Burkina Faso, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Niger: Humanitarian response and contingency planning for population movements Appeal No 34/02 revised

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IN BRIEF

THIS REVISION OF APPEAL NO. 34/02 SEEKS A TOTAL OF CHF 2,423,000 (USD 1,767,565 or EUR 1,608,676) IN CASH, KIND AND SERVICES TO ASSIST 200,000 BENEFICIARIES FOR FOUR MONTHS¹

Overview: summary/background of the situation, and latest events

Summary

Emergency Appeal number 34/02 was launched on December 4, 2002 for CHF 1.3 million to meet the extensive humanitarian needs of some 82,000 beneficiaries over an initial six weeks. The appeal was subsequently extended until May 15, 2003. The operation primarily focused on the provision of non-food items, but was also an opportunity to train or retrain volunteers, and to mobilize logistics and communications support. Through this appeal, the Federation has been supporting the Côte d’Ivoire Red Cross with strategic development and contingency planning. In the neighbouring countries, the Federation has been the most active humanitarian organization offering assistance to displaced persons through the national societies volunteer network. With an allocation of CHF 90,000 from the Federation’s Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) and donor contributions to the appeal, the Federation has managed to support the Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger Red Cross in their relief operations, notably in the distribution of food and non-food items to the most vulnerable.

Background, and latest events

Côte d’ Ivoire: Following the 19 September 2003 coup attempt in the Côte d’Ivoire, the situation in the country, based on the peace process and the resulting French-brokered Marcoussis Accord, continues to evolve, lurching between moments of optimism and pessimism. The insecurity has provoked political turmoil, resulting in anti-immigrant and anti-ethnic sentiment affecting millions of people who originate from neighbouring countries. While open hostilities have ceased, sporadic fighting with no clear security, strategic, and political agenda continues, particularly along the Liberian/Côte d’Ivoire border areas. There are concerns that a further escalation of the conflict combined with significant economic fallout is growing daily throughout the region, with significant pan-regional implications. After five months of intermittent conflict, political parties and rebels agreed in mid-March 2003 to form a 41-member reconciliation government. It was planned that nine of the new ministers would be drawn from the ranks of rebels who control the north and west of the country. The accord originally set a March 14 deadline for the formation of the reconciliation government and of a national security council, including rebels to supervise defence and security issues. At the opening session of the new government, the rebel delegation failed to attend claiming dissatisfaction with the security arrangements. However since then they have joined the government but continue to express dissatisfaction with both security and ministerial portfolio allocations. 3,000 French troops have been progressively handing over to an ECOMOG (now called Ecoforce) force of 1,300 UN Peacekeeping troops. While the Marcoussis Peace Accord is viewed with extreme scepticism in the Côte d’Ivoire and elsewhere, it does have the weight of the French government and, significantly, it has been supported by the UN, the European Union and all the countries within the immediate region. The past few weeks have provided some hope that the process will be allowed to continue without violence but given the volatility in the region and in the Côte d’Ivoire, a return to real order and stability may require much more than a power sharing Government.

Meanwhile, the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate. The northern part of the Côte d’Ivoire is suffering from a critical loss of social services and a breakdown of government support for basic services (health, water, education, etc.). Food and agricultural production is decreasing, and more people are increasingly relying on WFP for their food supplies. As returnee population movements can have a destabilizing effect on their countries of origin, the large immigrant population in the Côte d’Ivoire, originating mostly from Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger and estimated at 3 million, 2.5 million and 800,000 (respectively) has taken the brunt of the crisis. The question of Ivorian nationality has been a central political issue in the crisis, and immigrants and their property have become the target of widespread attack, pillage and intimidation. The result has been a significant population movement back to their countries’ of origin, either directly through border posts with Côte d’Ivoire or through neighbouring countries that include Liberia, Guinea and Ghana.

Returnees and refugees returning to Mali mainly cross the border from Guinea at Kouremale, and from the Côte d’Ivoire at Manankoro, Kadiana, and Zegoua. Returnees and refugees returning to Burkina Faso are crossing from the Côte d’Ivoire at Niangoloko, Kampti, and Batié, and from Ghana at Pô and Bitou. Returnees crossing from the rebel held area of northern Côte d’Ivoire are able to purchase a laissez-passer from their local prefecture and travel out of the country relatively unhindered. Returnees from the south, mostly departing from the capital Abidjan, have been harassed, injured, and extorted at numerous roadblocks between the capital and the Ghana border.

Despite their efforts, both the Mali and Burkina Faso governments are relatively inexperienced in managing a crisis of this size, scope, and nature. In Mali the only systematic registration has been of persons arriving on Government-organised convoys of buses, mainly from Abidjan. In Burkina Faso, the situation is similar and, although the Burkina Red Cross has been registering arrivals by all means, they have only registered the most vulnerable, mainly pregnant women and unaccompanied women and children.

Displaced persons arriving in both countries, particularly from the south of the Côte d’Ivoire, are exhausted and hungry. Many have usually lost all personal possessions, and a considerable number have been through traumatic experiences. Those passing through Liberia and Guinea also recount stories of harassment and extortion and some have walked more than 250 kms. to reach borders. Government convoys of 10 buses carrying up to 1,000 people travelling from Abidjan through Ghana have taken up to 12 days to reach Bamako, Mali. With daytime temperatures reaching 40°C, conditions in the buses are horrendous. The number of deaths en route have not been systematically recorded, but have certainly occurred in significant numbers.

Although Ghana has fewer citizens in the Côte d’Ivoire and is not undergoing a mass repatriation crisis, it is receiving a considerable number of citizens from Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger (conservatively estimated at 50,000 Malians, 100,000 Burkinabes and 20,000 Nigeriens). Ghanaian policy is to ensure that returnees pass through their country as quickly as possible, and has no desire to be seen as party to the conflict or be host to a large foreign population. In addition there is a real possibility that renewed hostilities especially in the south or around Abidjan would provoke a sharp increase of movements into Ghana. The vast majority of arrivals are classified as displaced persons (DPs) because they are not Ivorian citizens and technically are returning to their country of origin even though many families have lived for several generations in Côte d’Ivoire and no longer have any family ties in their country of origin. Many have no identification papers of any kind. UNHCR is present in Mali and as of 3 March, had registered 400 asylum seekers of Ivorian origin or nationality. UNHCR was not present in Burkina Faso at the time of writing and refugees are either not registered or may be done so by the government an ad hoc basis.

More specifically, in Liberia, the past month has seen a significant escalation in the conflict between the Government of Charles Taylor and the rebel forces. The war, now raging on three fronts, involves a battle for control over diamonds, gold and timber, as well as deep-seated tribal enmities that were exacerbated by a brutal seven-year civil war in the 1990s which killed 200,000 people. The fighting has an element of pure banditry and has spilled over into the Côte d’Ivoire, adding to the political complications, triggering panicked population movements both inside Liberia and outward into the Côte d’Ivoire and Guinea. The situation at this time is so insecure and out of control that humanitarian security, access and assistance is almost impossible to guarantee from the west to the east and particularly along the common border between Guinea and the Côte d’Ivoire.

In Guinea, the potential vacuum developing in the resource rich country as a result of the illness of President Conte just prior to elections, a lack of a successor, ethnic tension and rivalries within the armed forces and the country at large and increasing discontent over poverty has resulted in riots in Conakry. The country has also hosted the majority of refugees fleeing first the Liberian war in 1999, then from Sierra Leone, followed by the recent instability in the Côte d’Ivoire and now, yet again, from the most recent upheavals in Liberia.

Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and Ghana remain relatively politically unaffected by the kind of upheavals experienced in neighboring states. The quite significant return (or in the case of Ghana mostly transiting persons), of displaced populations from the Côte d’Ivoire (either directly or via Guinea and Ghana) have been anticipated and well managed. This is less true in Niger. The greatest impact in all three countries has been economic.

In Mali, the temporary camp of Sikasso City is the regular transit point of organized refugee/returnee convoys. Approximately 3- 4 returnee convoys have been passing through each month since January. Each convoy normally includes between 800 to 1,000 passengers. With the support of the Federation regional delegation and the Field Assessment and Coordination Team (FACT), the Mali Red Cross has undertaken the crucial role of building latrines and shelter for the transiting population. Despite the fact that this a transit camp, at any time there is normally a population of about 300 people lodged in the two sites of Loloulouni and Faragouarian. The Malian Red Cross has purchased and distributed food (for an approximate one month supply) to people transiting the sites. In Burkina Faso, the national society is actively addressing the needs of beneficiaries in the six sites of Ouagadougou, Banfora, Orrogara, Gaoua, Koupela and Bobo. Beneficiaries will receive kitchen equipment, cooking oil, condiments, sardines, tomato sauce, rice, bread, and cooking fuel. It is expected that 3,750 beneficiaries will have been served in the reporting period. A more detailed distribution report will be available with the Appeal 34/02 interim Final Report to be issued between 15 May and August, 2003, together with a more detailed summary analysis of the activities undertaken during the initial 6 months of the operation.

Rationale for this revised Appeal 34/02

This revised appeal is fundamentally based on a strategy of delivering coordinated, flexible, and economically realistic and viable assistance to the intended beneficiaries. The appeal extends the objectives and activities planned for Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, and adds specific activities planned for Ghana. In addition, after reviewing the 2003 Annual Appeals for Liberia and Guinea, some contingency planning, disaster and conflict preparedness, and capacity building activities for those countries have been included in this revised appeal due to the common elements of population movements from the Côte d’Ivoire. This revision has been drafted in close consultation with and support from the national societies involved, the Federation’s Africa Department, the regional delegation and its country offices, the ICRC (Geneva and the field), PNS and UN agencies.

Given the focus on potential population movements, a specific priority will be placed on close coordination and, where possible, integrated action and activities with IOM and UNHCR. Communication will be maintained with WFP, UNICEF, OCHA, and major NGO’s (that at the same time reflects the independent status of the Red Cross). The UN plans to launch a Consolidated Appeal Process (CAP) for West Africa. The Red Cross has participated at various levels in the UN CAP process, and a summary of the Federation Appeal will be included as an annex to the CAP.

Revised appeal goals

Given the political and humanitarian scenario outlined above, and remaining cognizant of the financial realities surrounding the Iraq situation and other major humanitarian needs in other parts of Africa, the Federation is committed to ongoing humanitarian assistance and full disaster preparedness in West Africa. It is critical that the war in Iraq does not overshadow the very real current needs and the potential for a further deterioration of the situation.

The appeal will therefore:

• support and reinforce ongoing relief and humanitarian assistance work of the national societies of the affected countries to respond in a timely and effective way to the continuing arrival of displaced and vulnerable persons.
  
  
• assure contingency planning and preparedness capacity at all levels of the Red Cross Movement to increase response should the situation seriously degrade.
  
  
• develop a foundation that, with donor effective support, will provide timely additional resources in the event of a major influx of displaced into or from any of the countries.

Needs

Immediate needs

A regional approach to the humanitarian situation is considered possible due to similarities in the response adopted by the Governments of Mali, Burkina Faso and Ghana in the treatment of their returnees or transiting populations. The strategy is based on avoiding long-term camps and to move beneficiaries to their places of origin, ensuring, in the case of Ghana, Liberia and Guinea, a quick passage through their territory. Only Niger (at the time of writing) currently has no policy regarding their returning citizens. Mali, Burkina Faso, Liberia and Guinea have received a continuous, but recently decreasing, number of returnees. Ghana has been and could in fact become the major transit point for third country passage. It is felt that given the conflict scenario developing in Liberia, should the situation in the Côte d’Ivoire deteriorate, most people will flee from the south of the Côte d’Ivoire through Ghana.

This appeal therefore proposes a focus on the following two main programme areas:

• Immediate and direct support in Mali, Burkina Faso and Ghana to returnees at all the main transit points. There is an urgent need to ensure that at these points returnees have access to clean water, sanitation, shelter, food and medical attention. Government resources of this type in Mali and Burkina Faso are reaching their limit. The proposed program conforms to core Red Cross activities, meets an urgent need and, with Federation and PNS bilateral support, is within the capacities of the National Societies and is relatively simple and inexpensive to implement and supervise. The crisis in the Côte d’Ivoire appears to have no immediate solution, and consequently the Federation projects a scenario of a continued and steady outflow of returnees for at least the next four months at an estimated 10,000 per month per country returning directly to Mali and Burkina Faso, the majority of whom at this time are transiting through Ghana. If the situation improves, it is possible returned populations will begin to go back to the Côte d’Ivoire in considerable numbers (in fact the ICRC reports some return has already started). If the situation does not improve and continues for longer than four months the program should be reviewed to see what additional assistance could also be provided to address the inevitable problems of family reintegration which are already now beginning to appear. The target beneficiaries will be selected by the national Red Cross societies with support from the Federation and in consultation with government authorities in each country. Normally this will be all persons regardless of sex or age arriving from the Côte d’Ivoire or another country en route to their "country of origin". Particular attention and priority would however be paid to any one deemed more vulnerable (for example female headed households, separated children, very old, sick or injured).
  
  
• The second major programme area will focus on reinforcing the national societies in six countries through contingency planning, disaster and conflict preparedness, and First Aid training and activities in all six countries. The ICRC have indicated their wish to participate in these activities in Liberia, where the ICRC is the lead agency, and Guinea.

Medium to longer-term needs

While the medium-term needs are not included as activities in the narrative nor in the budget in this revised emergency appeal, it is considered important to identify where there may be a requirement to further revise this appeal should the situation in the region drastically change.

Co-ordination

The multi-country/cross-border/security and political implications will require a closely co-ordinated approach with Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement partners and with external agencies. Lead agency/roles of the Federation, ICRC and the national societies will be respected according to mandates and competencies to ensure efficient implementation and management of humanitarian operations.

• The Federation’s Secretariat: With the completion of the FACT mission, revised appeal, and the plan of action, daily management of the ongoing operation will be maintained by the Federation’s Africa Department and the regional delegation, with DMC continuing to provide technical support in relief and any other needs as they arise. In the case of a major multi-country population movement, DMC may re-assume the lead (by agreement).
  
  
• National societies: The Federation’s role is primarily to support and service the needs and strengthen the capacity of national societies. The implementation of the appeal will be the responsibility of national societies in the affected countries, with any support requested provided by the Federation either through the Secretariat or where appropriate by the co-ordinated bilateral support of a PNS.
  
  
• Participating national societies: The Secretariat has ensured that PNS have been fully integrated into the planning and will promote a co-ordinated participation and involvement for those PNS interested in supporting the appeal. The presence of existing bilateral PNS projects and their delegates has been included.
  
  
• ICRC: Given the complex nature, cross-regional implications, and the scale of the existing or potential conflict elements present in a number of the countries, the appeal anticipates a co-ordinated working relationship with the ICRC.
  
  
• ECHO: An ECHO application co-ordinated with the Brussels Office and European PNS is planned.
  
  
• UN operational agencies and other humanitarian actors: The appeal anticipates a co-ordinated relationship with UN agencies and NGO’s.

The Proposed Operation

Objectives and activities planned to reach the objectives

• Food and basic non-food items: distributions will be carried out to provide a two to three day ration to existing transiting populations and a contingency for possible increased movements.
  
  
• Basic temporary shelter assistance to transiting populations.
  
  
• Essential basic health and hygiene supplies, including water & sanitation services.
  
  
• Support to national societies for transport and communications systems.
  
  
• Disaster and conflict preparedness (DP/CP) training and activities and contingency planning assistance.

Objective 1: Emergency relief distribution of food and basic non-food items; a four month provision of basic food distribution for 400 refugees at refugee/returnee camps in Mali. A supplementary food distribution for up to 8,000 returnees/month arriving and transiting at identified transit and/or reception centres in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Ghana. The provision of a control and monitoring system for these distributions. In Niger, a similar project will be implemented pending approval from the NRCS and the Government of Niger.

Activities planned in Mali:

Federation support: The MRCS will continue to support up to 8,000 persons per month arriving at 1 reception centre, 1 transit centre and 2 refugee camps for the next four months. The government currently provides a typical ration of Maize (400 gms), Beans (50 gms)and oil (50 gms) per person/day. The Red Cross will supplement this with onions, tinned tomatoes, sardines, dried fish and sugar. Some basic cooking sets and cooking fuel will be included. (See budget for details.) The distributions will be carried out at reception centres at Bamako, Sikasso, Farangoran and Loulouni. BP-5 biscuits would also be provided as an additional supplement for long convoy/bus trips.

Spanish Red Cross: an ECHO application is being considered for an agriculture seeds and tools support project to host villages and returnees as well as continuing the emergency food security activities through to June for returnees and their families in the Koulikoro and Kayes regions. In addition they will address family resettlement needs. A Mali Red Cross agronomist will provide technical support to the project.

Activities planned in Burkina Faso:

Federation support: The BRCS will distribute both hot and cold meals to up to 8,000 arriving persons per month transiting the following transit (4) and reception (2) centres. (Ration details in detailed budgets.) BP-5 biscuits would also be provided as an additional convenience supplement for long for convoy/bus trips.

French/Belgian Red Cross consortium: this is a bilateral programme coordinated with this appeal. The French and Belgian Red Cross will apply to ECHO for funding to provide assistance to approximately 16,000 people/ returnees from the Côte d’Ivoire locating to host villages. This will include support to hosting families in 7 provinces of Burkina Faso on the borders with the Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Mali. Aid will be provided from transit camps to hosting sites and "receiving" villages. This programme will effectively complement and extend the initial support offered at the reception centres in this appeal. The support will meet non-food basic needs such as blankets, water bucket, mosquito nets; medium term food needs: distribution of dry food rations for 2 months; distribution of agricultural kits (seeds & tools where possible) and basic health care in reception villages which provide first aid and care in post-trauma, injuries, malaria, dehydration, and diarrhoea treatment. It will also facilitate access/transport to final destinations within 24 hours after arrival in Burkina Faso (i.e. paying their transport tickets) and provide support logistics needs (i.e. provide a large tent).

Activities planned in Ghana: WFP and UNICEF have been providing unimix and high protein biscuits. The GRCS would start to provide food distributions at the crossing point at Elubo and at the proposed centres in Kintampo and Gonnonkrum. The appeal will allow the GRCS to supplement the UN ration and would assist up to 18,000 per month "returnees" crossing Ghana and third countries in convoys to reach their country of origin by providing a similar ration to that in Mali and Burkina Faso.

Objective 2: Health and care; to ensure transiting populations receive minimum health services through access to First Aid, essential medicine, basic water & sanitation and health education and awareness.

Despite being exhausted after several days on the road, the returnees have been generally in good health. The health complaints were the same as for the population in general, that is malaria, diarrhoea, fever, respiratory infections and skin infections. Most of the older children were fully vaccinated but children born during the conflict often lacked full vaccination coverage. Cases of measles were reported at one site and there is concern that a major outbreak of measles could be possible particularly since the younger generation are most vulnerable and need extra protection. While no severe malnutrition or nutritional deficiencies were observed in the centers visited, there is a need for some supplementary additions to the ration. The immediate needs for the exhausted returnees are for food, shelter and rest before continuing on to the home villages, as well as medical care and treatment in certain cases. Refugees are returning to an area of endemic meningitis during the meningitis season, returnees should be educated to the symptoms of meningitis and its prevention as well as informed as to where they can go for vaccination or treatment. In addition, given that the rate of HIV/AIDS infection is likely higher in populations returning from Côte d’Ivoire, there is a need to address the question of sexual health.

Activities planned in Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and Ghana:

This will involve monitoring the vaccination status of the returnee children. Those not up to date must be informed and referred to a health centre to complete the vaccinations. If necessary, volunteers may accompany mother and child to the health centres for vaccination, with a follow-up of all referred cases.

• Provision of First Aid and basic medical care and attention at all sites and centres, especially where there is no health centre. Referral to health centres/hospitals of severe cases including follow-up.
  
  
• The Red Cross branches at designated reception points should be supplied with First Aid kits and basic medical supplies, as well as a supply of medical consumables and disposables to refill the kits.
  
  
• Provision of teaching material, folders, pamphlets etc. for health education sessions and health messages, including teaching material for refresher courses for volunteers.
  
  
• Training and organization of sessions on HIV/AIDS/STD prevention in the transit centres. These sessions should ideally be accompanied by the distribution of condoms (both male and female).
  
  
• Specific education on malaria and meningitis awareness prevention and treatment.
  
  
• Monitoring of diarrhoea outbreaks and provision of ORS.
  
  
• Water and sanitation: ensure basic latrines and clean water supply at each Red Cross-managed reception centre for the transiting population. The Red Cross should ensure that each site should have 6 latrines and 2 X 1,000 litre water storage tanks.

Objective 3: Shelter; ensure basic shelter solutions to transiting populations for a minimum two days.

Most transiting populations are sleeping outside during their transit stop. During the daytime and especially during the rainy season this is inadequate. Tents, although they are not an ideal solution due to heat and short durability, are advised and are being used.

Activities planned in Mali and Burkina Faso:

In the Bamako stadium there is only shelter for a maximum of 300 persons. Both the MRCS and BFCS will construct temporary shelters from materials available locally (corrugated aluminium on a galvanised pipe or angle iron frame which are semi -permanent, may be dismantled if necessary, have better ventilation and provide better protection from rain). These structures and material will remain the property of the MRCS and BFCS for use in future emergencies.

Ougadougou: the original transit site was in the national sports stadium. Operation Bayiri has now ended and the camp has been moved alongside the stadium into the grounds of a school. Shelter is provided by BRCS tents and can sleep about 145 people. Convoys of 1,600 people have been received, most of whom slept in the school classrooms and assembly hall. While large convoys are no longer expected, a deterioration of the situation in the Côte d’Ivoire could reverse this. For the moment one shelter of 168m2 bringing the sleeping area to 200 persons should be constructed. The schoolrooms and assembly hall will still be available for additional numbers.

Koupela: this is an important transit point that has no designated shelter facilities. The local Red Cross committee has a large area of unused land suitable for use as a transit centre. 2 shelters of 168 m2 capable of sheltering 100 people should be constructed. All other sites either have sufficient shelter or are used as stopping off points only.

Activities planned in Ghana:

At this time since the majority of crossings are en route to third countries there are no plans to provide shelter in Ghana (but this could be added at a later date).

Objective 4: Disaster & conflict preparedness; ensure each national society has sufficient updated DP/CP training and awareness to respond appropriately to the appeal and to react should the situation in the region escalate.

The national societies in the appeal all have some disaster response capacity. In the case of Liberia and Guinea the national societies have very solid experience in refugees assistance. The Mali Red Cross has limited capacity at headquarters level. There is no relief or DP department, and the Secretaire Executive who makes the day-to-day decisions. The Burkina Faso Red Cross has a strong relief/DP department with a very capable co-ordinator funded by the ICRC. Most national societies have a branch network with well-motivated volunteers who, with very limited resources are very active in helping returnees. Mali, Burkina Faso, Liberia and Guinea have adequate capacity to manage this programme with a minimum of Federation support. Ghana and Niger may require more assistance.

Activities planned in Liberia, Guinea and the Côte d’ Ivoire:

The situation in Liberia, Guinea and Côte d’ Ivoire are of particular concern and training workshops should be offered to reinforce contingency planning and DP/CP training to all national societies. This activity is in line with the harmonization initiative of the Federation /ICRC in Disaster and Conflict Preparedness. There is a need to carry out First Aid refresher training and new volunteer First Aid Training in consultation with the Regional Delegation and the ICRC (in addition to those already under way).

Activities planned in Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and Ghana:

Disaster Preparedness (DP) training in these countries should be reinforced and should also contain an element of the ICRC CP model.

Activities planned in all countries and additional national societies in West Africa:

At the request of the Federation’s Africa Department, DMC will organize two Regional Disaster Response Team (RDRT) training workshops, one for Francophone national societies and one for Anglophone, with an emphasis on relief training components such as camp management, logistics, beneficiary selection and management, relief, health and security.

Objective 5: Transport & Communications; ensure adequate, functioning transport and communications capacity to respond to this appeal and to be prepared for addition case loads should the situation arise.

All national societies have limited transport capacity and financial resources to meet the added demands brought about by the crisis. Vehicles often lack maintenance and repairs and parts are needed. Where the need arises (Ghana) vehicles may be leased for the duration of the operation. Burkina Faso, Ghana and Mali have reasonably well functioning mobile phone network. A technical telecom assessment is also recommended to advise on the relative benefits of installing an HF or VHF system that requires maintenance and training, or the provision of additional mobile phones with a budgeted monthly call allocation is recommended. This will improve supervision from headquarters and contact between sites. Additional support through installation of phone lines and Internet connections specifically to the Information Officers as agreed in the Grand Bassam Accord are also recommended.

Activities planned in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Ghana:

Procure additional vehicles where needed and budgeted, ensure funds for maintenance, repairs and fuel for activities.

Advocacy and protection

There is a growing concern regarding the need to address discrimination/abuse/exclusion and general protection issues, access and identification of the most vulnerable (the invisible vulnerable), and longer-term livelihoods. Positive migrant contributions (remittances) have already had a negative impact on families, particularly those who host/assist returning. The returning displaced in the home countries of Mali, Niger and Burkina, Guinea will need to be incorporated into existing longer-term programs and there could be an increased vulnerability inside communities. Wherever possible the use of SPHERE Minimum Standards will be applied in relief planning and reporting.

Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement -- Principles and priorities

The planning has taken into account concerns within the region regarding HiV/AIDS. The Principles and Rules for Disaster Response, the Code of Conduct, and Relief Memorandum of Agreement have been incorporated into this revised appeal. Where ever possible the issue of gender, both in staffing and beneficiary involvement, will be respected and addressed.

Monitoring and Evaluation

Monitoring and evaluation will be provided by:

• Federation delegates from the Regional Delegation in the field with the respective national societies.
  
  
• The Monitoring and Evaluation Department in Geneva will be requested to recommend any additional evaluations or audits on the operation.

Capacity of the Federation

The Federation Regional Delegation for West Africa will provide the core staff to support the operation, specifically in the areas of health, OD and finance. The support of an additional experienced relief/logistics delegate for up to three months will be necessary. DMC’s Head of Operations in Geneva will ensure ongoing DM technical support in relief/logistics and co-ordination as needed.

Budget summary

See Annex 1 for details.

For further details please contact:

• Iain Logan: DMC Head of Operations 41 22 730 4984; e-mail: iain.logan@ifrc.org,
• Mark Willis: Federation Desk Officer, Phone: 41 22 730 4260 e.mail:mark.willis@ifrc.org; Fax: 41 22 733 0395.

All International Federation Assistance Operations seek to adhere to the Code of Conduct and are committed to the Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response (SPHERE Project) in delivering assistance to the most vulnerable.

In line with the Minimum Reporting Standards, the first operations update on this appeal will be issued within 30-days of the launch and the second will be issued over the course of the operation; a final narrative and financial report will be issued no later than 90 days after the end of the operation.

This operation seeks to administer to the immediate requirements of the victims of this disaster. Subsequent operations to promote sustainable development or longer-term capacity building will require additional support and these programmes are outlined on the Federation website.

For support to or for further information concerning Federation operations in this or other countries, please access the Federation website at http://www.ifrc.org

Abbas Gullet
Director
Disaster Management and Coordination

Didier J. Cherpitel
Secretary General

Footnote

¹ This revised total reflects an increase of CHF 1,109,000 from the original appeal budget. Note: this Revised Appeal should be read in conjunction with the "West Africa Humanitarian Crisis Concept Paper" produced by the Federation’s Disaster Management & Co-ordination Division (DMC) and based on the FACT mission. The resulting "Engagement de Grand Bassam" agreement/paper and additional reports, updates, Task Force minutes, and other information are available on the Federation’s Disaster Management Information System (DMIS -West Africa focus).

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