Sir, - Paul Cullen's report (February 13th) on what he calls "the silent famine" of Burundi is at last recognition of a problem that has until now largely been ignored. Unlike its neighbour Rwanda, which since the genocide has been assured a place in history and is never far from the international news, Burundi is little known. However, this country in central Africa, two- and-a-half times smaller than Ireland with a population of six million, is today a country in crisis. Thousands of children face starvation and over 46,000 children are already registered in feeding centres. Some 35 per cent of all children in Bubanza province in the north are malnourished, at least 1,000 of them severely so. The Concern nutrition team reports that malnourished adults are starting to appear at feeding centres in Cibitoke province - an indication that we have yet to see the full extent of the crisis.
Why are there people starving to death in Burundi? The reasons are simple and unremarkable. The on-going civil war has displaced hundreds of thousands, preventing them from planting, harvesting and having enough to eat. Food distributions, already inadequate, have been further hampered by heavy rains in Tanzania that have blocked off supply lines. Insecurity, fighting between the army and rebel factions, and an increasing use of land-mines means that agencies such as Concern cannot get to those most in need and they in turn are prevented from getting to us.
Sanctions, in place since July 1996, are imposed by countries in the region and endorsed by the international community. They have also made their contribution to the current nutrition crisis. Inflation, unemployment, a doubling of market prices, shortages of fertiliser, spare parts, fuel, delays in importing humanitarian supplies - all these have been the consequences of the embargo.
What can we do? Stopping the war is of course the answer but that is neither easy nor immediately likely. The peace process is barely alive and must be more vigorously supported by everyone of influence - the Americans, the member states of the European Union. We have hidden our indifference for too long behind what we hoped would be an African solution to an African problem. It's not working and leaving it to the region alone is not enough any more.
Lifting the sanctions would be a start. Their removal would go some way to improving the economic situation for the poorest in the country and might start engaging Burundi in more productive dialogue at a regional and international level. It is 16 months since the sanctions were first imposed and it is time to reassess their political, economic and humanitarian impact and judge this against the contribution they have made to peace. - Yours, etc.,
From David Begg
Chief Executive, Concern Worldwide, Camden Street, Dublin 2.