During 2020, the UNHCR child protection team in collaboration with IRC child protection continued with the reception, identification of children at risk including unaccompanied and separated children. Best interest-related activities continued to be implemented in Bujumbura, as well as in all five refugee camp settings. As of 31 of December 2020, 1,786 Best interest assessments (BIA) were done in Bujumbura and refugee camps (Bujumbura 99 BIAs (61F-38M), Ruyigi 1,344 BIAs (702F-642M), and Muyinga 343 BIAs (185F-158M). Most of the BIAs in Bujumbura and in Ruyigi were conducted in the refugee verification exercise and mostly oriented to RSD proposals. A total number of 126 best interest determination reports (BID) were completed and accepted in the BID panels in Bujumbura and refugee camps, being 24 in Bujumbura (27F-7M); 70 in Ruiygi (33F-37M), and 32 in Muyinga (16F-16M). From the total number of BIDs, 34% were oriented for resettlement proposals. In December 2020, a capacity-building training was delivered to the partner’s caseworkers on how to improve the quality of BIAs and BIDs. These activities were jointly conducted and supported by UNHCR and UNICEF to reinforce child protection mechanisms in general, with a focus on refugee and returnee children. This resulted in an update of child protection mapping of services, strategy and, working plans.
Between January and December 2020 in Ruyigi, family tracing and reunification activities were ongoing during the year and 201 cross-border cases were identified. From the total, 13 investigations were opened, and comprehensive feedback was delivered to nine cases by UNHCR (07) and CICR (02). In total, 28 families were successfully reunited within Burundi. Within the same timeframe, in Muyinga, five cases were identified, and four family reunification procedures were concluded.