32,000 people destitute in central region

At least 32,000 people in the central province of Gitega are in distress and in urgent need for humanitarian supplies, as a result of rebel attacks in July, the Burundian state-owned news agency, ABP, reported on Thursday, quoting provincial authorities. The displaced are mostly concentrated in the communes of Giheta, Bugendana, Itaba, Nyarusange, Ryansoro and Gitega, with the largest numbers of them in Bugendana (19,278), Gitega (5,522) and Giheta (5,263) communes. They need food, clothing, blankets, household utensils, medicine, and iron sheets to reconstruct their houses. With schools due to reopen, children also need learning materials, the agency reported. It added that the provincial governor had asked the minister of reintegration and resettlement of displaced people and repatriates, Francoise Ngendahayo, for help.