West and Central Africa: Weekly Regional Humanitarian Snapshot (9 - 15 October 2018)

CAMEROON

CHOLERA SPREADS TO FOURTH REGION

Cholera has been detected in Far North region, bringing to four the number regions where the disease has erupted. Seven of the 38 suspected cases reported between 3 – 12 October were in Far North, where two deaths were also recorded. Humanitarian organizations and the Ministry of Health are working to curb the spread of infection. However, the area where the disease has been detected in Far North is hard to reach due to insecurity and bad roads. Since cholera broke out in July, 470 cases and 34 deaths have been registered.

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

FOOD INSECURITY INCREASES

The number of severely food insecure people has risen to 1.9 million from 1.6 million in March, the September food security analysis showed. Persisting insecurity has cut crop production as many farms have been abandoned. Forced population displacements and the collapse of basic socio-economic structures have stifled agriculture. Despite a gradual increase in agricultural production since 2014, harvests are still globally between 10 and 20 percent below pre-crisis levels, according to FAO.

DR CONGO

CHOLERA IN KASAI DECLINING

Cholera infections in the central Kasai region have declined over the past week, according to health authorities. Some 171 cases and five deaths were recorded between 1 – 7 October compared to an average of 306 cases and 14 deaths over the previous three weeks. Control measures by aid organizations and the health authorities have brought down the infections.
However, access remains a challenge as only 43 of the 102 health areas are currently covered by the emergency cholera response plan. Kasai has reported 681 cholera cases since the beginning of the epidemic in midJune.

NIGER

HUMANITARIAN CORRIDOR BRINGS AID TO 10,000

Around 10,000 people have received food and basic household items during a 13-day humanitarian corridor secured by the army in the western Tillaberi region. The corridor was opened after negotiations with aid groups to facilitate access to more than 32,000 people displaced by armed violence. Communities in Niger’s western regions bordering Mali have suffered several attacks by armed groups and inter-community clashes in recent months, forcing thousands to flee.

NIGERIA

ABDUCTED AID WORKER REPORTEDLY KILLED

One of the two ICRC aid workers held by an armed group has been killed, according to media reports confirmed by Nigeria’s Minister of Information on 15 October. ICRC had made an urgent public appeal to the Nigerian Government and to communities and individuals with influence to help secure the freedom of two medical workers abducted in March. A third healthcare worker abducted alongside the two was killed by her captors in September. The three were kidnapped when armed attackers raided Rann town in March, killing several people including three aid workers.

VIGILANTE GROUP FREES 833 CHILDREN

A vigilante group in north-east Nigeria has freed 833 children from its ranks, UNICEF reported on 12 October. The group, Civilian Joint Task Force, signed an agreement with UNICEF in 2017 to end and prevent child recruitment. Some 1,469 children (1,175 boys and 294 girls) associated with the self-defence group have been identified in Maiduguri. Since 2017, UNICEF has supported the social and economic reintegration of more than 8,700 children released from armed groups.