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Guinea Humanitarian Situation Report No. 4

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Гвинея
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OCHA
Дата публикации

April 2002
I Humanitarian Highlights

Drought in Upper Guinea

Following a mission to Upper Guinea on 14-21 March, the Service National d'Action Humanitaire (SENAH) informed the Sectoral Group on Food Security on 4 April of a drought in the Northern part of the prefecture of Siguiri affecting 117,000 persons according to information gathered by the local authorities. WFP has been asked to send an evaluation team from its sub-office in Kankan to assess the situation. This region of Guinea was affected by a flash flood last September.

WFP Pipeline update

Due to a delayed shipment, WFP Guinea will have shortfalls of Vegetable Oil and Corn/Soya Blend in April, May, and June. Sugar and pulses will be used to compensate for the lack of the mentioned food commodities during those months. In June, stocks in country for cereals will be sufficient to cover only half rations for the refugees, and no cereals will be available for the IDP program.

Tornado hits Youmou

On 18 February 2002, a tornado hit the Prefecture of Yomou, situated on the Liberian border. According to the Mayor of Youmou, 158 houses as well as buildings of the communal administration and schools were systematically damaged affecting some 1,272 persons. On 4 April, the incident was reported to the Food Security Sectoral Group by the Mayor who asked the Service National d'Action Humanitaire (SENAH) and UN Agencies to conduct an independent assessment and report to concerned partners for assistance.

Looting of WFP warehouse in Boreah camp

WFP sub-office in Kissidougou reports that a WFP warehouse in Boreah camp was looted by refugees on 4 April 2002. While aid workers were initiating the April food distribution, refugees waiting for food started rioting and throwing stones, causing material damage to vehicles and hangars. Distribution and monitoring teams were kept under siege and the riots led to a total looting of 10 MT of mixed food commodities. Follow up measures and an investigation/sensitization of the refugees are being undertaken by HCR and the Bureau National de Coordination des Refugiés (BNCR) in order to reestablish security conditions to resume activities, tentatively scheduled for Monday April 15.

II Political and security developments

1 National

1.a Political

Legislative Elections

A United Nations team from the Electoral Assistance Division was deployed in late March to assess the situation and formulate recommendations to the Government of Guinea, the donors community, and the political parties, regarding the preparation of the upcoming legislative elections scheduled for June 2002. The team was composed of a representative from the Department of Political Affairs of the Office of the UN Secretary General, and a consultant with extensive experience on Guinea electoral matters. Discussions are underway for the creation and establishment of a National Electoral Commission that will oversee the electoral process.

1.b Security updates

Fighting in Bopulu (Liberia) continues to trigger refugee influx into Guinée. The situation remains calm in the rest of Guinea.

Due to continued rampant banditry on private homes in Conakry, the UN Field Security Officer currently advises international staff to live in apartments rather than isolated houses, and preferably stay close to the center of town.

1.c Peace initiatives

Conference on Mano River Union civil societies in Conakry

The second conference of 'The Movement of Civil Society in the Mano River Union' took place in Conakry on 28-30 March. The first meeting was held in Freetown on 9-11 October 2001.

WANEP Conference in Conakry

In March 2002, the West Africa Network for Peace-building (WANEP) held a conference at the Mariador Hotel on Building and Consolidation of Peace in the Mano River countries. Originally scheduled to take place in Monrovia in February, the conference had been moved to Conakry for security reasons. For further details on WANEP see www.wanep.org.

2 Sub-regional

2.a Political

Foreign ministers of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra meet in Morocco on 6-7 April

United Nations Integrated Regional Information Network (IRIN) reports that foreign ministers of the three Mano River Countries arrived in Morocco over the weekend 6-7 April 2002 for a meeting to review progress towards ensuring peace in their subregion and to plan a summit of their Heads of State.

Conclusions of MRU Joint Security Committee meetings

During meetings in Freetown on 5-7 March and in Conakry on 26-28 March, the Mano River Joint Security Committee has, among other things, agreed with the Legal Experts Committee on the definition of dissidents, on the deployment of the Joint Border Security and Confidence Building Units, on conferring upon this unit the responsibility to prevent proliferation of small arms, and on the establishment of the tripartite legal institution of the Mano River Union.

Technical meeting ahead of Joint Security Committee meeting in Conakry

The Ministers of Defense and Security, Liaisons officers, and Chiefs of Staff of the Mano River countries met in Conakry on 18-22 March, in order to prepare a document to be presented during the meeting of the Joint Security Committee, that took place in Conakry on 26-28 March.

UN Inter-Agency meeting in Sierra Leone recommends plan of action for Mano River Union

During a two-day meeting held in Sierra Leone on 21-22 March 2002, representatives from the United Nations system in West Africa and the Mano River Union decided to call on the international community to continue to encourage dialogue among the leaders of Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea in an effort to bring peace to the subregion. Taking stock of the recent peace progress in Sierra Leone and in light of the deteriorating security conditions in neighboring Liberia, participants called for accrued efforts of the Secretariat of the Mano River and the civil society organizations to ensure that the spirit of peace summit in Rabat, Morocco on 27 February 2002 leads to positive momentum for peace in the sub-region. OCHA suggested possible ways of contributing to the revitalization of the Mano River Union Secretariat and the strengthening of networking initiatives for peace and security.

2.b Security updates

Security in Liberia and Sierra Leone

Continued fighting in Liberia close to the capital and in Northern counties remain a cause of concern in the sub-region. According to OCHA Liberia and independent news sources, combats have resumed in the outskirts of the capital city Monrovia. Sierra Leone continues to experience peace throughout the country.

2.c Peace initiatives

Security Council to discuss embargoes and travel bans imposed on Liberia

In March 2002, United Nations Integrated Regional Information Network (IRIN) reported that the United Nations panel of experts appointed by the UN Secretary General traveled to Liberia to assess the country's compliance with Security Council resolutions to end support to Sierra Leonean dissidents. The experts will present a report of its findings to the UN Secretariat on 11 April. The UN sanctions were imposed on Liberia in 2001, and included extension of the arms embargo, a travel ban on senior government officials and their immediate families, and an embargo on the export of rough diamonds.

III Humanitarian activities

1 Refugees

UNHCR Planning 2002-2003

On 18 March, UNHCR held a full day meeting with its partners to revise the Country Operation Plan (COP) for 2002 and present planning assumptions retained for the preparation of the 2003 COP. For Liberian refugees, the planning figures show an influx of 10,000 spread out evenly over the year. In June, total number of refugees in camps is expected to be around 68,400, with 92,000 living outside camps. Figures for December 2002 are 54,700 and 73,500, respectively in- and outside camps. As of 8 April, UNHCR plans to repatriate 40,000 Sierra Leonean refugees in 2002. During the first three months, 6,581 refugees have been repatriated, whereas remaining population in camps of Sierra Leonean at end March was of 49,512.

1.a Refugee Influx

UNHCR mission to assess capacities for influx of refugees

According to the United Nations Integrated Regional Information Network (IRIN), a UNHCR mission visited Guinea, Sierra Leone and Ivory Coast in March to assess the capacities of these countries to receive major influxes of refugees.

Influx from Liberia

UNHCR is reporting a total of some 4,700 new refugees from Liberia who arrived in Guinea since early January 2002. The weekly rate is now close to 500 per week according to humanitarian sources based in the border towns of Macenta, Guekedou and Zerekore. The Inter-agency Contingency Plan for Guinea has retained the working figure of 10,000 new influx of Liberian refugees for 2002.

1.b Refugee Repatriation

Sierra Leonean refugees repatriated by road

Following an agreement with Guinean authorities to open border crossings for repatriation, the first refugee repatriation convoy to use new land routes from Guinea to Sierra Leone arrived in Sierra Leone on Saturday 23 March with 500 returnees using the Pamelap-Kambia axis. In addition to the 6,581 Sierra Leoneans who were voluntarily repatriated during January, February and March, UNHCR plans to repatriate another 34,000 refugees this year, all by road from now on.

1.c Refugee Care and maintenance

IRC census on Sierra Leonean teachers

IRC is currently carrying out a census on Sierra Leonean and Liberian teachers who have worked in Guinea. Developed with the technical support of OCHA's database manager, the findings of the census will facilitate the preparation for the return of teachers to Sierra Leone and Liberia. Results are expected to be available late April 2002. For further information kindly contact IRC Regional Educational Advisor Mr. Julian Wattson on julianw@theirc.org.

WFP distributions in Nzerekore and Dabola regions

On 11-24 March, WFP in collaboration with Organisation Catholique pour la Promotion Humaine (OCPH), assisted over 16,000 refugees in the Kouankan camp (N'Zérékoré region). In addition, approximately 800 Liberian refugees have been registered and received WFP wet and dry rations in the same period, which will last them until the next general distribution scheduled for mid-April. During the same weeks, WFP in partnership with Première Urgence, assisted over 400 newly arrived refugees in the Sembakounya camp (Dabola region).

1.d Refugee Protection

Follow-up on allegations of sexual abuse in West African camps - action taken

Pursuant to the recommendations of the Executive Committee on Humanitarian Affairs (ECHA), the UN country team in Guinea has formed an inter-agency working group to develop a system-wide response to address issues related to sexual and gender based violence as well as other forms of exploitation and abuse. The working group is due to submit its first progress report to the UN country team with specific recommendations on 10 April. (See also actions taken at the strategic level IV.1 below.)

2 IDPs

IDP unit mission

The newly established United Nations IDP unit in Geneva will be sending a mission to Guinea, scheduled to arrive on 22 April. The aim of the mission is to assist the OCHA Office in Guinea in developing a strategy to raise the awareness of humanitarian actors on the Guiding Principles on IDPs, advocate for stronger assistance to IDPs, support inter-agency collaboration and, prevent any forms of exploitation and abuse among IDP groups.

2.a IDP Movements

Update on IDP census database

The IDP census database developed by the National Census Office - Bureau National de Recensement (BNR) in collaboration with UNFPA and OCHA is currently being analyzed and prepared for presentation to partners.

2.b IDP Assistance

WFP assistance to IDPs in Dabola and Dinguiraye

Approximately 1,200 IDPs will be involved in road construction/rehabilitation activities and will receive WFP assistance early April in Dabola. WFP also reports having distributed 60 tons of food and kitchen utensils to approximately 2,500 schoolchildren under the School Feeding program in the Dinguiraye prefecture. This will cover the needs until the end of the school year.

3 Host communities

Update on UNDP project for rehabilitation of flooded areas in Upper Guinea

UNDP reports that work initiated in February has led to rehabilitation of up to 60% of the 30 ha of vegetable gardens that were flooded last year. In addition, UNDP assistance resettled 354 inhabitants. The project, which runs on a budget of USD 21,000, is expected to be finalised in two months. The action is part of a global preparedness response suggested by the UNDAC team deployed in that area in October 2001.

BP5 distribution in Kankan region

From 14 to 21 March, a joint mission from the Service National des Actions Humanitaire (SENAH) and UNICEF traveled to the Kankan region to distribute 5 tons of BP5 protein biscuits donated by Norway. The mission was part of the programme suggested to UNDAC team by UNICEF after the floods in 2001 to prevent malnutrition among children in Guinea.

Concern Universal assists victims of last years floods

With financial support from the British Department for International Development (DFID), the NGO Concern Universal will be distributing 240 tons rice seed to victims of last years floods in Upper Guinea. 6,000 families in the prefectures of Kankan, Kouroussa and Mandiana will receive 40 kg each. The distribution will be carried out in collaboration with Organisation Catholique pour la Promotion Humaine (OCPH) in Kankan in May and June 2002. WFP will be distributing supplies to the beneficiaries in order to secure the seeds from being consumed by farmers.

4 HIV/AIDS

National HIV prevalence study

According to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in Guinea, the report of the 2001 National HIV prevalence study is currently being finalized. This study, financed primarily by USAID, with additional contributions from UNICEF and UNFPA, tested over 9,000 Guineans around the country. Pregnant women, youths, transportation workers, military personnel, commercial sex workers, mining personnel, tuberculosis patients and sexually transmitted infection patients were all targeted in this exhaustive study.

Preliminary results from the 2001 National HIV prevalence study indicate that Guinea is in the throes of a generalized HIV epidemic, with urban-based proxy groups testing positive, in some regions, at more than three times the most pessimistic rates previously published. The donor community expects to have the final report approved and validated soon.

IV Coordination and capacity building

OCHA offices have moved

Acting upon recommendation of the Assistant Emergency Relief Coordinator who visited Guinea in February, the OCHA office has moved to the UNDP Building in Conakry, in order to facilitate a closer interaction with the Humanitarian Coordinator. UNFPA and UNAMSIL liaison office are also located in the same building. New details are: UN OCHA Guinée, BP. 222, Immeuble Union/Sony, Ave. de la République, Kaloum, Conakry, République de Guinée, ocha.gn@undp.org, Tel: (013) 40 84 54, fax: +224 13 40 93 10.

1 Strategic level

Allegations of sexual abuse in camps

On 15 March 2002 in New York, in a briefing to the Security Council on Protection of civilians in armed conflict, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Mr. Kenzo Oshima remarked on the allegations of sexual exploitation of children in refugee camps in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea. In addition to immediate measures taken by the Secretary General he urged humanitarian agencies to develop and implement - in close collaboration with the Inter-Agency Standing Committee and the Humanitarian Coordinators - relevant policies and measures to prevent abuses by humanitarian actors.

A UN team of the Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) returned to West Africa in March to continue investigating charges of sexually exploitation in camps by aid workers and peacekeepers. In a statement released in New York, the Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) noted that the team was briefly recalled to UN Headquarters for consultations. The team composed of a paediatrician and expert on child abuse, a staff member of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Inspector General's office and two officers from OIOS is currently visiting Guinea.

The inter-agency working group on alleged sexual abuses has completed its first draft progress report on 9 April. The draft document to be submitted to the UN country team before wider discussion with other partners proposes four initial responses:

  • Strategic Framework for UN Response (strategic planning) to guide the process leading to a sound an sustainable system-wide response to addressing all forms of exploitation that may derive from the provision of humanitarian assistance.

  • A Plan of Action developed by HCR and a draft Code of Conduct for humanitarian agencies to form the backbone of the initial short-term response to this issue.

  • A Matrix of Humanitarian Aid Field Services to serve the purpose of precisely identifying the humanitarian aid services subject to a form of abuse or exploitation, and to constitute the main frame for implementing a policy-based and field-based system-wide coordinated UN response.

NGO meetings with Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator

On 27 and 29 March, International and National NGOs were invited for a first meeting with the new Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator Mr. Kinglsey Amaning. The purpose of these meetings were to present the new RC/HC, to explain OCHA's approach for strengthening humanitarian coordination and improving information-sharing, (i.e. the establishment of a humanitarian information center,) and to seek their views on key outstanding humanitarian concerns and issues relating to the transition from relief to development, as well as peace and security. The humanitarian coordinator invited all NGOs to share reports and updates on humanitarian activities.

During the meetings, the following recommendations were made:

  • Facilitate the return of IDPs where and when feasible.
  • Increase assistance to border areas where tension has been substantially reduced (Gueckedou and Macenta)
  • Increase the level of preparedness to meet the needs of new refugee influx from Liberia.
  • Strengthen repatriation operations for Sierra Leonean refugees
  • Improve quality of information shared with Sierra Leonean refugees on the security and socio-economic conditions prevailing in areas of return.

Inter-Agency -Contingency Planning

The UN Country team is currently developing an Inter-Agency Contingency Plan with an expected completion date set for mid-May. Being a planning and management preparedness tool, the Inter-Agency Contingency Plan operates with three possible scenarios which have been prepared for planning purposes: 1) Further influx of Liberian refugees following renewed fighting in Liberia; 2) Influx of Sierra Leonean refugees around elections in May; and 3) Re-occurrence of a flash-flood in Upper Guinea. Planning assumptions are currently being prepared. For further information, kindly contact OCHA Guinea.

2 Sectoral level

Update from the Food Security Sectoral Group

The Food Security Sectoral Group met on 4 April 2002. Major issues discussed are all reflected in this Humanitarian Sit Rep. A full report from the meeting can be obtained from OCHA. Next meeting is scheduled for Thursday 2 May at 10:00 at the Ministry of Administration of Territory, Decentralization and Security (MATDS).

Update from the Sectoral group on Health and Education

UNICEF and WHO met on 15 March 2002 to organize the sectoral group on Health and Education. OCHA attended this meeting to share lessons learned from the process recently undertaken by WFP and FAO on Food Security. Similar efforts are underway for the other sectors.

Matrix of Humanitarian Aid Field Services

As part of the work carried out by OCHA for the Working Group on Alleged Sexual Abuse, a Who-does-What-Where matrix has been prepared and updated by all agencies and NGOs involved in work with refugees and IDPs.

Protection: WFP workshop on Gender and Participatory Approach

A WFP 'Gender and Participatory Approach' workshop took place in Labe with Government officials, UN partners and NGOs. The objective was to increase the capacity of WFP field staff and its partners in gender analysis and participatory approaches to improve needs assessments, targeting and monitoring.

3 Capacity building

Regional SENAH offices

As part of a joint UNDP/Service National d'Action Humanitaire (SENAH) mission to Upper Guinea and Guinea Forestiere on 14-23 March, meetings were held with local authorities in Nzerekoré and Kankan concerning setting up of the regional SENAH offices, scheduled for April-May 2002 along with regional offices in Kindia and Labé. The remaining regional SENAH offices will be opened in a second phase.

SENAH mission to Sierra Leone in May

As part of UNDP's capacity building project, SENAH will be undertaking a mission to Sierra Leone in early May to examine Sierra Leonean humanitarian coordination and implementation mechanisms for transition strategies, including peace building, rehabilitation and reintegration.

Mano River Union Secretariat in Conakry

As part of the revitalisation of the Mano River Union (MRU) Secretariat, the Executive Secretary visited OCHA and met with the Head of Office to explore areas of collaboration with the MRU. Among other things, it was agreed that OCHA will assist the MRU in creating and posting a website for the MRU Secretariat. The Secretary General of the Mano River Union M. Diallo can be contacted at the Secretariat in Conakry on +224 461603.

4 Information management

UN Information Center in Conakry

OCHA is preparing the establishment of an Information Center within OCHA premises. Colleagues and partners will be able to consult a Humanitarian Library, use available meeting facilities (conference room and reading room), obtain Information Technology assistance, a mailing address and access the Internet, in particular those partners who do not have an office in Conakry. The official launch of the Information Center is expected to take place in early May.

Briefing Packs for Humanitarian Workers in Manor River countries

OCHA has prepared briefing packs for humanitarian workers traveling to Mano River countries. Copies can be picked up at OCHA or downloaded from www.reliefweb.int on the following addresses:

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OCHA Info

The OCHA Info for the month of March was widely distributed in Guinea last month. It contains articles on the Mano River Union Peace Summit in Rabat, the visit of the Assistant Emergency and Relief Coordinator in February, the reports on allegations of sexual abuse in West African camps, the CAP funding update, and ICRC activities in 2001 and 2002. The newsletter can be found on www.reliefweb.int or ordered by mail from OCHA National Communications Officer Madeleine Maka Kaba on madeleine.maka@undp.org.

A special OCHA Info on the Guiding Principles on IDPs will be released this month.

Mano River Union

The website for the Mano River Union is underway and will include an overview of the MRU Secretariat and the activities of Civil Society Organizations of the MRU.

Last month's Humanitarian Situation Report for Guinea

The March 2002 Humanitarian Situation Report for Guinea can be found along with last year's reports on www.reliefweb.int. Copies can also be picked up at OCHA offices or ordered electronically from OCHA Information Officer A. Sofie Garde Thomle on sofie.gardethomle@undp.org.

Workshop on media and democracy

Around twenty journalists from private and public media participated in a workshop on "Journalisms in the democratic process" arranged by the American Cultural Center and Union Internationale de la Presse Francophone in Conakry on 19-21 March.

5 Transition from relief to development

WFP workshop on "Enabling Development"

A WFP workshop was held at the Mariador Palace 25-28 March 2002 on WFP Policies on Enabling Development. The aim of the workshop was to share information with partners on WFP's new role in the area of food aid as defined in the Policy Paper "Enabling Development" which can be read at http://www.wfp.org/policies/policy/index.html.

Joint UNDP/SENAH report on transition

A joint UNDP/Service National d'Ac

UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs: To learn more about OCHA's activities, please visit https://www.unocha.org/.