OCHA Situation Report
Cameroon: Chadian Refugees
8 February 2008


Source:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Headlines

- Inflow stabilised. UNHCR starts registration, but figures not yet
   available. Planning figure remains 50,000.
- Twelve tons of relief items already in Kousseri, 90 more tons on the way
   from Dubai.
- WFP secures US$ 500,000 for food needs of 50,000 over 15 days, but
   funding sought for six months.
- Suspected case of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) raises concerns about
   polio. Vaccines arrive today.
- Measles vaccination to start on Monday for all children aged six to 59
   months.
- UNHAS operational. Three flights carry 37 humanitarians and aid supplies
   to emergency areas so far.
- UNICEF delivers 24,000 litres of drinking water per day over the last
   two days.


Context and overall developments

The influx of Chadian refugees into Cameroon appears to have stabilised.
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
has started registration operations, but figures are not yet available.
The United Nations estimates that the refugees are at least 30,000 and
possibly many more. Humanitarians continue to base their response plans on
a planning figure of 50,000 individuals.

So far, two UNHCR trucks have reached Kousseri with humanitarian
assistance after a two-day overland trip from Cameroon's west, carrying a
total of 12 tons of relief items. The city of Garoua, where international
flights can land, has been chosen by the United Nations as its logistic
hub in the area.

By Sunday, a two-flight airlift from UNHCR's stockpile hub in Dubai is
expected to be completed. The two flights will have carried a total of 90
tons of supplies, covering the most urgent needs of refugees.

Needs and response by sector

Coordination and Common Services

Education and recreation

In order to cater for the psychological wellbeing of children, many of
whom have been traumatised by the armed fighting in Chad, the United
Nations children Fund (UNICEF) has ordered recreational and educational
kits for a total cost of US$ 250,000. Trauma counsellors are also on their
way to Kousseri.

Food Security

So far, a total of 415 metric tons (MT) of food has been transported to
Kousseri from within Cameroon by the World Food Programme (WFP), while
37.5 MT of high-energy biscuits (HEBs) has already reached the country
from the United Nations Humanitarian Response Depot (UNHRD) in Accra.

The WFP has secured funding for an approximate amount of US $ 500,000, to
cover the food needs of 50,000 persons for 15 days. The Programme is
however seeking additional funding, so that such aid may continue for a
total period of six months.

Health and Nutrition

Amidst continued concerns about the risk of epidemics, one suspected case
of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) has been reported yesterday among the
refugees, and analysis is underway to confirm whether this may be a case
of poliomyelitis. The risks of measles and meningitis are also causes for
concern.

The UNICEF has already transported to Kousseri 10,000 doses of measles
vaccines, along with the same quantity of vitamin A tablets. In
collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the local
authorities, UNICEF will start a vaccination campaign against measles on
Monday for all children aged six to 59 months, and each will also receive
a vitamin A supplement.

A total of 35,000 doses of meningitis vaccines and the same quantity of
poliomyelitis vaccines are due to arrive today, targeting refugees as well
as members of the local communities.

A total of 492 kg of therapeutic food, plus 52,500 bags of 'plumpy nuts',
are also due to arrive today, in order to respond to the most urgent food
needs of the most vulnerable.

Emergency supply orders have also been placed for emergency health and
obstetric kits.

The UNICEF plans, together with Medecins Sans Frontieres - France (MSF-F),
to monitor the nutritional situation through routine health services, and
to establish feeding centres in the a refugee camp in Maltam, 32 km from
Kousseri, which is expected to be established soon.

Logistics

The United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) has launched
operations in response to the emergency. As of 07 February, a total of
three flights had been organised between Cameroon's capital Yaounde,
Garoua, and Maroua, transporting a total of 37 humanitarian workers as
well as some emergency supplies.

Water and Sanitation

A water tank has been rented on 06 February by the United Nations Children
Fund (UNICEF) to respond to the most urgent needs for drinking water. Both
yesterday and today, a total of 24,000 litres of drinking water has been
delivered each day.

The UNICEF has also ordered water containers, buckets, jerry cans, soap,
motor pumps, and bladders., and these are on the way.

The UNICEF is also getting ready to take a lead in garbage trucking
operations, and in the construction of communal latrines in some areas.

If you have inputs for the next edition, or questions and comments on this
one, please contact:

Maurizio Giuliano, Public Information Officer, United
Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
Email: giuliano@un.org
Tel: +237 79650182

Katy Thiam, Associate Information Officer, United Nations
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
Email: thiamk@un.org
Tel: +237-79691303


For information specific to the following sectors, you may
also contact:

Education, Nutrition, Water and Sanitation:

Cornelia Walther, Communication Officer, United Nations
Children Fund (UNICEF)
Email: cwalther@unicef.org
Tel: +237-79769886

Food Security and Livelihoods:

Magda Jurkowiecka, Reports Officer, World Food Programme (WFP)
Email: magda.jurkowiecka@wfp.org
Tel: +237-99093218

Multi-sector assistance to Refugees, Emergency Shelter and
Non-Food Items (NFIs), Protection:

Ann Maymann, Senior External Relations Officer, Office of
the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
Email: maymann@unhcr.org
Tel: +237-94758434

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