Environmental Health: The IRC aims to reduce the incidence of disease resulting from inadequate environmental health conditions through a public health program including sanitation, safe water supply, hygiene promotion, and local capacity building for conflict-affected communities.
During acute emergencies such as large population displacements or cholera outbreaks, the IRC responds by trucking in potable water. When emergency interventions are no longer necessary, IRC works with local authorities and communities to rehabilitate or construct wells, water systems and latrines, while training Community Health Workers to promote good health and hygiene practices.
In 2003, IRC expanded its public health program through a "roll-back malaria" project in three provinces, distributing insecticide-treated bed-nets to high-risk groups, such as children under the age of five and pregnant women.
Youth Program: Children and young people growing up in Burundi face a society sorely lacking adequate educational facilities, and a future shorn of hope. The IRC implements an education and psychosocial support program in three provinces, constructing youth centers, training peer educators on HIV/AIDS, life skills and peace building. IRC also constructs and rehabilitates school sports facilities, and coordinates cultural and recreational extracurricular activities for displaced and conflict-affected children. By training parents, teachers, coaches and youth in HIV/AIDS transmission prevention and conflict resolution, IRC uses sports and culture to increase healthy personal development and reduce risky sexual behavior and intolerant and violent beliefs.
Separated Children: IRC assists separated refugee children when they return to their families in Burundi. Working at refugee transit centers in Makamba, Muyinga and Ruyigi, IRC provides immediate assistance and temporary placement with foster families or local care associations. IRC works with local associations, other humanitarian agencies and local authorities to trace and reunify the families. UNICEF estimates that 2,522 separated Burundian children currently reside in Tanzanian refugee camps. IRC will use its global institutional expertise with separated children, and its network of field offices in Tanzania and Burundi to develop a comprehensive regional response to the needs of unaccompanied Burundian refugee and returnee children.
War Related Disability Study: With U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention funding, the IRC is conducting a three-year study to document prevalence of disabilities among war-affected populations in Burundi.
