West and Central Africa: Weekly Humanitarian Snapshot (19 - 26 October 2023)

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Violence escalates in Tshopo Province

An escalation of inter-communal conflict in Opala territory, in Tshopo Province in the north central area of the country, has seen 19 people killed in a series of violent incidents over the last week. Several more are reportedly missing, and more than 18,000 have been forced to flee their homes to safer shelters in Kisangani and surrounding areas. The provincial authorities estimate that over 500 people have lost their lives since February 2023 in the outbreak of inter-communal tensions. The situation remains volatile, with concerns that it could escalate further. To date, more than 90,000 people are displaced, living in precarious conditions and in need of assistance.

Niger

Access concerns as humanitarian outlook worsens

The European Union has launched a new humanitarian air bridge operation for Niger, transporting essential medicines and medical supplies to Niamey, the capital. They will be used to scale up the humanitarian response where stocks of life saving items are rapidly depleting and access to health supplies is severely limited. However, humanitarian access remains difficult – while two flights were completed, authorization for the remaining two flights has been suspended. Humanitarian partners operating in Niger have also been experiencing disruptions in the supply chain of key items, hampering the delivery of humanitarian aid. There are concerns that the combined effects of the poor results of the agricultural and pastoral season and the impact of flooding from the Komadougou river, southeastern Niger, will exacerbate the humanitarian crisis.

Burkina Faso

Violent attacks target civilians

In Burkina Faso, civilians and their property are increasingly being targeted by non-state armed groups. A series of lethal attacks on civilians in the north-east of the country were carried out, close to the border with Niger. In an attack last week in Lipsi, militants opened fire killing 16 civilians. In addition, they burnt down granaries and looted livestock, giving an ultimatum to the local population to leave the locality or face reprisals. A currently unknown number of people began to move south, towards Sampelga centre. In separate attacks, members of a non-state armed group attacked the villages of Ouro Ahidjo and Foufou in the commune of Seytenga, Guidé in the commune of Dori and Bandiédaga in the commune of Sampelga. One person was killed in each village, houses and fields were burnt, and livestock taken away.

Guinea

Diphtheria outbreak highlights low vaccination rates

A diphtheria outbreak in Guinea has killed 58 people, with hundreds of reported cases – many of them babies and toddlers, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Since July, 538 cases of the disease were reported in the east central Kankan region. More than 80 per cent of them were children aged one to four. According to United Nations estimates, immunization coverage with the diphtheria tetanus toxoid and pertussis containing vaccine was 47 per cent for 2022 and has remained below 50 per cent for the past decade.
This is significantly below the 80 to 85 per cent required to maintain community protection.