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Guinea + 5 more

West Africa: OCHA Monthly situation report - Mar 2007

Attachments

Highlights

The nomination of Mr. Lansana Kouyaté as Prime Minister in Guinea on 26 February led to an end of the general strike which first started on 10 January. The overall humanitarian consequences of the crisis in Guinea include at least 139 dead and over 1,700 wounded according to the Government of Guinea. The United Nations have allocated USD 2.3 million from the Central Emergency Fund (CERF) $2.35 million for urgent humanitarian activities in Guinea.

The ongoing meningitis outbreak in the West Africa has so far affected more than 2,400 people in Burkina Faso, Mali, Cote d'Ivoire, Benin and Niger. Concerns are raised by the Regional Health Working Group over further spreading of the epidemic.

Despite the favorable food situation in West Africa, localized areas of risk of food insecurity have been identified for 2007.

Victims of August floods in Burkina Faso and Niger continue to live in precarious conditions despite the assistance provided by humanitarian partners and further assistance is needed.

Progress has been noted at a global level in the development of the vaccine against pandemic influenza

1- SOCIO-POLITICAL AND SECURITY SITUATION

Guinea

The nomination of Mr. Lansana Kouyaté as Prime Minister in Guinea on 26 February led to an end of the general strike. The overall humanitarian consequences of the crisis in Guinea, which first started on 10 January, include at least 139 dead and over 1,700 wounded according to the Government of Guinea. The security situation, which during the strikes and the state of siege was very tense, has now calmed down and humanitarian partners again have full access. Following an appeal from the United Nations country team, the Central Emergency Fund (CERF) allocated USD 2.35 million to Guinea for the purchase of medicines and other supplies for injured as well as to support essential telecommunications and common humanitarian air service to ensure access in all part of the country. Projects funded by the CERF will be implemented by WFP, UNICEF and WHO in collaboration with the Government of Guinea and NGO partners.

Niger

On 7 February 2007, a military camp in Iferou, region of Agadez, was attacked by an armed group from the north of the country and three militaries were killed. A movement called "Mouvement Nigerien pour la Justice" claimed the responsibility of the attack. The movement demands that northern population and the Tuareg communities, in particularly, better benefit from the ongoing exploitation of natural resources in the north and seek a better integration of young Tuareg people in the armed forces. The Government has taken necessary actions to secure the subject areas

Côte d'Ivoire

New rounds of negotiation for the restoration of peace and organization of elections in Côte d'Ivoire are taking place. Recently, President Laurent Gbagbo proposed to meet M. Guillaume Soro, the leader of the Forces Nouvelles (New Forces) on the subject of the organization of the elections scheduled for October 2007 by the resolution 1721 of the UN Security Council. The President of Burkina Faso and Chairman of ECOWAS Blaise Compaore acts as mediator in this process.

Mali

The assailants who attacked two military camps in Kidal (North East of Mali), in May 2006, have, in Alger, signed three documents for the implementation of the peace agreement concluded in July 2006. Among other elements, these accords stress the programme of disarmament and the reintegration of the ex-assailants. The government and the ex-assailants have also agreed on the set up of special units with the mission to fight against terrorism and arms trafficking in the north of Mali.

OCHA Regional office for West Africa

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