OCHA Situation Report
Guinea
6 - 11 August 2005


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Special Representative ends visit in Guinea

The Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for West Africa
(SRSG), Ahmed Ould Abdallah, ended on Thursday a two-day visit to Guinea
aimed at taking stock of the socio-economic and political situation, and
to engage the authorities on ways to preserve the stability and security
of the country. During meetings with Prime Minister Cellou Dallein
Diallo, the Ministers of Justice, Interior and Foreign Affairs as well
as other senior government officials, Ould Abdallah and the authorities
agreed that Cote d'Ivoire and Liberia would remain threats to Guinea
until elections are held in these countries and peace and order have
been restored. He urged authorities to ensure that stability is
preserved because "nothing is worth more than stability".  During a
press conference, the Special Representative said he noted a willingness
among political actors to contribute positively to the political
environment. Achieving peace and security would remain a difficult
struggle as long as peace represents a threat to the business interest
of many, he also said.

He also held discussions with the opposition. Sub-regional issues
dominated close-door discussions with ambassadors from the Economic
Community of West African States, while Guinea's relations with the
international donor were, among other subjects, the focus of discussions
with ambassadors representing the G7. The Special Representative was
accompanied during his mission by a political advisor, Anatole Ayissi,
and OCHA-RSO Head of Office and humanitarian advisor Herve Ludovic
deLys.

Update on Cholera

As of 10 August, the Ministry of Health recorded 681 cases of cholera,
of which 35 deaths. The authorities are most concerned about the capital
Conakry where 221 cases have been recorded including 5 deaths, and is
likely to become the disease's "hotspot" in terms of the number of
cases. More than half of Conakry's cases have been registered over the
last four weeks. Another bulk of the cases have been registered in Pita.
The remaining cases are all in towns located along the coast. During its
weekly briefing on the disease, the authorities appealed to
international NGOs and other partners to assist the Government in
tackling the disease. WHO, Medecins Sans Frontieres (Switzerland and
Belgium) and the ICRC have been providing emergency aid to the ministry.


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