A/HRC/33/37
94.
The agricultural sector, which employs 90 per cent of the economically active
population, has been affected both by the displacement of persons and by the land conflicts
that such displacement generates.27
95.
Education has also been affected by the displacement of both students and teachers
and by cuts in subsidies to the school canteens on which many students depend.
96.
State expenditure for the health sector has also been reduced. Conditions in hospitals
have deteriorated,28 in particular outside the capital, where beds are sometimes shared by as
many as four patients. The health service has also been affected by a deficit in personnel as
some practitioners have left the country as a result of the political crisis.
J.
Burundian refugees and internally displaced persons
97.
The number of refugees and internally displaced people resulting from the crisis is
provided in paragraph 36 above. The outflow of refugees rose substantially during specific
periods: following the attempted coup d’état in May 2015, during the July 2015 presidential
elections and following the attack on military camps in December 2015. The outflow has
since continued at a slower pace, partly owing to increased restrictions on leaving the
country, including in the form of numerous checkpoints in border provinces.
98.
The independent experts’ investigations have confirmed the link between the
political crisis and the massive outflow of Burundians. Refugees interviewed in the
Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania
listed the following reasons for leaving: reprisals or fear of reprisals by National
Intelligence Service and the Imbonerakure for having participated in demonstrations or
having provided material or financial support to demonstrators, for refusing to join the
Imbonerakure, for defecting to the opposition or having opinions that are different from
those of CNDD-FDD, for being family members of people who have been arrested or for
supporting opposition parties. The general climate of insecurity and land-related conflicts,
most of which were allegedly political in nature, were also cited as reasons.
99.
The majority of refugees live in precarious conditions in camps. In addition, credible
allegations that some camps or refugee locations have been infiltrated by the National
Intelligence Service and the Imbonerakure contribute to a climate of fear and insecurity
among refugees.
100. While there are no precise statistics on persons displaced specifically because of the
crisis throughout Burundi, the raids on the so-called opposition neighbourhoods of
Bujumbura and the general repression against a real or perceived opposition has resulted in
large-scale displacement.
VI. Failure of domestic accountability mechanisms
101. The State is responsible for ensuring accountability for human rights violations. The
Government of Burundi is blatantly failing to meet its obligations to promptly, thoroughly
and impartially investigate and prosecute violations; to bring the alleged perpetrators to
justice and sentence those who are found guilty to a punishment commensurate with the
seriousness of their actions, including those occupying positions of authority; to provide
27
28
16
See www.worldbank.org/en/country/burundi/overview.
See www.unicef.org/appeals/files/UNICEF_Burundi_Humanitarian_SitRep_30Oct2015.pdf.
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