Urgent IDP situation in Kibago, Mabanda communes

The Governor of Makamba had initially said there were 50,000 people displaced, but later official figures cited 31,460. This was considered somewhat exaggerated but was being used for planning purposes by NGOs, a humanitarian official in Burundi told IRIN on Friday. The situation had been identified as urgent in five sites, in particular: Jimdi, Kivoga and Mbizi village, in Kibago commune, and both Mabanda-Cribumal and Paroisse in Mabanda commune. The displaced people were understood to have very little at their disposal after fleeing their homes in haste, though some sheeting, blankets and cooking sets had been distributed and a water truck was on its way, humanitarian sources said. NGOs were understood to be meeting on Friday to work out a coordinated response to the crisis.