[Burundi: humanitarian mission (January-April 1994)]

The 1993 assassination of the President of the Republic of Burundi led to a bloodbath resulting in the killing of 700 000 people and 300 000 refugees in camps scattered throughout the country. After the emergency surgery phase, the French cooperation which was in charge of health care in the Gitega sector requested a humanitary mission. Two public health physicians, a polyvalent clinical physician, and two field nurses were sent. All were armed service personnel. From January to April 1994, after a preliminary assessment of the situation, this mission took charge of health services as well as administrative services for the population of the region including some 10 000 refugees. Epidemiologic surveillance was carefully organized. During the first quarter of the year, there were 2451 declared cases of bacterial dysentery, 6738 cases of malaria-like fever including 25% confirmed by paristological findings on a study of 60 consultants, 87 cases of measles, and 1306 cases of conjunctivitis. There were no cases of cholerea or meningoccoal meningitis. A food support program was started when it was noted that the overall rate of acute malnutrition among refugee children under the age of 5 years was 25% (weight/height ratio less than minus 2 standard deviations or observation of edema). At the present time the situation in the sector is back to normal and the health care system is operating satisfactorally. However the situation in neighboring Rwanda could have adverse effects on the political stability of Burundi.