UN agencies request over $70 million

Burundi has never needed the support of the humanitarian community more than it does now, the UN said in its consolidated inter-agency appeal covering the year 2000. The document, issued on Monday, said the recent regroupment of people in Bujumbura Rural had raised the total number of displaced people to over 800,000 people, representing 12 percent of the country’s population. During 1999, the economy weakened further, food prices increased, donors continued to largely limit their involvement to the financing of emergency assistance, and the government had not been able to increase the provision of basic services, the document said. In the appeal, nine UN agencies have requested a total of US $70.6 million for their efforts in Burundi. It noted that operations were suspended in the aftermath of the 12 October killings in Rutana province, but urgent humanitarian activities would begin “as soon as more effective security measures are assured”.