OCHA Situation Report
Guinea
25 August 2005


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Presidential decree on private establishment of radio and TV stations in

Guinea

President Lansana Conte signed on 20 August 2005, a decree on the
conditions of the establishment and exploitation of private television
and radio stations in Guinea. This country is among the first in the
region to choose democracy in the year 1987 but was till recently among
the very few ones in the region not to have private radio and TV
stations. This presidential decree is seen as an indicator of Conte's
commitment to undertake new political reforms leading to more dialogue
among the political parties and with the donor community.

The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General (SRSG) for West
Africa, on his return to Dakar from a mission to Guinea, observed with
satisfaction the signing on 20 August 2005, by President General Lansana
Conte, of the above-mentioned presidential decree The SRSG expressed his
wish that this commitment, which gives more credibility to current
endeavours, be followed by other appropriate measures that will further
strengthen the ongoing political dialogue, both amongst Guinean
stakeholders as well as between Guinea and the international community.

Update on cholera

Since April 52 people out of 1252 registered cases have died from an
outbreak of cholera.  The number of cases has recently increased in
Conakry and in Boke a town near the Guinea Bissau border.

New cases of yellow fever

There is a new outbreak of yellow fever in the Fouta Djalon region. 4
cases of which three (3) deaths have been reported in Mamou a crossroad
town between the coastal region of Conakry and the rest of the country.
In Dalaba, 50km away from Mamou three (3) cases, (women) of which one
(1) death have been reported.

Security and food distribution in Nonah camp

The general food distributions at Nonah camp went without incident given
the earlier complaints by Ivorian refugees that some were dropped from
the last census. These latter threatened some humanitarian staff members
in the camp. HCR has now taken action to resolve the problem to
everyone's satisfaction inline with proper counting procedures.

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