West and Central Africa: Weekly Regional Humanitarian Snapshot (25 - 31 October 2016)

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

FRESH VIOLENCE CLAIMS 25 LIVES

Six police officers and four civilians were killed in an ambush by armed men on 28 October in the central Bambari town. A day earlier, 15 people died in fighting on the town’s outskirts between rival militia. The UN peacekeeping mission, MINUSCA, denounced the violence, called for an end to the attacks and reprisals, and appealed for dialogue to resolve the situation. Dozens of people have been killed in a recent surge in violence in the country’s western, eastern and central regions, including the violent attacks that erupted in September in the northern Kaga-Bandoro area.

CHAD

MALNUTRITION HIGH IN ELEVEN REGIONS

Global acute malnutrition currently affects 11.9 per cent of under 5 children, according to the 2016 SMART survey that also found that 2.6 per cent of children across the country are severely acutely malnourished. The results are nearly similar to last year’s (11.7 per cent GAM and 2.8 per cent SAM). Six out of 23 regions are above the 15 per cent emergency threshold for GAM, and 10 are above the 2 per cent emergency threshold for SAM. In total, 11 regions in the Sahel belt, in the north and south of the country are struck by nutritional emergency.

FAMILIES FLEE VIOLENCE IN LAC REGION

More than 200 people, mostly women and children, have fled to Foyo village in Kanem region that neighbours the conflict-hit western Lac region, according to a joint assessment mission on 25 - 26 October. They arrived more than a month ago after fleeing violence and are being hosted by the locals. Food and nutritional assistance are some of the urgent needs.

D.R CONGO

MEASLES ERUPT IN TANGANYIKA PROVINCE

The Governor of the eastern Tanganyika province has declared a measles epidemic. As of 31 October, 2,087 cases were reported, including 55 deaths across 11 health districts in the province. A vaccination campaign is to be launched in November for children between 6 to 59 months with possibility of extending the target.

GHANA

CHOLERA INFECTS 117 IN CAPE COAST

Cholera has erupted in the southern Cape Coast district, with a sudden escalation of cases within days, rising from 36 on 26 October 2016 to 117 by 30 October, notably with no fatality. The cases are originating from communities in the outskirts of Cape Coast Metropolitan. The exponential increase in the number of cases denotes high transmission potential of infections in the communities. Detailed assessment is being conducted to establish the predisposing factors responsible for the high attack rate. A rapid response team has been deployed to support the regional and district response.