General Situation during September 2009

Forecast until mid-November 2009

The Desert Locust situation remained calm during September. Good rains fell in most of the summer breeding area in the northern Sahel between Mauritania and western Eritrea in early September but decreased thereafter. Small-scale breeding caused locust numbers to increase in Mauritania and limited control operations were carried out. Breeding probably occurred in parts of the northern Sahel from Mali to western Eritrea but surveys were only carried out in Chad where low numbers

Report Number 71526

Abstract

(extract)

Briefs

Zinc Seen as Breakthrough Cure for Diarrhea

Sogola, Mali-Generations of residents have watched their children fall ill each rainy season with diarrhea, which kills an astonishing 1.6 million children under 5 every year, according to the World Health Organization (WHO)-more than either malaria or AIDS. It also stunts growth, and forces millions-adults and children alike-to spend weeks at a time off work or school.

But USAID, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and other groups have begun distributing zinc supplements to

- La situation pluviométrique au nord est du Mali (région de Gao et Gourma de Tombouctou), a été marquée par un déficit pluviométrique prononcé en juin/juillet, particulièrement à Bourem, Ansongo, et Ménaka. Le retard dans la régénérescence des herbacés suite à ces déficits avait pour résultat des pertes inhabituelles des animaux et une prolongation de la période de soudure pour les pastoralistes jusqu'à août au lieu de juin/juillet.

- A l'heure actuelle les conditions alimentaires restent précaires mais en nette amélioration à la faveur de la reprise normale des pluies en mi-août,

HIGHLIGHTS

- Number of displaced people in Burkina Faso rises to over 90 000.

- Over 50% of the capital, Ouagadougou, including key infrastructures, has suffered damage.

- Waterborne diseases remain a major public health risk in affected countries due to stagnant water, flooded water supplies and disrupted water and sanitation systems.

- WHO working with Ministries of Health to strengthen surveillance, conduct joint assessments, coordinate the health response.

A- Situation in countries

1- Burkina Faso

The United Nations Disaster Assessment

In the first year of an exciting initiative funded mainly by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, 42,000 smallholder farmers all over the world have been involved in selling food to WFP through the 'Purchase For Progress' pilot programme.

BAMAKO -- Faso Jigi, a federation of farmers' associations in Mali, scored a first this year. Its 2,500 members were finally able to participate and win a tender to sell 600 metric tons (MT) of cereals to WFP.

"This year the sale was quick, they

Progress towards measles control in WHO's African Region, 2001-2008

In 2001, the 46 countries in WHO's African Region became part of a global initiative that has the goal of reducing measles mortality by 50% by 2005, compared with estimates of mortality for 1999. The WHO- UNICEF recommended strategies for reducing measles mortality include: (i) strengthening coverage of routine measles immunization with the first dose of measles-containing vaccine (MCV1) for all children, (ii) providing a second opportunity for measles vaccine to be given by

Le chef rebelle de l'Alliance touareg Nord-Mali pour le changement (Atnm), Ibrahim Ag Bahanga, a décidé de revenir au Mali et d'adhérer à l'accord de paix d'Alger ayant mis fin en 2006 à la rébellion dans la région de Kidal (Nord-est), indique le porte-parole des rebelles, Mohamed Ag Ghrib. Les autorités libyennes ont confirmé qu'Ag Bahanga avait déjà quitté la Libye, o=F9 il avait été accueilli il y a huit mois en vertu de considérations "humanitaires". Le porte-parole a également évoqué la possibilité d'une rencontre avec les autorités algériennes, chargée