The Burundian government has declared famine in five provinces in the northeast and the southeast and set up a fund, known as the National Solidarity for Food Security, through which civil servants, private companies and individuals can contribute money to feed hundreds of thousands of people who are facing food shortages.
Burundian citizens must donate to the fund during a period of four months, beginning in March.
Civil servants earning more than 100,000 Burundian francs (US $100) will contribute 2 percent of their pay. Burundian families in provinces not affected by famine will also make a one-time contribution of 100 francs each to the fund.
Thousands of people have fled to neighbouring Rwanda and Tanzania, and the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, has reported a drop in repatriations to Burundi in recent weeks due to the prevailing drought.
Reuters AlertNet - BURUNDI: Government sets up food security fund
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