GENERAL SITUATION
Numbers Entering Guinea from Ivory
Coast
A further 98 people entered Guinea from Ivory Coast in the reporting period. Of these, 63 are Liberians, 16 are Guineans, 16 Ivorians and 3 other West African nationals.
On 6 March, HCR reported that they have registered 7,362 refugees from the Ivory Coast since the crisis began, in the counties of Lola, Beyla, Youmou and N'Zerekore, of whom 3,821 are Liberians, 3,521 are Ivorians, 10 Sierra Leoneans and one other nationality.
46,023 people have arrived from Cote D'Ivoire and been registered by Guinean authorities since 25 November 2002.
Today, there are 102,620 refugees in the N'Zerekore region, 53,705 living in the camps and 48,915 outside the camps.
Note: Borders still remain officially closed in defiance of Economic Commission for West African States (ECOWAS) and international humanitarian law and conventions, though people continue to enter as indicated above.
Humanitarian consequences of Ivory Coast instability in Guinea
The situation of refugees accommodated in the transit centre of Bossou, and in the Maison des Jeunes (Youth House) at Lola remains a problem.
The over population of Laine refugee camp remains a problem.
Strong winds in Lola Prefecture on 7 March 2003 destroyed half of the Maison des Jeunes in Lola where more than 1,060 Liberian refugees are presently lodged. It also completely destroyed the health center in Lola town, as a result also destroying some of the materials set aside for the anti-measles vaccination campaign for the town.
PROGRAMME ACTIVITIES
Health
A total of 5,440 children entering the country have been vaccinated since 14 January 2003.
92,783 children from 9 months to 14 years old were vaccinated during the anti-measles vaccination campaign that was launched in the Prefecture of Beyla.
The mass immunization campaign against measles is underway in Beyla and Lola targeting over 150,000 children aged between 9 months and 14 years. So far 92,783 children have been vaccinated. UNICEF has provided field vaccines and operational costs and a support team.
A nutritional evaluation was also undertaken together with the vaccination campaign, the global malnutrition rate is 16.2% and the severe malnutrition rate is 3.2%.
Training for Vaccination Agents in Lola Prefecture has been completed. The vaccination will start on the 9 March 2003.
Protection
UNICEF supplied 15 health centres in the Kissidougou prefecture with 350 IV drips, 34,000 Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS) sachets and 95 cartons of Nutritional Biscuits (BP5) during this reporting period. Two refrigerators were also supplied to the Kissidougou health authorities for cold chain purposes.