Buyoya visits regroupment sites

President Pierre Buyoya on Friday visited the Ruziba and Kabezi regroupment centres in Bujumbura Rural province to acquaint himself with the situation and problems there, Burundi radio reported. It said the Ruziba site, grouping some 16,000 people, was relatively “problem-free”, apart from some cases of dysentery. The Kabezi site, grouping 64,000 people, was facing water problems as there are few water sources in the area. Buyoya reiterated to journalists that the people had been regrouped for their own protection “during the current exercises to restore security in Bujumbura Rural”. Acknowledging that life in the sites was not easy, he said good organisation was important. However people would be able to conduct their daily activities, such as going to school, cultivating their fields, going to work in Bujumbura. “There is no dramatic situation in the protection sites as some people are trying to insinuate,” he said.

Humanitarian organisations have said the most urgent needs are for access to safe water and for non-food items, particularly blankets and plastic sheeting. Some organisations have begun delivering safe water to the sites.