Rebels continue attacks on Bujumbura

Rebel attacks on the southern suburbs of the Burundian capital, Bujumbura, entered a third day on Wednesday, with the rebels shelling the city from neighbouring hills. Government sources told IRIN that two rebel groups, Agathon Rwasa's faction of the Forces nationales de liberation (FNL) and the larger faction of the Conseil national pour la defense de la democratie-Forces pour la defense de la democratie (CNDD-FDD) led by Pierre Nkurunziza, had formed an alliance in their attacks on the city. The army said on Tuesday that it had killed 15 rebels since the fighting began. It was also reported that up to 20 civilians had died in the violence. Meanwhile, UN agencies and humanitarian NGOs in the country have swung into action to help at least 2,500 people who have been displaced by the fighting, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported on Tuesday. However, in a displacement update, OCHA reported that Kanyosha, Musaga and Kinindo areas to the south of the city remained inaccessible to humanitarian actors. "In Kanyosha, as many as 3,000 people are believed to have sought refuge in local religious structures," OCHA said. A meeting of the UN agencies and international NGOs is due to take place late Wednesday in Bujumbura to assess the situation. OCHA reported that internally displaced people were temporarily located in the Burundi Life Museum grounds, and that government officials and representatives of OCHA, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), the UN World Food Programme (WFP), the International Federation of the Red Cross, Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) and other NGOs were at the grounds helping with the various aspects of coordination and relief. OCHA furhter reported that MSF had made available a vehicle to collect the injured, and that 28 people with minor injuries arrived on Tuesday at the Kamenge health centre run by MSF in northern Bujumbura. "Since Monday another 60 people have been admitted to local hospitals," OCHA said. It said that MSF had carried out a needs assessment and was considering installing a health post at the Burundi Life Museum grounds. Among the needs identified as urgent to help the displaced were the construction of shelter, provision of sheeting, poles, soap, water and the protection of injured people. OCHA also reported that work hours for all UN staff had been temporarily revised to cope with the situation; they will now report to work at 08:00 to 12:30 and at 02:00 until 05:00.