West and Central Africa: Weekly Regional Humanitarian Snapshot (5 - 11 December 2017)

CAMEROON

ATTACKS CLAIM 10 LIVES IN CRISIS-HIT REGION

At least 10 people were killed on 7 and 10 December in the South-West region, which along with the North-West, have been gripped by protests and violence against alleged Government marginalisation. More than 5,000 people have already fled to neighbouring Nigeria. There are fears that the figure could rise with the escalating tensions.

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

AID ACCESS IMPROVES IN MOBAYE

Rival armed groups in the southern Mobaye town have agreed to cease fighting, free the main roads and allow unfettered aid operations. Food, civilian protection and education are the urgent humanitarian needs. An aid group has already dispatched medical supplies to the town, where alarm had been raised over the threat of malnutrition.

CHAD

FOOD INSECURITY WORSENS DESPITE GOOD HARVEST

This year’s harvests are projected to be above the five-year average nationally. However, poor rainfall in parts of the Sahel belt has caused major cereal and pasture production shortfalls. A total of 3.5 million people will be food insecure in the next (July - August) lean season, which will likely start earlier in the most affected areas. Some 889,000 will face “crisis” and “emergency” levels of food insecurity. While the overall numbers are similar to 2017, more people have fallen into “emergency” level (from 36,000 in 2017 to 101,000 in 2018). More departments are also struck by severe food insecurity, particularly in the Sahel belt. The figures do not include 411,000 refugees and 60,000 Chadian returnees who also need food assistance.

DR CONGO

NEW SITES OPENED TO EASE CAMP CONGESTION

UNHCR has opened two new sites in two eastern provinces to ease congestion and accommodate more refugees. A first site in South Kivu will accommodate 5,000 Burundians who will live and share resources with the host community. The second site in Haut Uele is currently hosting 500 people. It can accommodate up to 43,000 people. Around 90,000 Burundians, Central Africans and South Sudanese have fled to DRC over the past year, bringing to more than 500,000 the number of refugees in the country.

NIGER

MIGRANT EVACUATION BEGINS

The Government has begun the evacuation of around 2,000 migrants from Tripoli following recent reports of inhuman treatment by smugglers. The authorities had previously informed migrants willing to return home to register. So far, 3,850 have been registered by the Niger embassy in Tripoli. The Government has also availed flights for repatriation. IOM will provide food upon arrival and transportation to their villages of origin.

MALI

HUMANITARIAN NEEDS TO RISE IN 2018

Around 4.1 million people will require humanitarian assistance in 2018, up from 3.7 million in 2017, according to the latest assessments. Food insecurity will affect more than 22 per cent of the population compared to 19 per cent this year. Nearly 800,000 people - 200,000 more than in 2017 - will face “crisis” and “emergency” levels of food insecurity, half of them being women and in need of urgent food and agriculture assistance.