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Some 1,000 Congolese Banyamulenge in Burundi's capital, Bujumbura, have received six tonnes of rice and the same amount of maize from the government, the local human rights league, ITEKA, and humanitarian sources reported.
ITEKA said on Monday that the aid was for those Banyamulenge refugees at the St Joseph's Church in Ngagara, a section of the city. Each person is to receive 10 kg of food, enough to last 15 days. All food distribution centres would receive 35 mt of similar aid, ITEKA reported.
A government delegation comprising ministers, other government and city officials, as well as the governor of Muyinga Province visited the refugee site. Among them was the director of cabinet at the Ministry of Interior, who told the refugees that the donation "did not mean a resumption of aid" to the refugees, Radio Television Nationale de Burundi, reported. He reminded them that the government would continue relocating them to Gasorwe, Muyinga Province, which was the most secure part of the country.
Burundi has been subjected to what it says is a wave of insurgencies of Hutu rebels based in Tanzania. The government in Dar es Salaam has denied the charge.
This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions
