OCHA Situation Report
Guinea
20 May 2003


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)

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.

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.


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.


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.


WFP Pipeline update

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.


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.


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.


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.


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 the safety and security of those UN 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.

HUMANITARIAN INFORMATION CENTER

OCHA - Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs - Guinea


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