Internally Displaced Persons: Arusha Peace and Reconciliation Agreement for Burundi

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Internally Displaced Persons: Arusha Peace and Reconciliation Agreement for Burundi

Implementations

Internally Displaced Persons – 2003

Not all major parties to the conflict signed the agreement until 2003. During this three year gap, implementation of the internally displaced persons provision did begin.

In Arusha accord, parties agreed the government should take institutional measures for the return, resettlement and reintegration of refugees and internally displaced persons. In this regard, the accord called for the establishment of National Commission for the Rehabilitation of Sinistrés (CNRS) for return, resettlement and reintegration of refugees and displaced persons. Within CNRS a sub-commission was formed to deal with the issue of land belonging to the displaced or refugees but being occupied by others. Parties also agreed to provide food aid, health, education, agriculture and reconstruction support for returned refugees and IDPS. According to an estimate, there were 325,000 IDPs in Burundi as of November 2000.1 The number of IDPs increased to 633,000 as of July 2001.2

The number of IDPs declined to an estimated 487,500 in 2002.3 So far, the transitional government and the Burundian parliament have set up institutional mechanisms like adopting a bill to establish the National Commission for the Rehabilitation of Displaced Persons (CNRS) on 8 August 2002.4 But the sub-commission on land was not established.

As of November 2003, it was reported that estimated 281,000 IDPs were in 230 camps throughout the country.5

  1. «Profile of Internal Displacement: Burundi,» Global IDP (2000-2002), accessed February 22, 2013, http://www.idpproject.org.
  2. Ibid.
  3. Ibid.
  4. «Burundi: Parliament adopts bill on commission for displaced persons,» BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, August 10, 2002.
  5. «Secretary GeneralsÕ Report to the Security Council,» United Nations Security Council (S/2003/1146), December 4, 2003.

Internally Displaced Persons – 2004

While CNRS was working on return, resettlement and reintegration of refugees and IDPs, the sub-commission on land was not established which hindered the reintegration and resettlement of displaced persons.

Notwithstanding the establishment of CNRS, the land related issue was not prioritized, which hindered the peace process. In fact, a submission for land issues with rebel representation had not been established.3 No further information available on return of IDPs. In fact, it was reported that 35,000 civilians were displaced in 2004.6

  1. «Burundi: Homeless refugees suffering from lack of basic needs,» BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, December 6, 2004.
  2. «Secretary General’s Report to the Security Council,» United Nations Security Council (S/2004/902), November 15, 2004.

Internally Displaced Persons – 2005

Because of improved security situation, it was reported that estimated 165,000 returned to their communities without any assistance. Nevertheless, it was reported that the Burundian government and the United Nations conducted survey of IDPs in 2004 and 2005 to assess their needs and vulnerabilities for better resettlement in their origin places. In this regard, the government had initiated a program for the rehabilitation of IDPs and refugees, which the Ministry of Resettlement and Repatriates was responsible to implement in coordination with CNRS. Various international organizations and voluntary groups were also involved in providing needs of IDPs.7

  1. «Burundi: Improving Political and Security Situation Encourages IDP Return,» Global IDPs (2005), accessed February 22, 2013, http://www.idpproject.org.

Internally Displaced Persons – 2006

By October 2006, it was reported that Burundi’s IDPs fell a to record low of 100,000.8 Land issue was the main problem for the successful resettlement and reintegration of returnees (refugees and IDPs). To solve land related issues, the government took initiatives and established the national commission on land and other properties with some of the responsibilities of the former land sub-commission established under the CNRS.9

  1. «Secretary General’s Report to the Security Council,» United Nations Security Council, (S/2006/842), October 25, 2006.
  2. «Burundi parliamentarians ratify bill establishing national land commission,» BBC Monitoring Africa, March 30, 2006.

Internally Displaced Persons – 2007

No developments observed this year.

Internally Displaced Persons – 2008

As the Hutus and Tutsi skirmishes took place in May and June, thousands of civilians were displaced in 2008.10

  1. «Some 20,000 displaced in recent Burundi fighting,» BBC Monitoring Africa, May 10, 2008.

Internally Displaced Persons – 2009

As of 2009, estimated 100,000 were internally displaced in Burundi. It was reported that majority of them do not own their own house or land.11

  1. «Long-term IDPs need land security,» Global IDP (2009), accessed February 22, 2013, http://www.idpproject.org.

Internally Displaced Persons – 2010

According to a report, an estimated 100,000 were internally displaced by the end of November 2010.12

  1. «Secretary General’s Report to the Security Council,» United Nations Security Council (S/2010/608), November 30, 2010.

Internally Displaced Persons – 2011

As of November 2011, the IDP number increased to 157,000.13

  1. «Secretary General’s Report to the Security Council,» United Nations Security Council (S/2011/751), November 30, 2011.

Internally Displaced Persons – 2012

No further developments observed.