Humanitarian Information Center Conakry Guinea

Earlier Updates

19.12.2003 Border monitoring
The influx of refugees, returnees and third country nationals continues to be relatively low with some 100-200 arrivals reported per week. A possible influx of ex-combatants from Liberia to Guinea could affect the humanitarian situation in Guinea and the UN and partners are closely monitoring the border areas. A prioritization of disarmament and demobilization could become an issue.

19.12.2003 Presidential elections
The Government has announced that only diplomatic vehicles or those with special permission granted by authorities will be allowed to circulate during the day of the Presidential elections on 21 December. The borders and the airport will be closed from midnight 20 December to midnight 21 December. The results of the elections are expected within 3-4 days of the elections.

The electoral campaigns leading up to the presidential elections on 21 December 2003 have been marked by unsuccessful attempts to establish constructive dialogue, which led the key opposition parties to boycott elections on the grounds that conditions for fair and transparent elections were not met. Military personnel reportedly arrested on grounds of planning a coup d'êtat in late November in Conakry and in refugee camps during the first two weeks of December were released again in the week up to elections. No official statement has been given concerning the arrests.

In terms of media coverage, local and international press has been following the campaigns closely and reported relatively freely. In early December, state authorities did, however, ban the Issue No. 2239 of the "Jeune Afrique l'Intelligent" newspaper (dated 7 - 13 December). The publication carried an article with the headline, "Witch-hunt in Army" and documented instances of the current wave of arrests and reprisals against key opposition figures and some army officials perceived to be opposed to the third term presidential ambitions of the President General Lansana Conté.

19.12.2003 Logistics update
Poor road conditions between Guéckédou and NZérékoré continue to cause delays in humanitarian activities and could seriously affect response capacities in case of an emergency in the area. An impact is also seen on the general cost of living in the forest area as regular lack of goods and fuel persists.

WFP reports that Conakry's port remains congested; vessels often wait at anchor for three to four weeks. There are no difficulties importing food in containers, as opposed to bulk shipments.

19.12.2003 Mano River Women's Peace Network awarded with 2003 United Nations Prize in the Field of Human Rights
On Human Rights Day, 10 December 2003, the UN General Assembly awarded the Mano River Women's Peace Network with a 2003 United Nations Prize in the Field of Human Rights for the network's contribution to the search for regional peace and security and for bringing an effective multi-dimensional, coordinated and regional approach to the struggle for human rights through initiatives to restore peace and to ensure that women's voices are included at all levels of the decision-making process. Speaking in his capacity as the Chairman of the Special Selection Committee of the Prize, the President of the fifty-eighth session of the General Assembly, Julian Hunte, noted how the network had been active at both the grass-roots level and the highest level of government, successfully bringing the heads of State of their three countries back to the negotiating table in 2001 and played an important role as delegate, mediator and signatory to the Liberian peace talks in August 2003.

19.12.2003 Cross-border movements of foreign combatants fuel instability in West Africa
The young armed ex-combatants roaming the sub-region continue to be of concern for the humanitarian community. At the height of the crisis in Guinea in 2001, it was estimated that some 10,000 young armed volunteers were present in Guinea. Hereof, only 350 have been demobilised and reintegrated so far. In view of the situation in Liberia, security forces are on alert along the southern borders and roadblocks manned by armed personnel have reappeared in the region of Nzerekoré. In Sierra Leone, the army was similarly put on a high alert in mid-December 2003 following reports that LURD was amassing weapons near the border to take them abroad beyond reach of the disarmament process. On 17 December the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) suspended the disarmament, demobilization and rehabilitation of an estimated 40,000 former Liberian combatants, which it began on December 7. The exercise is due to resume on 20 January, by which time more UN peacekeepers should have arrived and two new demobilisation camps, to cater specifically for LURD and MODEL fighters will be ready or near completion. UNMIL has so far only received 5,900 of the 15,000 peacekeeping troops that are due to maintain order and supervise the disarmament process in Liberia, so it has not yet deployed throughout the country.

19.12.2003 Repatriation of Sierra Leoneans
UNHCR resumed voluntary repatriation of Sierra Leoneans on 2 December 2003, after a four and a half months break due to poor road conditions and heavy rains. As of 15 December, a total of 556 refugees have been repatriated in December. One convoy with 88 refugees through the Pamelap axis to destinations in Kono district in Sierra Leone and two convoys with 134 and 334 refugees respectively through the Languette to destinations in the Kailahun district have been carried out on the 2nd, the 4th and the 11th of December 2003. The operation will be briefly suspended around the 21 December presidential elections. According to UNHCR planning, the repatriation of Sierra Leonean refugees should end in March 2004, while the assistance to the remaining caseload will be suspended in July of the same year. It is expected that the number of refugees willing to repatriate will increase in January, as most candidates wish to repatriate after the harvest.

19.12.2003 Spontaneous return of Liberian refugees
Large numbers of Liberian refugees are reportedly leaving Guinean camps spontaneously and by own means for Liberia. During the most recent distribution in Lainé camp, WFP registered an absentee rate of 20 percent. Some sources claim the Liberians are going home for Christmas, while others attribute the return to the Guinean Presidential elections, stating that the refugees consider themselves a potential target should the elections fail to pass peacefully. In general, the refugees returning spontaneously appear to be among those who have arrived most recently.

19.12.2003 Relocalisation of Kouankan camp
UNHCR has established a working group with participants from the National Bureau for Refugees (BCR), GTZ, WFP and IFSCR to evaluate the Kouankan relocation, the findings of which will result in recommendations on the future of the relocation. There will be a particular emphasis on the security conditions in and around the camp; protection matters and general welfare of the refugees. Of the over 33,000 refugees concerned by the operation, 6,087 have so far been relocated. The operation has experienced logistical constraints, due to a combination of lack of trucking facilities and infrastructure deterioration with the rainy season. In late July 2003, the operation was suspended due to the collapse of the wooden bridge in Zabara located 45 km south of Macenta on the route between Kissidougou and N'Zérékoré.

19.12.2003 CAP 2003 for Guinea funded at 61%
As the cycle of the 2003 CAP is coming to an end, funding of non-food humanitarian assistance in Guinea within the CAP 2003 totals USD 29,535,560, according to reports received by OCHA from respective appealing agencies. This represents 61 percent of the revised appeal for 2003 of USD 48,055,663. Sectors that have received no funding within this years' CAP are Agriculture, Economic Recovery and Infrastructure and Security.

12.11.2003 Recent updates and additions to this site

· Who-does-what-where in Kissidougou
· Who-does-what-where in Nzerekoré, including map.
· Vulnerability Analysis and Mapping Bulletins
· P-codes for Guinea
· Chronology of conflicts in West Africa
· Map of humanitarian situation in West Africa

19.11.2003 The UN appeals for USD 38,000,000 to alleviate suffering and improve the quality of living for civilians in need in Guinea

The United Nations today presented its 2004 Consolidated Appeal for humanitarian assistance for Guinea. The USD 38,000,000 sought from the international donor community is part of a global effort launched by the UN Secretary General in New York yesterday to help save the lives of 45 million people in 21 of the world's most serious crises, 17 of which are in Africa.

Download the full appeal here

Located at the heart of instability that has plagued the Mano River Union countries for over a decade, Guinea remains a major stabilising factor in the West Africa sub-region and has provided refuge for vulnerable groups fleeing conflicts in four out of the six neighboring countries, namely Guinea-Bissau (1998-99), Liberia (since 1989), Sierra Leone (since 1990) and Côte d'Ivoire (since 2002).

Guinea is currently hosting over 100,000 refugees in camps. In addition to an estimated 70,000 refugees living outside camps, over 100,000 Guineans returned from Côte d'Ivoire as a result of the crisis that ensued the events in Abidjan of 19 September 2002. It is estimated that Guinean returnees from Côte d'Ivoire hosted by local communities in the areas along Ivorian borders make up over 10% of the population. UN humanitarian action aims to complement governmental and non-governmental relief efforts in order to alleviate suffering and improve the quality of living for all civilians in need, including host communities, returnees, IDPs and refugees.

Various UN agencies, including the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), the World Food Programme (WFP), and the World Health Organization (WHO), plan to work with humanitarian partners in the following sectors: Protection (Refugee and Other Vulnerable groups); Coordination and Support Services; Food Security (Emergency Food Aid and Emergency Agriculture Assistance); Basic Social Services (Education, Health/Nutrition and Water/Sanitation); and Security.

The United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator, supported by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), is responsible for the overall management of the UN's humanitarian work in Guinea. Further information on the humanitarian programme of the UN in Guinea is available from the Humanitarian Coordinator's Office.

Download printable press release for CAP launch in Conakry.

Download press release for global CAP launch by the Secretary General in New York on 18 November 2003.

12.11.2003 Impact of situation in Liberia on Guinea
Although the situation is improving quite rapidly in Liberia, the UN in Guinea is closely monitoring the situation particularly in the Mount Nimba area. Specific areas of concern relate to internal problems regarding power sharing within the transition government, reluctance to disarm and recent confrontations among armed factions; this trends may entail serious implications for humanitarian operations and the security situation in Guinea.

12.11.2003 Influx
The situation at the border with Liberia remains calm and the influx of refugees, Guinean returnees and third country nationals is relatively low. However, the recent setbacks in the security situation in Liberia and the lack of viable solutions to effectively pursue the implementation of the Linas Marcoussis accord in Côte d'Ivoire have raised the level of alert among humanitarian actors in Guinea. Three false alarms recently of Ivorian refugees arriving at border points serve as illustration of the tense climate in Forest Guinea.

12.11.2003 Returnees and host communities in Forest Guinea
An initial collection of data on returnees carried out by OCHA along the Ivorian border indicates that returnees make up an average of 11 percent of the population and are highly dependent on host-families. In 19 sub-prefectures surveyed in the prefectures of Lola, Beyla and Nzerekoré, authorities reported that a total of some 4,900 returnee families (39,000 individuals) from Côte d'Ivoire are living with host families in these areas. In order to locate and evaluate living conditions, economic and social integration of eventual displaced populations and returnees, the UN proposes an update of the IDP census carried out in 2001-2002 within the framework of the CAP 2004.

12.11.2003 Repatriation of Sierra Leoneans
UNHCR has informed partners that plans are underway to resume voluntary repatriation of Sierra Leoneans as of end November, initially through the Pamelap axis to destinations in Kono district in Sierra Leone. Around 1 December, the UN Refugee Agency plans to speed up the operation by repatriating through the Languette to destinations in the Kailahun district.

12.11.2003 Culture of Peace
With the assistance of the IRC, the Mano River Women's Peace Network is in the process of reinforcing presence in the areas of Guinea bordering on Liberia, Sierra Leone and Côte d'Ivoire. With contacts in Faranah, Kissidougou, Gueckedou, Macenta, Nzerekoré and Lola, the networks plans to strengthen the implementation of Culture of Peace activitites with local communities.

12.11.2003 Security and access
The situation along the borders with Liberia remains calm but highly volatile. Due to poor road conditions, delivery of fuel to Nzerekoré is delayed and gas-stations in N’Zerekore town are currently empty, causing delays in humanitarian activities. It is unclear when to expect new supplies and humanitarian actors have been advised to reduce mission activities until further notice. Phase III remains in effect in the prefectures of Kissidougou, N'Zerekore, Youmou and Lola; Phase IV remains in effect for the prefectures of Gueckedou and Macenta, while the rest of the country continues to be under Phase I.

12.11.2003 Visits
The Director of UNHCR in New York and Special Counsellor of the High Commissioner, Mr. Eric Morris, visited Guinea on 9-12 November 2003 as part of a sub-regional mission.
The objective of the visit mainly relates to security aspects of refugees living in the sub-region. During his stay Mr. Morris visited refugee camps in N'zerekore, met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Director of BNCR Conakry. The delegation also took part in the bimonthly donors' briefing organised by UNHCR.

20.10.2003 Update on influx from Liberia
Following peaks in influx from Liberia in September, the situation has been calm at border areas in October with relatively fewer arrivals registered in the Nzerekoré region. During the period 7-14 October, UNHCR transferred 1,087 refugees from border areas to camps, hereof 61 Ivorians from N'Zoo/Gouela to Nonah. Main points of entry were Thuo and Baala.

20.10.2003 CAP 2004
The field draft of the Consolidated Appeal for Guinea for 2004 has been finalised and is currently being reviewed at the respective UN Agencies' headquarters before the global launch of Consolidated Appeals will take place in New York on 18 November, and in Brussels, Copenhagen, Dublin, Geneva, Ottawa, and Washington D.C. on 19 November. The local launch in Conakry of the Guinean CAP for 2004 is planned for 19 November.

20.10.2003 Repatriation of Sierra Leonean refugees
UNHCR has informed partners that plans are underway to recommence voluntary repatriation of Sierra Leonean as of early November with two convoys per week through the Pamelap axis. At this rate, it is estimated that 6,000-8,000 of the some 14,000 Sierra Leoneans currently registered in camps in Guinea will be repatriated before the end of the year.

20.10.2003 World Food Day
On the occasion of the World Food Day on 16 October 2003, a three day launch of this years' Telefood Campaign was organised on 14-16 October at the Palais du Peuple in Conakry by the Government with the technical support of FAO. Within this framework a workshop took place towards consolidation of a National Partnership for Alliance against Hunger and Malnutrition in Guinea. The objective of the National Partnership is to promote dialogue, concertation and partnership on Food Security in Guinea. A wide scope of Ministries, Civil Society Organisations, NGOs, diplomats and UN Agencies took part in the activities. Organisations such as WFP, UNHCR and the international NGO Africare contributed with exhibitions and stands on hunger and malnutrition at the Palais du Peuple.

20.10.2003 Locust alert issued by FAO
On 17 October, FAO issued an alert calling for strict vigilence to carefully monitor the developing situation in all countries in risk of outbreaks of Migratory Locusts, which include Guinea. The alert followed outbreaks of Desert Locusts in October in Sudan, Mauritania and Niger and FAO reports that the situation is also of concern in northern Mali with increasing locust densities. For the latest updates see http://www.fao.org/news/global/locusts/locuhome.htm

20.10.2003 Zarabara Bridge
Access to Nzérékoré continues to be difficult due to the collapse of the bridge in Zarabara and general deterioration of roads south of Kissidougou. Transportation time between Kissidougou and Nzerekoré is estimated at 12 hours. Humanitarian organizations are holding NFI stocks for Nzerekoré back in Conakry and reports that transporters willing and able to make the trip are scarce.

19.09.2003 Influx of Liberian refugees to Guinea
Following fighting in Northern Liberia since late August, the Nzerekoré region has seen an increase in arrivals of Liberian refugees. A total of some 5,500 Liberian refugees arriving from 29 August to 18 September have been reported. No arrivals of Guinean returnees or Third Country Nationals have been reported to date. OCHA Guinea is concerned with early warning signs indicating lack of compliance with peace agreement on behalf of the warring Liberian factions. This may translate into further population movements across the border into the
Prefectures of Yomou and Macenta in Guinea.

On 13-18 September some 3,000 Liberian refugees arrived at the border point of Fassankoni in Macenta Prefecture, across the border from Zorzor in Liberia. To date 1,636 Liberians have reportedly been registered by Guinean authorities in Fassankoni and some 500 are awaiting formal registration. It is unclear how many persons in total are still waiting on the other side.

UNHCR is planning to transfer these newly arriving refugees to the Kouankan camp hosting Liberian refugees camp at a rate of 300-450 persons per day starting today, 19 September 2003. As road conditions are very poor GTZ will start working immediately on providing basic repair to the most critical areas.

Main points of entry for September are so far in the areas of Fassankoni (Macenta Prefecture), Bignamou and Baala/Diecke (Youmou Prefecture) and Thuo/Boussou (Lola Prefecture).

UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, OCHA and the FSO are jointly and closely monitoring the situation. Humanitarian partners present in the field are encouraged to share any information found relevant.

In 2003 to date, total number of persons crossing the border in the Nzerekore region to seek safe haven in Guinea is at 38,000. Hereof, 21,000 are Liberians, 11,000 are Guineans, 3,000 are Ivorian and 2,000 are TCNs according to reports received from local authorities through the Inter Agency Monitoring Mechanism established in December 2002.

Download OCHA map of Nzerekoré region 19 Sept 2003 with indications of Entry points, reception centers and refugee camps.

16.09.2003 Coup d'Etat in Guinea Bissau
The coup d'Etat that took place in Guinea Bissau on Sunday 14 September has had no direct implications on the humanitarian situation in Guinea. OCHA and humanitarian partners are, however, closely monitoring the situation considering that Guinea has a history of hosting refugees from Guinea Bissau: In October 1998 fighting in Guinea Bissau caused an influx to Guinea of approximately 9,000 persons, including several thousands returning Guineans, over a period of ten days. One year later, by October 1999, a group of 1,800 refugees from Bissau was still hosted in Boké. The majority of citizens of Guinea-Bissau who had sought refuge in neighboring countries at the time voluntarily repatriated during 2000.

16.09.2003 Access to Nzerekoré
WFP reports that trucks carrying food are crossing the Zarabara bridge on the Guéckédou-Macenta route into N’Zérékoréare with difficulty. The wooden bridge collapsed on 28 June 2003 and has caused UNHCR to postpone the relocalisation of Kouankan refugee camp to the Kissidougou area.

16.09.2003 Refugee education
IRC, Save the children and other NGOs had indicated that they would no longer have sufficient funds to take care of refugee schools in the camps by September 2003. The issue was discussed at a UNHCR coordination meeting held at OCHA on 11 September 2003 and the problem has now been resolved. UNICEF reports that UNICEF is providing funds and supplies to Save the Children to ensure the continuance of education for children in Nonah camp, while UNHCR has provided the required funds to IRC to continue classes in Laine and Kola camps.

08.09.2003 Launch of the National Committee of Monitoring of Humanitarian Affairs
On 8 September 2003 the Minister of Interior officially launched the National Committee of Monitoring of Humanitarian Affairs (Comité National de Suivi de l'Action Humanitaire). The committee is expected to form the cornerstone of Humanitarian Coordination at national level and lead to strengthened preparedness and response as well as stronger accountability. OCHA will act as secretariat to the committee.

OCHA Communiqué de presse
Lancement CNSAH

03.09.2003 Floods in Boké
A joint Government-UN multi-sector Assessment Mission composed of representatives from SENAH, WFP, UNICEF, FAO and OCHA was deployed to the Prefecture of Boké on 26-28 August 2003 to evaluate the situation following reports of flooding caused by heavy rainfall. The mission visited villages completely destroyed by the floods and found that while the floods have caused 4 deaths, some 3,200 persons have been left without shelter. A final report is being consolidated by OCHA and will be distributed shortly.

03.09.2003 Increase in daily influx from Liberia
Following fighting in Northern Liberia last week, Guinea has seen an increase in arrivals of Liberian refugees since 27 August 2003. At the Guinean Red Cross registration center at Thuo border point in the Nzerekoré region over 550 refugees were registered from 27 August to 1 September. The refugees arrive mainly from Gbarnga and Ganta in Liberia and an estimated two thirds are children. OCHA Guinea visited Thuo on 28 August and found that while the arriving Liberians generally are in good condition, many are exhausted and hungry after having walked for several days to reach the border. Warm meals are being distributed in the Boussou Transit Center, but food distribution and shelter facilities are critical at the Thuo entry point.

03.09.2003 Collapse of Zabara Bridge on road between Kissidougou and Nzérérkoré continues to interrupt humanitarian activities in Forest region
The wooden bridge that collapsed on 28 June 2003 in Zabara, 45 km south of Macenta on the route between Kissidougou and N'Zérékoré, has been repaired by the Government but is yet to reach minimum safety standards for humanitarian transportation. With heavy rains rendering the Kankan - Beyla and the Banankoro - Kerouane roads impassable for all vehicles, Nzerekoré is currently not accesible by road.

03.09.2003 Milo River above emergency levels in Kankan
WFP reports that as of August 25, waters in Kankan’s Milo River have surpassed 6 meters, putting it above emergency levels. The situation is being closely monitored.

03.09.2003 CAP Funding Update
As of 3 September, according to reports received by OCHA from respective appealing agencies, funding of non-food humanitarian assistance in Guinea within the CAP 2003 totals USD 20,377,421. This represents 43% of the revised appeal of USD 47,696,782. Sectors that have received no funding within the CAP 2003 are Agriculture, Economic Recovery and Infrastructure, and Security.

02.09.2003 Visits
Interim President of Liberia Moses Blah paid a visit to President Lansana Conté on 22 August in an effort to restore relationship with Guinea and brief the President on the peace process envisioned for Liberia. The UN Special Representative for the Secretary General in Liberia Jacques Klein visited Guinea on 26 August and met with the Government and the UN to present the strategic action plan for Liberia.

01.08.2003 Regional Humanitarian Meeting in Dakar The regional humanitarian meeting chaired by the UN Humanitarian Envoy Ms. McAskie and hosted by UNICEF took place in Dakar on 17-18 July 2003. The Joint Regional Humanitarian Review Mission, which has just completed visits to Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea and Sierra Leone presented a regional draft strategy at this meeting in Dakar. The meeting counted some 80 participants, including members of the Joint Humanitarian Field Review, UN Regional Directors and other agency representatives, representatives of all IASC members, the Red Cross Movement, IOM and NGO partners as well as donors active in West Africa.

Download the final report from the regional humanitarian meeting in Dakar

Download the final report from the Joint Humanitarian Field Review mission

30.07.2003 Arrival of Guinean Nationals from Côte d'Ivoire by bus to Kankan
A convoy carrying 117 Guinean nationals returning from Guiglio and Tabou in Côte d'Ivoire arrived in Kankan on 19 July. The Guinean nationals were transported in Ivorian buses and IOM Guinea received the busses at the border and carried out escort to Kankan. Once arrived in Kankan, WFP provided the returnees with two days' worth of hot meals in collaboration with the Red Cross.

30.07.2003 Food for Work project rehabilitating forest in Kissidougou Under a food-for-work project proposed by Action Contre la Faim, WFP has agreed to provide food for Guineans to rehabilitate 16 hectares of forest around the Albadariah camps. A joint ACF-WFP mission took place July 28 in the targeted villages.

30.07.2003 CAP 2003 for Guinea funded at 41%
As of 30 July 2003, according to reports received by OCHA from respective appealing agencies, funding of non-food humanitarian assistance in Guinea within the CAP 2003 totals USD 19,463,905. This represents 41% of the revised appeal for 2003 of USD 43,176,781. Sectors that have received no funding within this years' CAP are Agriculture, Economic Recovery and Infrastructure, Education, Protection/Human Rights/Rule of Law and Security.

17.07.2003 Zabara bridge
Emergency repairs have been made to the Zabara bridge on the route from Guéckédou to Macenta that collapsed on June 27th, enabling trucks to pass. While the repairs reportedly not are likely to last, WFP materials continue to be well stocked, and food deliveries to Nzerekoré have resumed.

17.07.2003 Geo-references of Guinean schools and health system
The Ministry of Pre-Universitary and Civil Education presented a Geo-reference Programme of the Guinean School System in Conakry on 15 July that establishes a database and a digital map of all schools in Guinea along with GPS data of health centers, hospitals and markets throughout the country. The project is financed by USAID.

04.07.2003 Collapse of Zabara Bridge on road between Kissidougou and Nzérérkoré interrupts humanitarian activities in Forest region On Saturday 28 June a wooden bridge collapsed in Zabara, 45 km south of Macenta on the route between Kissidougou and N'Zérékoré. The accident involved a private lorry rented by WFP and two casualties were reported. UNHCR relocalisation of Kouankan refugee camp is temporarily suspended. The bridge is part of a National Road and the UN System in Guinea is examining possibilities of supporting the Government in reparing the bridge. Local authorities estimate that it will take at least two weeks to repair the bridge, after funding is secured. The route serves as lifeline for to the Forest Region where most humanitarian interventions in Guinea take place. ...Read WFP report (French) and view photos of the bridge ...

04.07.2003 Repatriation of Sierra Leoneans
In view of the deterioration of roads in Sierra Leone UNHCR may have to temporarily suspend repatriation of Sierra Leonean refugees from Guinea on 15 July 2003. UNHCR plans to repatriate 2,000 out of the some 17,235 Sierra Leoneans currently registered as refugees in Guinea before 15 July. As of 1 July, 25,073, or 84% of voluntary repatriations planned for the first half of 2003, have been carried out.

Download UNHCR Map Update on repatriations from Guinea during first half of 2003 - word (76 kb)

04.07.2003 Sembakounya camp closed
The Sembakounya camp in Dabola has been closed down as planned. The WFP sub-office in Dabola closed on 30 June and UNHCR sub-office is in the process of closing. Some 2,000 remaining refugees of Sierra Leonean and Liberian nationality have all signed up for relocalisation to camps in Kissidougou area. None have requested local reintegration.

04.07.2003 Regional Humanitarian meeting in Dakar
The next regional humanitarian meeting will be chaired by the UN Humanitarian Envoy Ms. McAskie and hosted by UNICEF in Dakar on 17-18 July 2003. The Joint Regional Humanitarian Review Mission which has just completed visits to Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea and Sierra Leone will formulate and present a regional draft strategy at this meeting in Dakar. The meeting will be attended not only by Review Mission participants but will bring together UN Regional Directors and other agency representatives, including representatives of all IASC members, the Red Cross Movement, IOM and NGO partners active in West Africa. A broad-based attendance of donor partners is also expected.

04.07.2003 Security Council visit to Guinea The Security Council visited Guinea on 2-3 July. Meetings were held with the Prime Minister, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Interior, G8 Ambassadors and the UN Country Team. While in Conakry, the Security Council also met with the leader of the Liberian rebel movement Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD).

04.07.2003 Final report of Joint Government-UN mission to Prefectures of Gaoual and Koundara OCHA finalized the consolidated report of a Joint Government-UN Mission dispatched to the prefectures of Gaoual and Koundara in the North of Guinea to assess the impact of a drought on 27 May - 1 June 2003. The joint mission concludes that a lack of rain during the last four years have added considerably to the burden of populations already living below the minimum poverty threshold. Recommendations include an inter-agency follow-up to tackle any serious food insecurity that may emerge.

Read the final report here (French) (134 Kb) - download zipped version (24 Kb)

04.07.2003 Health and nutrition in Kissidougou and Faranah WHO reports that the epidemological situation in Kissidougou and the Faranah region is relatively calm and stable. The most common diseases in refugee camps in Kissidougou are malaria, respiratory infections, helminthiasis and STDs. The most common causes of death among the general population in the Kissidougou area are malaria combined with anemia, respiratory infections and severe anemia. Action Contre la Faim reports that 14 cases of severe malnutrition were reported to the Therapeutical Natritional Center in Kissidougou in May 2003, whereas 31 cases were reported in Gueckedou during the same month. In both areas, nearly all cases of severe malnutrition (87% and 100% respectively) were found among hostpopulations. Read full situation report from WHO Sub-field office in Kissidougou (421 Kb) - download zipped version - 110 Kb

07.07.2003 CAP Funding Update As of 7 June, according to reports received by OCHA from respective appealing agencies, funding of non-food humanitarian assistance in Guinea within the CAP 2003 totals USD 15,523,936. This represents 36% of the revised appeal of USD 43,176,781, including USD 14,109,328 for HCR. Sectors that have received no funding within this years' CAP are Agriculture, Economic Recovery and Infrastructure, Education, Protection/Human Rights/Rule of Law, and Security.

03.07.2003 Deux morts dans l'effondrement d'un pont, les opérations du PAM en Guinée forestière sont suspendues Le 27 juin, un camion transportant de la nourriture du PAM s'est renversé quand un pont en bois sur la route de Gueckedou à Macenta s'est écroulé, tuant deux personnes. Le camion était chargé d'approvisionner le camp de Kola où 6.700 réfugiés se trouvent. C'est aussi grâce a ce pont que le PAM peut réussir a mener a bien ses programmes pour les 60.000 réfugiés et 20.000 guinéens de cette zone. La presque totalité de la cargaison...suite...

23.06.2003 Impact of Crisis in Liberia on Guinea
OCHA Guinea and humanitarian partners continue to monitor the situation along the Guinean-Liberian border. No significant increase in influx has been registered so far and UNHCR reports that while some 250 Ivorians have been registered in Nonah during the first two weeks of June, some 700 Liberians have been registered in Lainé in the same period. The population of registered refugees in Lainé camp has reached max capacity of 20,000 and serious concerns have been raised about where to host new arrivals from Liberia.

23.06.2003 Drought in Gaoual and Koundara
A recent inter-agency mission to drought-affected areas in Upper Guinea concluded that due to a constant decrease of rainfall over the last 4 years in Gaoual (minus 52%) and Koundara (minus 61%) and the related reduction of the rainy season from 180 to 85 days per year respectively, the two districts have been experiencing some serious deterioration of their environment (overgrazzing of pastures, decreasing water tables, dried water points, deforestation, ...) and a drastic reduction in food production.

FAO and WFP agree that the situation in these two Prefectures must be closely monitored in coming weeks as the situation may warrant emergency food assistance. Solutions recommended by the mission span from improving water supply and distributing tools, seeds and other agriculture inputs to help the local population cope with this prolonged drought.

23.06.2003 Repatriation of Sierra Leonean refugees
Repatriation of Sierra Leoneans from Kissidougou came to a temporary halt in mid-June due to a funding shortfall for GTZ, who is in charge of logistics of the operation. UNHCR reports that repatriation has been resumed and priority is being given to Dabola in view of the upcoming closure of Sembakounya camp. As of 13 June, a total of 24,619 Sierra Leoneans have been repatriated since January 2003, hereof 1,397 during the period of 1-13 June 2003. Some 18,000 Sierra Leonean refugees are currently living in camps in Guinea. Click here to download UNHCR Guinea statistics as of 16 June 2003 - word - zipped.

23.06.2003 Subregional Joint Humanitarian Field Review
The subregional Joint Regional Humanitarian Field Review, now composed of UNHCR, WFP, UNICEF, UNDP, OCHA, IOM, Save the Children, Oxfam and donor representatives from the US, UK, Sweden, France and ECHO, is expected in Guinea on 25-29 June 2003. The mission is due to arrive in Conakry on Wednesday 25 June, carry out a field trip to Nzérékoré on Thursday 26 June, and meet with representatives of the Government, Donors, NGOs and the UN Country Team in Conakry on Friday 27 June.

The Field Review was recommended at the regional humanitarian meeting convened in Abidjan on 28 April 2003 by the UN Humanitarian Envoy Ms. McAskie.

Report from the sub-regional meeting in Abidjan - word (196 Kb)
- zipped (31Kb)

The field review is due to arrive in Conakry on Wednesday 25 June, carry out a field trip to Nzérékoré on Thursday 26 June, and meet with representatives of the Government, Donors, NGOs and the UN Country Team in Conakry on Friday 27 June.

18.06.2003 Joint WFP-UNHCR food needs assessment
The 2003 annual joint WFP-UNHCR food needs assessment mission visited Guinea on 12-19 June 2003 to plan for the regional Protracted Relief and Recovery Operations (PRRO) for the coming year. In Conakry, the mission met with donors, government and UN partners before flying to N'Zérékoré and Kissidougou to visit WFP and HCR operations in the refugee camps, observe WFP's Emergency School Feeding Program and meet with local authorities. The mission continued on to Sierra Leone, while plans to visit Liberia were cancelled due to recent developments in Monrovia.

18.06.2003 Relocalisation of Kouankan
The relocalisation of Kouankan refugee camp continues and a total of 3,635 persons have been transferred to Albadaria camps as of 16 June 2003. UNHCR intends to step up the operation from one weekly convoy to three. Click here to download UNHCR Guinea statistics as of 16 June 2003 - word - zipped.

18.06.2003 Marine Search and Rescue
A two-person mission from the International Maritime Organisation visited Conakry on 16-22 June as part of an assessment mission to Guinea, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Côte d’Ivoire to carry out an assessment of Marine Search and Rescue capabilities and how to best implement the Global Marine Distress Safety System in West Africa.

18.06.2003 World Refugee Day
The World Refugee Day was celebrated in Conakry on Friday 20 June 2003 at the Palais du Peuple from 9:00-12:00. The event was organised by UNHCR and refugees and was promoted by the Guinean Government.

09.06.2003 Mission to the Prefectures of Koundara and Gaoual reports that the situation is precarious
A multi-sector Mission to the Prefectures of Koundara and Gaoual near the Senegalese and Bissau borders composed of representatives from the National Direction of Agriculture, the National Direction of Environment, SENAH, WFP, UNICEF, WHO, FAO and OCHA reports that the situation is precarious. Preliminary results were presented during a meeting of the Food Security Sectoral Group on Thursday 5 June. A final report is being consolidated by OCHA and will distributed shortly.

09.06.2003 Arrival of Guinean nationals by boat from Côte d'Ivoire
IOM reports that as of 9 June 528 Guinean nationals fleeing fighting in Harper (Liberia) have been registered in Tabou (Côte d'Ivoire). Repatriation by boat is being arranged by IOM and the first 350 are due to arrive in Conakry during the coming weeks. A coordination meeting was held with involved agencies on Monday 4 June 2003.

09.06.2003 Relocalisation of Kouankan refugee camp
UNHCR has informed partners that the Emergency Response Team dispatched for this operation in mid-April and counting 8 (eight) persons, including a Logistics Officer, a Protection Officer and a Registration/Protection officer, will stay till mid June, with possible extension till mid July. Since 9 May when the operation commenced, approximately 1,600 refugees of the some 33,000 have been transferred to Kissidougou.

09.06.2003 Repatriation of Sierra Leonean refugees
The Dandou dyke collapsed for the third time on 31 May and will no longer be repaired. UNHCR Guinea reports that repatriation of Sierra Leoneans will continue through the Pamela-Kambia route, and that as of 3 June a total of 23,445 Sierra Leoneans have been repatriated since 1 Jan 2003, hereof 10,737 through the Languette. The advantage of this route was the travel time of one single day to the Kailahun district, whereas the Pamela-Kambia route is of five days. UNHCR aims to repatriate another 5,500 Sierra Leoneans before the end of June, arriving at a total of 29,000 for the first half of 2003. A head count in camps to to check whether the total number of remaining registered Sierra Leonean refugees in Guinea is actually 19,000 is currently a priority.

09.06.2003 Separation Center for ex-combatants
UNHCR reports that a site is being identified for a Separation Center for ex-combatants in Dinguiray. Max capacity will be of 500 and the camp will be semi-closed, i.e. with controlled access. UNHCR has offered assistance to the Government in setting up the camps.

09.06.2003 Joint Regional Humanitarian Field Review
The Joint Regional Humanitarian Field Review composed of UNHCR, WFP, UNICEF, UNDP, OCHA, IOM, MSF, Save the Children, Oxfam and donor representatives from the US, UK, Sweden and ECHO will visit Liberia, Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea and Sierra Leone on 22 June to 2 July has now set tentative dates for the visit to Guinea on 25 - 27 June 2003. The team will carry out a field visit to Nzérékoré and spend one day in Conakry.

09.06.2003 Security
Provision of water and electricity continues to deteriorate and the center of Conakry is now, as the last part of the city, experiencing serious power cuts. Deterioration of the security in Monrovia is being closely monitored. Fighting in Monrovia could deeply affect the security situation along the Liberian-Guinean border.

28.05.2003 Relocalisation of Kouankan refugee camp
The relocalisation of Kouankan refugee camp to Albadaria continues and some 1,000 refugees have been transported to Albadaria since the first convoy left the Nzérékoré region on 9 May. The operation is experiencing logistical constraints mostly due to lack of trucking capacities and UNHCR is looking into ways of adding new weekly convoys in order to attain the levels planned for of 700-1,000 persons pr week.

28.05.2003 Repatriation of Sierra Leonean refugees
The repatriation of Sierra Leonean refugees continues through the Languette and the Pamelap/Kambia axis. During the week of 19-26 May 1,058 refugees repatriated through the Languette for Kailahun district, while 604 refugees returned through the Kambia/Pamelap axis for Kono district. In total, of the some 40,000 Sierra Leonean refugees in Guinea as of 1 Jan 2003, voluntary repatriation has been carried out for 22,379 Sierra Leoneans, whereof 10,138 have returned through the Languette in April and May, and 12,241 have returned through the Kambia/Pamelap axis at an almost constant flow of some 2,500 refugees per month since January.

28.05.2003 Consolidation of the Sembakounya camp in Dabola The Guinean Government and UNHCR have agreed to close Sembakounya Camp in Dabola. Voluntary relocation to Kissidougou will be provided for the 3,810 refugees currently living in the camp, and assistance will be terminated by end July 2003. A technical joint mission composed of representatives of the government, UNHCR, UNICEF, FAO and WFP is currently in Dabola to envisage the implementation of projects allowing the passage from humanitarian to development activities in the region.

28.05.2003 Joint Government-UN mission to the Prefectures of Koundara and Gaoual
A Multi-Sector Mission to the Prefectures of Koundara and Gaoual near the Senegalese border composed of representatives from the National Direction of Agriculture, the National Direction of Environment, SENAH, WFP, UNICEF, WHO, FAO and OCHA is currently evaluating the sitation in the area following reports of low harvest levels caused by lack of rain. The mission left Conakry on 26 May and will return on 1 June.

28.05.2003 FAO presents findings on self-sufficiency around camps On 22 May, FAO presented to partners the finding of an assessment of self-sufficiency among populations in and around refugee camps in Guinea. Results show that the presence of refugees has contributed to growing poverty caused by a rise in market prices combined with a lowering of price of labor and a limitation of areas deemed appropriate for agricultural activities. Recommendations include preservation of natural resources and an enhancement of the value of labor in camps.

28.05.2003 Joint Regional Humanitarian Field Review
A Joint Regional Humanitarian Field Review composed of UNHCR, WFP, UNICEF, UNDP, OCHA, IOM, MSF, Save the Children, Oxfam and donor representatives from the US, UK, Sweden and ECHO will visit Liberia, Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea and Sierra Leone on 22 June to 2 July. The Field Review aims to broadly define core humanitarian objectives by looking at, among other things, parameters of humanitarian response and protection required in the countries and their subregional linkages addressing, in particular, gaps in funding, capacity, as well as cross-cutting issues such as threats to civilian populations and humanitarian workers, access, advocacy and cross-border operational issues.

28.05.2003 Security Council visit to the region
WFP has informed partners of an expected 50% cut in cereal distributions in June due to an anticipated break in the pipeline. Refugees in Boreah and Telikoro have already been made aware of the situation and Kountaya refugees will be informed during the current distribution cycle.

28.05.2003 CAP funding update
As of 27 May, according to reports received by OCHA from respective appealing agencies, funding of non-food humanitarian assistance in Guinea within the CAP 2003 totals USD 14,339,749. This represents 33% of the revised appeal of USD 43,176,781, including USD 12,786,379 for HCR. For food aid, WFP had in April received nearly USD 34,000,000 for the West Africa Coastal Protracted Relief and Recovery Operation (PRRO).

28.05.2003 Security
The situation remains tense in and around Nzérékoré and Humanitarian Workers are advised to stay indoors from 21:00 to 06:00. Sounds of heavy fighting in Ganta (Liberia) are being heard from the Guinean villages nearing the border. In Conakry, the provision of basic services such as water and electricity continues to deteriorate.

20.05.2003 Relocalisation of Kouankan refugee camp
The relocalisation of Kouankan refugee camp to Albadaria commenced Friday 9 May with a convoy counting 131 persons. Second convoy left for Albadaria camps on 16 May with 441 persons. UNHCR plans to accelerate the operation and estimates that of the 33,000 refugees currently living in Kouankan camp, some 700-1,000 will be relocated per week.

20.05.2003 Repatriation of Sierra Leonean refugees
UNHCR reports on 20 May that the repatriation of Sierra Leonean refugees is ongoing, despite a second collapse of the Dandou dyke on 13 May. Currently the dyke can not hold trucks, and refugees are therefore crossing by foot and transported further by UNHCR Sierra Leone. Since the opening of the Languette on 4 April 8,586 Sierra Leoneans have been repatriated by this route, while 11,637 have been repatriated through the Pamelap-Kambia route since January 2003; bringing the total number of repatriations to 20,223 since January 2003.

20.05.2003 Meningitis outbreak in Laine refugee camp
MSF Suisse reports that ten cases of meningitis have been observed in Laine refugee camps. 30,000 vaccinations have been ordered for populations in the camp and its vicinities.

20.05.2003 Evaluation of critical food security situation in Northern Guinea
A critical food security situation has been reported in the prefectures of Koundara, Gaoual and Mali close to the Senegalese border. WFP, UNICEF, WHO FAO and OCHA are organizing a joint UN-Government assessment mission to evaluate the situation. The mission is scheduled for 27 May - 1 June.

20.05.2003 WFP Pipeline update
WFP has informed partners of an expected 50% cut in cereal distributions in June. Refugees in Boreah and Telikoro have already been made aware of the situation and Kountaya refugees will be informed during the current distribution cycle.

20.05.2003 Guineans stranded in Harper
IOM reports that the repatriation by sea of more than 1,000 TCNs, including over 275 Guineans, from the southeastern Liberian coastal town of Harper, in Maryland County, has been put on hold because of renewed fighting in the region. The TCNs originally entered Liberia seeking refuge from the civil war in neighbouring Cote d'Ivoire. IOM is now looking into organizing the evacuation by road.

20.05.2003 Workshop on Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict
OCHA is co-organising a workshop in Accra on Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict with the Institute for Security Studies in Pretoria, in cooperation with the African Security Dialogue and Research. The workshop has started on 19 May and will last until the 21 May. Guinea is represented with five participants from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Administration, Territory and Decentralisation, the Ministry of Security and one representative of the civil society. OCHA Guinea has also dispatched its deputy-head of Office to attend the workshop.

20.05.2003 Visits
High Commissioner Ruud Lubbers visited Guinea on 16-18 May 2003. During his visit, Mr. Lubbers, met with President Conté, key humanitarian partners within the Government, the UN and the NGO community and carried out a field visit to Forest Guinea to have a better grasp of the conditions of those who have fled the conflict in Cote d'Ivoire. A Security Council’s visit scheduled for 19 May was postponed due to competing agenda with other priority meetings scheduled in New York that week which required the attendance of Council Members. The mission will be rescheduled but no specific dates have been communicated at this stage.

20.05.2003 Security
The situation remains tensed in and around Nzérékoré and humanitarian workers are advised to stay indoors from 23:00 to 06:00. In Conakry, the erratic and limited provision of water and electricity continues, hence further affecting security as the rainy season is now fast approaching. Electricity and water have mostly been delivered to the center of the city while most UN staff live in areas away from downtown where such basic services have been interrupted for up to 20 days.