West and Central Africa: Weekly Regional Humanitarian Snapshot (6 - 12 November 2018)

BURKINA FASO

Number of Displaced Rise by 358 percent

Violence and insecurity have displaced 39,731 people in Burkina Faso between January and October, according to a 30 October tally by OCHA. In January, there were 8,665 displaced people. Some 166 attacks have been recorded since the start of the year. Around 100 of those incidents occurred in the northern Sahel region. The violence has forced 396 schools to close and deprived 3,309 children of education. Thirty-four incidents of insecurity were recorded in October, the highest so far. In January, 10 attacks were registered.

Cameroon

Gunmen Free Abducted Children

ll the 78 children abducted from a school in North-West region were freed on 7 November after two days in captivity. The school’s driver was also released, but the principal is still being held. UNICEF and its partner organizations are planning to provide psychosocial care to the children. Several school have been shut in the conflict-hit North-West and South-West regions where secessionist armed groups have imposed a ban on education.

Over 30,000 Cameroonians have Fled to Nigeria

The number of Cameroonians fleeing to Nigeria due to conflict in North-West and South-West regions has surpassed 30,000, UNHCR reported on 9 November. Around 600 people arrived in the past two weeks. The refugees have settled in Nigeria’s Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Benue and Taraba states. Most of them are hosted by the local communities. Women and children make up 80 per cent of the refugees. Despite the assistance being provided, the needs of the refugees are far from being met, UNHCR said.

Central African Republic

Conflict-Hit IDPs Receive Assistance

Humanitarian organizations are ramping up assistance to thousands of displaced people who were forced to flee their camp in the northern Batangafo town after armed men raided and torched the settlement on 31 October. Some 15,600 people have received food and mobile clinics have been set up for emergency health care. Majority of the patients have been diagnosed with malaria. At Batangafo hospital where around 11,000 people have settled, more shower areas and latrines are needed. The town has remained calm in recent days and some of those who fled to the bush are returning. More than 27,000 displaced people were forced to flee their camp following the attack.

Nigeria

Surge in Violence in Borno and Yobe States

According to the UN and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), in the evening of 10 November, armed assailants attacked a village just three kilometers outside of Maiduguri, northeastern Borno State’s capital. One disabled person reportedly died in the attack, cattle was stolen and around 65 houses burnt down. This latest attack is part of a recent surge in violence, which also affects neighbouring Yobe State, where scores of armed assailants entered Katarko town, in Gujba Local Government Area, on 7 November. Sporadic shots were fired, forcing villagers to flee in different directions. Food and livestock were looted, and several homes were reportedly torched in the attack. Gujba is among the worst-affected locations in Yobe state where more than 50,000 internally displaced people have returned in recent months.