Newsletter Articles
Rebuilding Lives in Burundi
Prosper Ndabishuriye
Burundi is one of three poorest countries in the World; by the year 2002, the external debt was $1.133 billion, and this debt continues to increase because of interest and additional debts that the country continues to take. The war that the country has been going through for the past 11 years killed around a half million of people and destroyed 60% of the homes; all those issues continue to increase hardships to the survivors of the war that the country has been going through since 1993-2005.
Progress is being made in the area of peacebuilding and restoration of Democracy in Burundi. The elections of communal councils and members of Parliament are now finished. The elections went well and the Movement that was fighting the Government in the past, won both elections. The person who was leading this Movement Mr. Nkurunziza Pierre/Peter will be elected by the Parliament to be the president of Burundi for the next 5 years. The members of Parliament will elect the president on August 19, 2005. Millions of Burundians are pleased by this important step that has been made in the area of peacebuilding and Democracy.
Due to the war, which nearly destroyed the economy of our country, the present situation of the people of Burundi is worse and the Government doesn't have immediate solutions. For instance, if you go to different hospitals of Burundi, you will find hundreds of people who have been imprisoned in the hospitals due to the lack of money to pay the bills. Some of them have been held there for a period of six month because of their inability to pay $35 or more for the medication offered to them. Many others, who are sick decide to remain at home and die, instead to go to the hospital and risk being held there, as prisoners. Many children cannot go to school due to the lack of school fees, materials and uniforms, which is around $50 for the school year.
The objective of sharing this information is:
- To inform you about the present situation that the people of Burundi are going through
- To seek help and contributions from friends and partners
Any contribution given to help those people who have been made prisoners to hospitals of Burundi and the children who can not go to school due to their inability to pay the school fees, materials and uniforms, will be highly appreciated.
Our organization, Youth for Reconstruction in a World of Destruction is working to rebuild hope and homes for the people of Burundi. For details of our ministry, look at these earlier articles about our work here and here.
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