West and Central Africa: Weekly Regional Humanitarian Snapshot (31 July - 6 August 2018)

CAMEROON

SIX NIGERIAN REFUGEES KILLED DURING REFOULEMENT OPERATION

On 29 July, a Multinational Joint Task Force truck carrying 12 Nigerian refugees was hit by an improvised explosive device (IED) in a border village in Mora district, in the Far North region. Six refugees died in the incident, amongst whom three children. The other six refugees and six Cameroonian soldiers were severely injured. The refugees aboard the military truck were being forcibly returned to the Nigerian city of Banki, in the northeastern Borno state, according to UNHCR which said it was shocked by the incident. The road where the explosion took place is the axis on which IED threats are the highest. Road-sided explosives usually target military vehicle engaged in the fight against suspected Boko Haram armed groups.

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

HUMANITARIAN WORKER KILLED IN ALINDAO

On 1 August, the staff member of a national NGO was shot and killed on his way to the airport in Alindao town, in the Basse Kotto Prefecture, South East. There is no more information available on the circumstances of the incident so far. A Humanitarian Country Team mission travelled to the town on the same day to assess the situation in the city. Alindao, where a high rate of malnutrition has been recorded, hosts 35,810 displaced persons and has been the theatre of continuous clashes between armed groups since May 2017. The humanitarian community is trying to mobilize additional resources and capacity to respond to the needs of the community. Six humanitarian actors have lost their lives in the Central African Republic this year.

DR CONGO

GREATER SUPPORT FOR RESPONSE TO CHOLERA IN KASAÏ

On 27 July, the DRC Humanitarian Fund made a US$3 million allocation for cholera response in the provinces of Kasai, Kasai Oriental and Sankuru, in the centre. Activities include vaccine and WASH assistance, and target over 105,000 people. The Kasaï region is affected by a cholera epidemic, with a total 2,206 cases and 223 deaths recorded between February and July.

VACCINATION TO START IN NORTH KIVU NEW EBOLA OUTBREAK

Vaccinations against a new outbreak of Ebola virus in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo are due to begin on 8 August, a senior official at the health ministry said on 5 August.
According to WHO, as of 3 August, a total of 43 cases, including 33 deaths (case fatality ratio 76.7%), have been reported. Of the 43 cases, 13 are laboratory confirmed and 30 are classified as probable. The new Ebola virus outbreak was declared by the Ministry of Health on 1 August and now affects five health zones in the North Kivu province and one zone in the Ituri province, in the NorthEast.
Prevention and case management activities have started as well as public information programs. Insecurity and intense cross-border movements are standing out as key challenges in the response. This new Ebola outbreak comes one week after the Government had announced the end of the 9th Ebola outbreak, in Equateur province.

NIGER

CHOLERA CASES MORE THAN TRIPLED IN ONE WEEK

According to the authorities, as of 28 July, 520 cholera cases, including eight deaths, have been recorded in the Madaroufa health district, in the southern Maradi region. The number of recorded cases has tripled compared to the previous week when 148 cases had been recorded as of 19 July. To contain the outbreak, the Ministry of Public Health, with the support of humanitarian partners, has opened six treatment sites, positioned medicines and strengthened the epidemiological surveillance. The cholera outbreak was declared on 13 July and affects seven areas in the Maradi region.