Brussels, 20/04/2001 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission adopted a EUR 20 million intervention plan aiming, through the ECHO humanitarian office, to support the completion of significant humanitarian programmes in Burundi. Thus aid is foreseen in terms of food security and nutrition, health and water supply, and also for displaced persons (including air transport allowing them to reach the areas that, for reasons of security, are difficult to reach by road) and for the groups requiring special protection, such as children separated from their parents or detained. A Communiqué from the Commission recalls that, following the 1999 crisis, around 350,000 people have been "regrouped" in 37 camps in Burundi, "as part of a government attempt to cut off support for the opposition forces". In addition to this the signature of the Arusha peace accord by 19 parties, in August 2000, "is seen as an important step towards dialogue and reconciliation" (see EUROPE of 18 April, p.6, the call made by the EU for the parties to accelerate the peace process).