180 families flee rebels into Rwanda

Some 180 families in Kabarole commune in Kayanza Province, some 197 km north of Bujumbura, have fled into southern Rwanda and to neighbouring areas such as Burundi's Cibitoke Province, due to rebel- induced food shortages, humanitarian workers and the military said on Friday.

A humanitarian worker, who for security reasons declined to be named, told IRIN that the rebels had emerged from their stronghold in the Kibira forest and looted local foodstocks.
"The area had had a good harvest. However, rebels looted their farm produce," the humanitarian official said.

The Burundi military spokesman, Col Augustin Nzabampema, told reporters in the capital, Bujumbura, that there was no famine in Kabarole, and that the residents who had fled to Rwanda were rebel supporters. But, he added, the rebels looted their food anyway. "Those who side with rebels should take responsibility for what may befall them since, in terms of war and humanitarian rights, anyone conniving with the enemy is no longer protected," he said.

He said humanitarian workers would not be allowed into Kabarole at this time. "It would be difficult to explain to their countries why we sent them to dangerous areas," he added. However, the World Food Programme said it would send a food assessment team to the area on Monday. Another team sent there between 5 and 11 August on a similar task had to abandon its mission due to insecurity.