Thousands temporarily displaced by fighting

A wave of fighting between the Burundian army and rebel forces has caused “massive temporary displacement” although most of the victims tend to move back to their homes “when calm returns”, humanitarian sources told IRIN on Thursday. The recent wave of fighting started on 24 February in Bujumbura-Mairie and resulted in the temporary displacement of 54,000 people, the sources said. It has, however, swept through the southeast, central and north-central Burundi, they added. In the last week of March, some 15,000 people were temporary displaced after fighting spread to the southeastern Rutana province, the sources said. On 7 April, fighting moved on to Gitega province where about 17,000 people were displaced and sought refuge in the neighbouring Mwaro province. The armed groups moved through Mwaro to Muramvya province where some 10,000 people are also temporarily displaced.

An aid worker in Bujumbura said the fighting had caused massive destruction. “Homes, schools or health facilities were burnt down and totally devastated. They were looted,” he noted. “People do go back as soon as they sense some calm, but they find their livelihoods destroyed,” he added.