West and Central Africa: Latest events at a glance (6 to 12 August 2024)

Mali

Over 2,500 people displaced as security and humanitarian situation worsen in San

On 6 August, an OCHA mission visited San, central Mali, to support regional authorities' humanitarian response to a large population movement. Recent assessments and biometric registration by the Government and humanitarian partners indicate that 2,735 people (708 households) sought refuge in the town of San between 29 July and 5 August in response to the worsening security and humanitarian situation in the region. Sixty-five per cent of the households are headed by women and 55 per cent of the displaced are children under age 11 with urgent needs in terms of protection, shelter items, clothes, non-food items, water, sanitation and hygiene kits. The internally displaced persons (IDPs) are being sheltered in schools, and the Government has provided 11 tons of food, 250 mosquito nets and clothes. Due to the risk of attacks by armed groups, police patrol the IDPs' settlements for their protection. According to the Government, this new population movement will exacerbate the vulnerability of host communities. Humanitarian partners are working to address the urgent needs of both IDPs and host communities.

Burkina Faso

Over 6,600 people displaced by attacks in Kossi province

On 5 August, provincial authorities in charge of humanitarian action reported the arrival of over 6,600 displaced people in Nouna Centre, in Kossi province, Boucle du Mouhoun Region. These displacements were triggered by attacks in several villages in the east of Nouna Commune. The attackers reportedly looted food stores, livestock, and other valuables, issuing an ultimatum for residents to leave the area. Some of the newly displaced populations have settled in administrative buildings, while others are living with host families. Shelter, psychological support, and food and non-food items are among the displaced peoples’ priority needs.

Nigeria

Government relocates over 2,800 IDPs from camps to new homes

On 7 August, the Borno State Government relocated 480 households comprising 2,880 internally displaced persons (IDPs) from the Government Senior Secondary School camp in Bama town to newly constructed houses in Nguro-Soye and Jaudiri communities about seven kilometres from the town. Humanitarian partners reported that this is the first relocation exercise of IDPs from the camp, which hosts about 109,200 IDPs, marking the start of a process that will continue over the coming weeks. According to the Government, this initiative is part of its plan to close all existing IDP camps across Borno State and resettle IDPs in either their place of origin or any safe host community of their choice by 2026. The Government distributed cash, food and non-food items to those who were relocated to help them restart their lives. All households received mats, mattresses, mosquito nets, beans, seedlings, and agrochemicals.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Polio vaccination campaign targets 14 million children under age five in seven provinces

The Democratic Republic of the Congo’s National Vaccination Programme, in coordination with the World Health Organization and UNICEF, launched on 8 August a three-day polio vaccination campaign targeting around 14 million children in seven provinces: Kinshasa, Mai-Ndombe, Mongala, Tshopo, Haut-Lomami, Haut Katanga and Tanganyika. The country has been facing a polio outbreak since 2017, and since that date health officials have reported over 1,000 polio cases countrywide. Mass vaccination has contributed to bringing down polio cases from 280 in 2023 to 15 reported from January to June 2024. Children under age five are the most at risk. The neighbouring provinces of Tanganyika, Haut-Lomami and Haut-Katanga in the south-east of the country are the worst-affected, raising the possibility that the polio virus has been spreading.