OCHA Situation Report
West Africa
Monthly Situation Report for March 2007
2 March 2007


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Highlights

The nomination of Mr. Lansana Kouyate as Prime Minister in Guinea on 26
February led to an end of the general strike which first started on 10
January. The overall humanitarian consequences of the crisis in Guinea
include at least 139 dead and over 1,700 wounded according to the
Government of Guinea. The United Nations have allocated USD 2.3 million
from the Central Emergency Fund (CERF) $2.35 million for urgent
humanitarian activities in Guinea.

The ongoing meningitis outbreak in the West Africa has so far affected
more than 2,400 people in Burkina Faso, Mali, Cote d'Ivoire, Benin and
Niger. Concerns are raised by the Regional Health Working Group over
further spreading of the epidemic.

Despite the favorable food situation in West Africa, localized areas of
risk of food insecurity have been identified for 2007.

Victims of August floods in Burkina Faso and Niger continue to live in
precarious conditions despite the assistance provided by humanitarian
partners and further assistance is needed.

Progress has been noted at a global level in the development of the
vaccine against pandemic influenza

1 - SOCIO-POLITICAL AND SECURITY SITUATION

Guinea

The nomination of Mr. Lansana Kouyate as Prime Minister in Guinea on 26
February led to an end of the general strike. The overall humanitarian
consequences of the crisis in Guinea, which first started on 10 January,
include at least 139 dead and over 1,700 wounded according to the
Government of Guinea. The security situation, which during the strikes
and the state of siege was very tense, has now calmed down and
humanitarian partners again have full access. Following an appeal from
the United Nations country team, the Central Emergency Fund (CERF)
allocated USD 2.35 million to Guinea for the purchase of medicines and
other supplies for injured as well as to support essential
telecommunications and common humanitarian air service to ensure access
in all part of the country. Projects funded by the CERF will be
implemented by WFP, UNICEF and WHO in collaboration with the Government
of Guinea and NGO partners.

Niger

On 7 February 2007, a military camp in Iferou, region of Agadez, was
attacked by an armed group from the north of the country and three
militaries were killed. A movement called "Mouvement Nigerien pour la
Justice" claimed the responsibility of the attack. The movement demands
that northern population and the Tuareg communities, in particularly,
better benefit from the ongoing exploitation of natural resources in the
north and seek a better integration of young Tuareg people in the armed
forces.  The Government has taken necessary actions to secure the
subject areas

Cote d'Ivoire

New rounds of negotiation for the restoration of peace and organization
of elections in Coter d'Ivoire are taking place. Recently, President
Laurent Gbagbo proposed to meet M. Guillaume Soro, the leader of the
Forces Nouvelles (New Forces) on the subject of the organization of the
elections scheduled for October 2007 by the resolution 1721 of the UN
Security Council. The President of Burkina Faso and Chairman of ECOWAS
Blaise Compaore acts as mediator in this process.

Mali

The assailants who attacked two military camps in Kidal (North East of
Mali), in May 2006, have, in Alger, signed three documents for the
implementation of the peace agreement concluded in July 2006. Among
other elements, these accords stress the programme of disarmament and
the reintegration of the ex-assailants. The government and the
ex-assailants have also agreed on the set up of special units with the
mission to fight against terrorism and arms trafficking in the north of
Mali.

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