After ten years of assistance to war and armed combats casualties, MSF suspends his work in the Centre of Light Casualties of Kamenge(CBL) from January 31, 2006, the date from which the centre will stop hospitalising new victims of war. But, while waiting for the definitive closure on the 31st March 2006, the centre will continue to treat the last patients who are still in the centre.

In a conference talk which MSF gave on this Tuesday, January 24, MSF indicated that the centre closes following the improvement of the security situation which is observed in almost all the provinces of the country, except in some localities of the provinces of Bubanza and Cibitoke. The number of monthly admitted casualties passed from 250 to 20 victims.

In addition to the victims of war, the centre of Kamenge attended other patients who had not enough financial means to go elsewhere for medical treatment. The Belgian section of MSF also attended the patients who suffered from malnutrition.

The Belgian section of MSF said that they will continue their usual activities in Burundi such as assisting victims of sexual violence, which is not today a phenomenon connected to the war as their reports showed it. Indeed, more than 80% of raped women are raped by civilians. They will also continue to assist vulnerable persons.

The Centre closes its doors with a 10 year satisfying work and took care of more than 10,000 people.

D/M.I.