Burundi: Congolese camp resupplied

Briefing notes

Burundi: Congolese camp resupplied

This is a summary of what was said by UNHCR spokesperson – to whom quoted text may be attributed – at today's press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.

29 October 1999

UNHCR and the NGO Concern yesterday, Thursday, delivered a six-week food supply to a camp of Congolese refugees in Cibitoke, in north-western Cibitoke province. The convoy travelled under military escort and returned safely to the capital, Bujumbura, during the same day.

U.N. humanitarian operations in the country are still limited to emergency activities, with almost all projects outside Bujumbura suspended since the killing of two U.N. staff on 12 October. The camp of 300 Congolese has no other means of supply.

UNHCR is temporarily relocating some of its 23 international staff in the country to other offices in the region. There has been an upsurge in arrivals of Burundi refugees in western Tanzania since late September.