Guinea-Bissau - OCHA: 28-29.Oct.98
Guinea-Bissau - OCHA: 28-29.Oct.98
Humanitarian Situation Report
GUINEA-BISSAU
28-29 October 1998
UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED, ALL INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS REPORT HAS
BEEN COLLECTED IN-COUNTRY BY OCHA FROM THE UN, NGOs AND ICRC NETWORK IN
GUINEA-BISSAU
POLITICO-MILITARY SITUATION
On 8-9 October, there was renewed fighting in Bissau and then a return to
calm. On Sunday, October 18 heavy fighting resumed in Bissau and part of
the returning population again fled to Bafata, Bijagos, Oio, Cacheu and
Biombo. In the early part of the next week, fighting continued and extended
to the eastern part of the country. The military junta took control of (1)
Bafata (Wednesday, 21 October) (2) Gabu (Thursday, 22 October p.m.) And
Fulacunda (Friday, 23 October a.m.). President Vieira called for a called
for a cease-fire on the evening of 21 October, but fighting resumed on the
morning of 22 October. On Friday afternoon, 23 October, Brigadier Asoumane
Mane called for a unilateral cease-fire and requested clarification from
President Vieira concerning his intentions. The 48-hour cease-fire, due to
expire on Sunday evening, as extended over the weekend for an additional 48
hours, to Tuesday p.m., 27 October to allow preparations to be made for
both the President and Brigadier Mane to meet. At time of writing (29
October, 19:00 hrs) there is every indication that the meeting scheduled
for Banjul (Gambia) will take place.
Special mention should be made of the invaluable role of the Swedish,
Portuguese and French Governments and of the Bishop of Bissau, since the
renewal of fighting. These representatives have supported the negotiations
and consistently acted as go-between to foster dialogue between the two
parties.
SECURITY ISSUES
The UN Inter-Agency mission undertaken by OCHA, WFP, WHO, UNICEF, UNHCR,
UNDP (28 September - 2 October) found that the security situation
throughout the country had improved considerably and recommended that the
security phase in Bissau city be downgraded from five to four, as well as a
downgrading from phase four to three in other parts of the country.
The resumption of new military activity on 8 and 9 October and heavy
fighting which began on 18 October made a UN decision to phase down the
security impossible. At present, UNSECOORD must clear all UN travel within
Guinea-Bissau.
HUMANITARIAN IMPACT
As a consequence of fighting between 18-27 October, no food, medicine or
other humanitarian assistance has been distributed to the population of
Guinea-Bissau, and the delay in the Mane/Vieira meeting is having direct
consequences on the delivery of assistance in all sectors.
Although the country counts 350,000 IDPs and approximately 4,000 refugees
in Guinea Conacry, the food supply situation is not dramatic as the ongoing
harvest has provided resources. However, the needs of 70,000 to 80,000 IDPs
becomes increasingly urgent as each day passes, as they are concentrated in
Prabis/Cumare lacking food, water and medical supplies.
HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE
As cited within the 1998 UN Consolidated Inter-Agency Appeal for
Guinea-Bissau, emergency programmes of UN Agencies and NGOs are targeted to
assist approximately 350,000 IDPs countrywide and refugees.
The Inter-Agency Mission of 28 September to 2 October (see -security
issues- above) not only assessed the conditions for UN staff returns to
Guinea-Bissau but also considered longer-term actions. Specifically, it was
agreed that the Government would collaborate with the UN in preparing the
1999 Appeal. Unfortunately, and Inter-Agency assessment mission planned for
mid-October could not take place owing to the resumption of hostilities.
The mission of 22 October was limited to Bubaque (Bijagos Islands).
FOOD/FOOD DISTRIBUTION
STOCKS
On 21 October, the WFP warehouse in Bafata was partially looted by the
civilian population, but it is now under the protection of the junta.
Arrangements have been made between ADPP and WFP to do a joint physical
stock count of commodities in the Bafata warehouse to determine exact
quantities.
Early in the resumption of hostilities, before the new operation could be
approved, WFP borrowed food (maize meal) from its Liberia/Sierra Leone
operation in order to respond to emergency needs. More recently, the
Ministry of Health has requested that flour be removed from the food basket
for Guinea-Bissau arguing that rice is the staple cereal. As WFP has over
400 MTs wheat flour in stock and is expecting and additional 600 MTs, this
issue has caused some concern over the last weeks. Due to the emergency
situation, WFP is obliged to accept any kind of cereal for the needy and
hungry population. At present, WFP is testing the acceptance of the product
by beneficiaries and produced some cooking modalities through NGOs to
facilitate cooking.
IMPLEMENTATION
It took three days for 30 MTs, (out of 300 MTs needed to provide food to
the 70,000 IDP in Prabis for one week), for much needed food to reach
Prabis at 10 km from Bissau. This was due to the fact that Military
authorities from both the Government and the military junta had agreed to
the assistance. In terms of the Bafata warehouse, Caritas has transferred
109 MTs out of 300 MTs from Bafata to Safim where it is now pre-positioned
for Prabis and Cumura.
In Bafata and Gabu regions, food distribution needs to be initiated from
the stocks currently protected by the junta in order to be properly
distributed. WFP is finalising a plan with its implementing partners, in
order to re-start food distribution to IDPs.
ADPP has returned to Bafata and is involved in preparing a first food
distribution plan for the regions of Gabu and Oio.
Until October 27 (Tuesday), WFP was finalising transport arrangements for
shipment of 600 MTs rice from Banjul (Gambia) to Cacheu, Bubaque and
Bolama. However, it is not certain when the operation will start due to the
bad port conditions in Cacheu and the security situation. The portion of
this food distribution planned for Bubaque (100 MTs) will be implemented by
Caritas under coordination with local communities.
WATER AND SANITATION
ICRC (latrine project) and ENAFUR (the water company contracted by UNICEF)
are both back in Bafata and have resumed their activities. OXFAM, is
rehabilitating a spring in Bafata and is expected to return by Friday 30
October UNICEF resumed water delivery to the Bafata hospital on 23 October
after a 3-day interruption.HEALTH
ICRC and MSF have returned to Bafata and their health-related activities.
Military action has interrupted UNICEF plans to support measles
immunisation in Gabu area. Following the UN mission to Bubaque (Bijagos
Islands) which included the participation of a UNICEF physician, UNICEF and
WHO will endeavor to re-route some pharmaceuticals to Bubaque, especially
to treat tuberculosis.
WHO has a stock of meningitis vaccine pre-positioned in Bissau and in
Dakar. However, drugs to treat tuberculosis and malaria remain in Dakar due
to the fighting.
At the conclusion of the Heads of Agency mission in Guinea-Bissau (28
September - 2 October), the UNICEF and WHO representatives extended their
stay until 6 October in order to meet with the Ministry of Health and
develop the 1999 health strategy.
With the recruitment of a national consultant and mid-wife based in Bafata,
the UNFPA programme was carried out in many parts of the country with
medical emergency reproductive health kits and other related provisions
distributed in Bafata, Gabu, Mansoa, Quinara and Tombali and information,
education and communication (IEC) activities to prevent STDs.
AGRICULTURE
It is now the harvest season in Guinea-Bissau and UN sources report 1998
should be a good harvest given heavy rains earlier this season and the
additional manpower supplied by the displaced population. However, food
shortages are anticipated in the longer term. FAO developed a plan to
distribute vegetable seeds and other agricultural means of production to
the greenbelt of Bissau and the northern regions. This plan is now
jeopardised as a result of the fighting.
REFUGEE ASSISTANCE
SITUATION UPDATE: SENEGAL
The border camps of Salikenie and Mpack have registered and increase in the
number of refugees, although the movement is not comparable to that of June
1998. Most of the refugees have been received by host families and others
have come to Dakar. As of 22 October, the Thies centre registered 761
persons: 65 have recently arrived of which 19 have come from Dakar, 45 from
Bissau and one (1) from Cape Verde.
Concerning assistance, the refugee assistance programme of Thies is running
well, with supplies arriving regularly: 400 litres of oil from WFP,
medicines from the Embassy of Guinea-Bissau, and food items from the
community of Thies.
SITUATION UPDATE: CAPE VERDE
Currently, 428 Guinea-Bissau refugees reside in Cape Verde. The population
is distributed as follows:
78 refugees in the centre of Jorginho
100 refugees in Trinidad
222 refugees with host families
Nearly 30 percent of this population is under 16 years of age (0-16 years).
SITUATION UPDATE: GAMBIA
Since the resumption of fighting, 110 Guinea-Bissau refugees have arrived
at Brikima and Soma (between 15-21 October) from where they were directed
to the camp of Kwinella. Assistance is provided to the new arrivals by
UNHCR?s operational partner GAFNA. There is a total of about 445
Guinea-Bissau refugees in Gambia.
COORDINATION
Heads of UN Agencies have been meeting daily in Dakar since 19 October in
order to share information concerning security concerns, staff movements,
etc.On Wednesday, 21 October, a joint UN/NGO meetings was held to
strengthen UN/NGO coordination. Staff movements and security, and the
availability of reliable point of contact countrywide for information
updates within Guinea-Bissau were discussed.
On 27 October, OCHA initiated the first of a series of individual meeting
with NGOs operating in Guinea-Bissau in order to improve UN/NGO
coordination and explore ways that OCHA can facilitate coordination of both
UN and NGO partners on humanitarian issues.
Inter-Agency working group meetings grouped around sectoral concerns have
also begun this week. The work of the three Inter-Agency teams will
culminate in a Consolidated Humanitarian Assistance Plan which will set
objectives based on identified needs for 1999, incorporating UN and NGO
activities and providing the basis for the 1999 UN Consolidated
Inter-Agency Appeal for Guinea-Bissau.
DONOR RESPONSE
According to information received from the Financial Tracking Unit of OCHA,
the UN Consolidated Appeal for Guinea-Bissau was 34,2 percent funded as of
October. However, a number of UN Agencies in-country have indicated that
they will provide updated information to OCHA by early next week in order
to better reflect the current situation and gain a better understanding of
on-going requirements for 1999.
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 at 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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