West and Central Africa: Weekly Regional Humanitarian Snapshot (17 - 23 July 2018)

CHAD

AID GROUP SUSPENDS ACTIVITIES IN LAKE CHAD LOCATION

An aid group suspended its activities at a site close to the Lake Chad, following a violent raid by suspected Boko Haram elements on 19 July in the town of Mayrom, east of Kaiga, on the Chadian side of the Lake. Eighteen people were killed during the attack, 10 women and children were abducted, and three other people injured. The NGO assists more than 3,500 people from vulnerable households in the area during the lean season. On 1 July, another international aid organisation suspended its WASH and CASH activities due to numerous incidents in the region. Multiple attacks have been recorded in the area in July after the end of an operation carried out by the Multinational Joint Task Force.

NIGER

CHOLERA OUTBREAK DECLARED IN MARADI

As of 23 July, 247 cases of cholera, including four deaths, have been registered in the department of Madarounfa, in the southern Maradi region, according to the Ministry of Public Health. The areas of Dan Issa, Gabi, Harounawa, Madeini, Maraka and N’Yelwa are the most affected. A cholera outbreak was declared on 13 July following sample analysis conducted in Niamey. To contain the outbreak, the Ministry of Public Health has positioned medicines, set up six treatment centers and strengthened epidemiological surveillance.

JULY RAINS CAUSE FLOODS IN SEVERAL REGIONS

As of 23 July, 13 people have died, 13 were injured and 17,682 are affected by floods across the country. The Agadez area, centre, and the Maradi region, south, are the hardest hit. The floods have destroyed 649 houses, affected almost 3,000 households and caused the loss of 24,617 animals and 400 hectares of farmland. According to the Government’s Contingency Plan, around 170,000 people could be affected by floods in Niger in 2018. At the same period last year, rains had caused the death of 23 persons, destroyed 2,246 houses and affected a total of 19,459 people.

LIBERIA

FLOODS AFFECT OVER 50,000 PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY

Continuous rainfall since 13 July has caused heavy floods in Monrovia and other parts of Liberia. As of 19 July, 51 648 people were affected by floods across seven counties, according to the National Disaster Management Agency, which is leading on the response and coordination. At least 15 000 people have been displaced, with some in temporary shelters such as schools and other public buildings. A rapid needs assessment is on-going to evaluate the impact. Emergency needs of the affected population include food, safe-drinking water, shelter and non-food items. In the event the rainfall continues, the situation is likely to worsen, beyond the 50,000-people affected by floods expected in the National Contingency Plan.

DR CONGO

AID DELIVERY HAMPERED IN KASAÏ

Humanitarian access to over 20,000 people in the area of Mutena, near Tshikapa, in the south-central Kasaï province, is being constrained due to poor roads and a broken down ferry. The boat is the only means of transport to cross the local river to reach Mutena from Tshikapa. These constraints are affecting humanitarian projects in the region across several sectors, including WASH, food security, cash transfer, protection, education and health. The Logistics Cluster is examining immediate solutions to ensure the continuation of operations.