Guinea-Bissau - OCHA: 27-Oct-98

Humanitarian Situation Report GUINEA-BISSAU
27 October 1998

UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED, ALL INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS REPORT HAS
BEEN COLLECTED IN-COUNTRY BY OCHA FROM THE UN, NGOS & ICRC NETWORK IN
GUINEA BISSAU


POLITICO-MILITARY SITUATION

The ceasefire which began on Friday evening (23 October) has held over the
weekend and continues at time of writing, Tuesday evening 19:10 with calm
reported throughout the country. 

The meeting anticipated today between Brigadier Asoumane Mane and
President Vieira did not take place as both parties are yet to agree on a
neutral location but negotiations continue. 

Flights resumed in Bafata today as two planes arrived, one transporting
journalists from Portuguese RTP and the other bringing an EU delegate to
Bafata. 


HUMANITARIAN IMPACT

No food distribution has taken place in the country since 18 October when
the fighting resumed and extended to Bambadinca, Bafata and Gabu. 

The delay in today s meeting affects the provision of humanitarian
response, particularly in Prabis, where the population lacks food, water
and medical supplies. 


HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE

Since yesterday, governmental authorisation was granted for the transport
of the 300 MTs rice from WFP stocks for delivery to destitute populations
in Prabis and Cumura (see 26 October Sitrep). However, two delivery
attempts were blocked Monday and again today by Senegalese soldiers with
trucks en route to Prabis. According to WFP sources in Dakar, the Swedish
Embassy was scheduled to take up this is issue with the Prime Minister
today. 

WFP will ship 600 MTs of rice from Banjul in Gambia to Cacheu, Bubaque and
Bolama ports in Guinea Bissau during this week. The transport contract is
currently being finalised. 

Today, OCHA began individual meetings with NGO s active in Guinea Bissau
in order to assist UN Agencies and NGOs in assuring complementarity of
activities. 

Sector-based working groups resumed today in Dakar, where participants
reviewed (1) agriculture, food, food security and relief items, and (2)
health, nutrition, water and sanitation and education. 


This report is available on the internet through RELIEFWEB:
http://www.reliefweb.int

Complex Emergency Response / Consolidated Appeal Process
(CER/CAP) - Geneva
Mr. Ernest Chipman - Chief
Mr. Thierry Delbreuve
Tel.: (41 22) 788.7019
Fax: (41 22) 788.6386
Registry E-Mail: Annette.Choquet@dha.unicc.org

Complex Emergencies Division (CED) - New York
Mr. Yvon Madore
Tel.: (1 212) 963.1627
Fax: (1 212) 963.1388
E-Mail : madore@un.org

Information Service
Ms. Therese Gastaut - Director
Tel.: (41 22) 917.2300
Fax: (41 22) 917.0030
E-Mail: tgastaut@unog.ch



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