba Province Farther south, in Makamba Province, the situation this week has been much the same. Makamba came under sustained attack on Sunday. International staff of Medecin Sans Frontieres-France evacuated their Makamba base on Monday after a rocket landed within 100 metres of their compound. By mid-week the provincial governor declared 1,600 displaced people "in dire need of assistance". Provincial officials estimate that 320 homes were destroyed, with vandalism and theft widespread. New outbursts of violence have been reported in Rutana Province, Gitanga commune. At this time, the number of internally displaced people in the province, reported by the Governor stands at 1,000 in Rutana Township, and 4,068 in the nearby hills. The escalation in rebel attacks comes as negotiations between Tanzanian officials and the FDD reached a stalemate last week. The FDD, Forces pour la defense de la democratie, is one of two Hutu groups fighting the transitional government of President Pierre Buyoya. The other is the Forces nationales de liberation. On his return from Durban this week, Buyoya expressed hope that ceasefire talks would continue, and that a regional summit would be convened in Dar es Salaam before the end of July. However, the FDD issued a statement on Thursday rejecting Buyoya's proposal. The transitional government was inaugurated on 1 November 2001, following a power-sharing agreement signed between Buyoya's government and 17 political parties, and the national assembly. The FDD and FNL refused to participate in the Arusha Peace process and resulting Arusha Accords. A ceasefire agreement with the armed opposition is considered crucial to attaining sustainable peace in Burundi.