OCHA Situation Report
Guinea
13 November 2003


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

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.

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 the Forest Guinea

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

Web-based Humanitarian Information Platform

The Humanitarian Information Platform for Guinea has moved and can now be
consulted at http://www.humanitarianinfo.org/guinea. The website provides
access to Humanitarian Updates, Contact lists, Situation Reports, Maps,
Who-does-what-where data, background information on the West African
conflicts and more.

Most recent updates and additions to the site include:

   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


For further information, please contact the Office for the Coordination of
Humanitarian Affairs in Guinea:

Head of Office
Mr. Hervé Ludovic de Lys
herveludovic.delys@undp.org
Tel +224 (0) 12 66 37 14

Information Officer
Ms. Sofie Garde Thomle
sofie.gardethomle@undp.org
Tel: +224 (0) 12 66 37 15


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