Burundi  >  Our action · Humanitarian situation 

A fragile reconstruction

Since September 2005 Burundi has maintained elected democratic institutions in a stable, secular environment after ten years of civil war and political crisis. This improvement in the political situation has been accompanied by economic progress linked with reconstruction. In health and housing, we have seen increased accountability by institutional participants, increased community participation and sustainable hygiene skills among the general public.

Despite this progress the situation in Burundi remains a concern. The water infrastructures are not developing quickly enough. The maintenance of existing systems is insufficient, restricting the service rate of drinking water to 33%. Water in Burundi is plentiful, but tropical temperatures favor the proliferation of parasites and the contamination of water sources.

Furthermore, in spite of abundant natural resources and productive land, a portion of the population does not have sufficient access to food .These pockets of instability are a cause for concern in the humanitarian community.

Burundi is no longer in a state of emergency but rather in transition and well on the road to development. However, some needs are as yet unattended. The destruction of infrastructures during the civil war, significant demographic growth and the degradation of sanitary conditions are leading Burundi into an economic vicious circle.

SOLIDARITÉS has been working in Burundi since 1996, and continues its humanitarian action today, fighting to improve living conditions of the populations in a country which remains fragile.

Sources: UNICEF, CIA

Update : june 2009