SUMMARY (Reporting period: 1-28 February 2009):

- Destruction of 412 weapons and 602 magazines at the Weapons Destruction Workshop

- Collect of 328 weapons, 210 magazines, and 2,426 ammunition by the Police Nationale Burundaise (PNB) mobile team

- Destruction of 1,813 ammunition by the PNB mobile team

- Assessment of 33 Police sites by the survey teams

- Refresher training on first aid given to the PNB mobile team

The survey of the PNB armouries and small arms and light weapons (SALW) was completed on 27 February after 206 SALW facilities were visited nationwide.

The database and final report with recommendations will be transmitted to the PNB next month. MAG is already working with the PNB to prepare the "Phase 2" - a comprehensive Physical Security and Stockpile Management (PSSM) project to secure police-owned SALW before the 2010 elections.

Once this project is implemented, the PNB will be respecting about 80% of the "RECSA best practice guidelines" and will have achieved significant steps towards the implementation of the Nairobi Protocol.

The mixed MAG/PNB mobile team continued supporting the civilian disarmament campaign by collecting and destroying SALW voluntarily handed-over or seized by the PNB.

This month, they collected 328 weapons and 2,426 ammunition. Moreover, 1,788 hand-grenades and 25 anti-personnel mines were destroyed. The definitive destruction of hand-grenades is a direct and significant contribution to human security in Burundi.

MAG would like to express its gratitude to the following current donors to the Burundi programme: Conflict Prevention Pool, UK; Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Swiss Government; United States Department of State, Political Military Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement.