National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has donated some hospital equipment and drugs worth millions of Naira to the General Sani Abacha specialists Hospital in Damaturu, Yobe State in north-east Nigeria.

Presenting the materials to the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) in Damaturu, the north-east NEMA coordinator, Mohammed Kanar, said the medical equipment and drugs for the Damaturu hospital became necessary because of the growing health needs of the inhabitants, who are mostly Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, over 1.5 million persons have been displaced in the north-east, as a result of the Boko Haram insurgency that has engulf the zone for over five years.

MR Kanar said that the growing population of the town, as a result of the IDPs posed great health hazards, and expressed hopes that the equipment presented would serve the purpose intended.
The north-east NEMA boss, who regreted the unfortunate development in the zone, stressed that a visit to the trauma centre of Damaturu hospital revealed that much assistance was required, as a palliative to health issues in the state.

He also expressed hopes that the materials and the equipment would be judiciously used.
Receiving the materials for onward presentation to the hospital, the Executive Secretary of SEMA, Mr Musa Idi Jidawa appreciated the gift, saying “it will go a long way in complementing the relentless efforts of the state government”.

Mr Jidawa disclosed that since the commencement of the insurgency, the state government has done a lot in coping with the growing health needs of the people and calls on other well-meaning donor agencies and spirited individuals to contribute to the noble course. “I want to commend NEMA for this great gesture which will go a long way in complementing the efforts of the Yobe State Government for its prompt response to the health needs of the IDPs and those that have experienced several cases of attacks since the commencement of the insurgency,” he stressed.

The Executive Secretary of the Yobe State Hospital Management Board, Dr Babagana Waru, who received the materials for the Specialists Hospital, commended NEMA for the gift, saying it will greatly help the increasing population and also solve the persistent problems of the referral cases.

He also informed NEMA of the Gaidam’s administration resolve to continuously offer free medical care to children below the ages of five, pregnant mothers and accident victims in the state. “I want to inform you that your gesture is very timely and together with the state government’s efforts of free medical services to children below the ages of five, pregnant mothers and accident victims, it will greatly assist in coping with the growing population of the IDPs and those who often suffer injury during various attacks in and around the state,” he said

- Above-average seasonal rainfall continues over several regions of West Africa.
- Poorly distributed rains strengthen seasonal deficits over parts of central Ethiopia.

1) While a recent increase in August precipitation is expected to lead to more favorable ground moisture, a delayed onset and uneven rainfall distribution observed during the June-September season may negatively impact cropping and pastoral conditions in the region.

2) Despite recent increase in rainfall, the much delayed start to the rainfall season has resulted in drought, which has severely impacted ground conditions and already led to livestock death across parts of north-central and eastern Ethiopia.

3) Widespread and persistent above-average seasonal rainfall accumulations over the past several weeks has led to a saturation of ground conditions and localized flooding in several regions of West Africa. The continuation of heavy rainfall remains forecast for the upcoming outlook period, sustaining the risk for flooding throughout several provinces in Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, western Niger, eastern Guinea and Sierra Leone.

Ghana on Wednesday August 19, joined the rest of the World to mark this year’s World Humanitarian Day under the theme, “Inspiring the World’s Humanity”.

The day is set aside by the UN with the aim of inspiring humanitarian work around the globe and also to recognize the sacrifices and contributions of humanitarian personnel.

The National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) formally celebrated the day in honor of the June 3 twin disaster victims at a brief ceremony at the 37 Military Hospital in Accra.

The Organisation used the occasion to present assorted relief items to the surviving victims some of whom were still on admission at the hospital.

Items donated included: bags of sugar and rice, boxes of fruit drinks, Tuna sardines and detergents, bails of used clothing and blankets, cartons of milk and milo amongst others. They were presented by Mr. Kofi Koranteng Abrokwa on behalf of the acting National Coordinator (NADMO), Brig. Gen. Francis Vib.Sanziri.

Colonel Mercy Yelbert, Matron of the 37 Military Hospital received the items on behalf of the victims and thanked NADMO for the kind gesture and its continued support for the hospital.“We are very much grateful for this kind gesture. We assure you that these items will be duly delivered to the victims,”she stated.

NADMO team visits one of the surviving victims Ms Nice k. Agbanu on sickbed.Colonel M.M. Ibn Abubakar, the Medical Administrator took the NADMO team, led by Mr. Koranteng Aborakwa to visit those on admission at the wards.

The Principal Nursing Officer on duty,Linda Oduro- Addo,at the Allied ward explained to the team how quick the victims were responding to treatment.

She disclosed a victim’s health record saying, “Baby Enock is only 8years old, he was a sickle cell patient before the twin disaster occured.He was earlier admitted at the surgical ward and later transferred to the Medical ward, infact he is far better than before and will be discharged tomorrow” she stressed.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• First Food Security Cluster Coordinators' Retreat, 28-30 July in Rome

• Food Security Cluster Coordinator Training in Rome, 6-10 July

• Final Report: Meeting of global Food Security Cluster Partners, 13-14 May

• Please Complete Survey: Technologies and Innovations used by Food Security Actors

• L-3: Iraq

• L-3: Yemen

• L-3: Whole of Syria

• Central African Republic

• Niger

• Cross-Cutting Issues and Programme Quality

• Vacancy Announcements

• Follow us on Twitter

The R4 Rural Resilience Initiative (R4) is a strategic partnership between Oxfam America (OA) and the UN World Food Programme (WFP). R4 was initiated in 2011 to respond to the challenges faced by food-insecure communities enduring increasingly frequent and intense climate disasters and other shocks. This report outlines the key accomplishments during the January to March 2015 quarter. This quarter marked the beginning of the R4 implementation phase in Malawi and Zambia, and continued expansion in Ethiopia and Senegal.

Rapport Afrique N°229

SYNTHESE ET RECOMMANDATIONS

Au Cameroun, la pénétration d’un islam fondamentaliste et l’essor d’églises pentecôtistes revivalistes, dites réveillées (born again), bouleversent le paysage religieux et mettent en place les ferments de l’intolérance religieuse. La pénétration de courants fondamentalistes, combinée aux tensions communautaires, constitue un risque spécifique au Nord et génère une concurrence pour les dirigeants de la communauté musulmane qui a parfois abouti à des conflits locaux. De plus, les différentes religions se perçoivent négativement. Face à ce radicalisme émergent, la réponse de l’Etat et des organisations religieuses demeure insuffisante, et dans certains cas porteuse de risques, car elle se limite à la menace posée par Boko Haram. La mise en place d’une réponse globale et cohérente par les pouvoirs publics et les organisations religieuses est nécessaire pour empêcher la détérioration du climat religieux et éviter des violences à connotation religieuse observées dans les pays voisins que sont le Nigéria et la République centrafricaine.

Si, contrairement à ses deux voisins cités, le Cameroun n’a jamais été le théâtre de violences religieuses importantes, l’émergence de poches de radicalisme risque de changer la donne et de porter atteinte au climat de tolérance religieuse. L’islam soufi traditionnel est fortement concurrencé par la montée en puissance d’un islam plus rigoriste dont la forme la plus répandue est le wahhabisme. Les mutations actuelles touchent majoritairement une nouvelle génération de jeunes Camerounais musulmans du Sud, tandis que l’islam soufi, incarné au Nord par les Peul, recule. Ces jeunes du Sud, arabisés et souvent formés au Soudan et dans les pays du Golfe, contestent à la fois la domination peul au sein de la communauté musulmane et le système religieux vieillissant. Les désaccords entre chefs du soufisme, marabouts traditionnels et nouveaux venus ne reposent pas que sur des motifs théologiques : ce conflit « des anciens et des modernes » a pour enjeu l’influence économique et politique des uns et des autres au sein de la communauté musulmane.

Ces transformations ont donné lieu à des clivages intra-religieux et déjà dégénéré en affrontements locaux entre courants islamiques. Dans la partie septentrionale, la pénétration des courants fondamentalistes, combinée aux tensions communautaires locales, est potentiellement source de conflits. Dans le Sud, la compétition pour les dirigeants de la communauté musulmane entre soufis et groupes proches du wahhabisme va s’accentuer et pourrait dégénérer en incidents locaux.

Au sein du christianisme, l’essor des églises de réveil a brisé le monopole de l’Eglise catholique et des églises protestantes historiques. Souvent dépourvues d’existence légale et mal considérées par les catholiques, ces églises prêchent une forme d’into­lérance religieuse, s’auto-excluent du dialogue interreligieux et sont hors de l’espace religieux officiel, bien que soutenant le régime pour la plupart.

Face à ces nouvelles formes d’intolérance religieuse, les initiatives de dialogue interreligieux sont faibles, dispersées et ne touchent qu’une minorité de la population. Pourtant ces transformations du paysage religieux ne sont pas perçues comme problématiques par les autorités politiques et religieuses du Cameroun, qui sous-estiment leur potentiel conflictogène et dont l’attention est focalisée sur Boko Haram. Ce n’est qu’à la suite des attaques de Boko Haram à l’Extrême Nord que le gouvernement a amorcé des initiatives de sensibilisation tardives et peu efficaces, comme en témoigne la stigmatisation et le harcèlement par les forces de sécurité des populations kanuri des villages frontaliers au Nigéria, ainsi que les nombreuses arrestations et détentions arbitraires. Ces évolutions sont d’autant plus préoccupantes que le Cameroun se situe à la confluence de deux conflits à dimension religieuse, la crise en République centrafricaine et Boko Haram au Nigéria, et en subit les contrecoups.

La lutte contre la menace du radicalisme religieux au Cameroun passe par l’élabo­ration d’une stratégie globale et cohérente, incluant l’étude des mutations religieuses actuelles, l’adoption d’une charte de la tolérance, la mise en place d’organes représentatifs de l’islam et des églises de réveil et le développement économique et social des régions fragiles. Dans l’immédiat, le gouvernement doit œuvrer à une meilleure surveillance du prosélytisme fondamentaliste, soutenir les associations de dialogue interreligieux et améliorer la sensibilisation des populations.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Afin de lutter contre la menace du radicalisme religieux

Au gouvernement camerounais :

1. Promouvoir le développement socioéconomique des régions vulnérables en consacrant un tiers du programme d’urgence triennal au développement du Nord Cameroun et assurer la coordination avec les autres pays riverains du lac Tchad pour solliciter l’appui des bailleurs.

2. Améliorer la sensibilisation des populations :

a) en évaluant les associations de dialogue interreligieux et en finançant les plus efficaces ;

b) en évitant la stigmatisation des populations vivant à la frontière avec le Nigéria, les arrestations, détentions arbitraires, actes de torture et autres violations des droits humains ; et

c) en associant les organisations de femmes musulmanes et chrétiennes aux initiatives de sensibilisation.

1. Instituer la certification locale des imams et oulémas formés à l’étranger ; s’assu­rer que seuls les imams dont la formation est reconnue enseignent dans les écoles coraniques ou prêchent dans les mosquées ; et surveiller les prédicateurs étrangers sur le territoire.

2. Surveiller le financement des associations religieuses en s’assurant qu’elles ne reçoivent pas de fonds des organisations fondamentalistes.

3. Surveiller les sites du prosélytisme fondamentaliste tels que les réseaux sociaux, les camps de réfugiés et la prison de Maroua à l’Extrême Nord.

4. Créer des programmes de recherche sur les mutations religieuses au Cameroun.

Aux chefs religieux et dirigeants d’associations religieuses, d’influences chrétiennes et musulmanes :

1. Adopter une démarche collective de sensibilisation des populations en mettant l’accent sur la communication, en incluant toutes les couches de la population et en coordonnant davantage les activités de sensibilisation et de dialogue interreligieux. Aux bailleurs du Cameroun :

2. Soutenir les projets de développement du Nord-Cameroun et les initiatives coordonnées de la sous-région pour le développement du bassin du lac Tchad.

3. Evaluer les associations camerounaises de dialogue interreligieux et soutenir celles qui sont les plus efficaces.

Afin de réduire les clivages au sein des communautés religieuses

Au gouvernement camerounais :

1. Dialoguer avec les chefs religieux et les dirigeants d’associations religieuses en vue de créer des instances représentatives consensuelles des églises de réveil et des musulmans. Chacune des instances élirait en son sein un représentant national pour un mandat d’un an non renouvelable qui sera l’interlocuteur des autorités.

2. Inciter les instances représentatives des musulmans et des chrétiens à élaborer une charte de la tolérance religieuse et la faire accepter par toutes les confessions religieuses au Cameroun.

3. Instaurer un moratoire d’un an pour permettre aux églises de réveil non autorisées de se faire légalement enregistrer et fermer après ce moratoire celles qui demeureront dans l’illégalité et qui n’auront pas adopté la charte de la tolérance.

Aux chefs religieux et dirigeants d’associations religieuses :

1. Œuvrer pour un islam plus inclusif en renforçant le dialogue au sein de la communauté musulmane, et en soutenant une meilleure représentativité des courants islamiques, de la jeunesse et de la diversité ethnique au sein des associations, ainsi qu’une répartition équilibrée des projets de développement dans toutes les localités où sont présentes les communautés musulmanes.

2. Inclure les églises de réveil et les différents courants de l’islam lors des activités de dialogue interreligieux.

Nairobi/Bruxelles, 3 septembre 2015

Yaoundé, Cameroon | AFP | Thursday 9/3/2015 - 16:01 GMT |

by Reinnier Kaze

At least 30 people were killed in two suicide bombings in northern Cameroon Thursday, the latest violence to hit the area since dozens died in attacks in July blamed on the Boko Haram Islamist group.

The attacks were launched three days after Boko Haram gunmen on horseback killed dozens of people in a village across the border in northeast Nigeria's Borno state.

The fresh violence comes even as Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, who marks 100 days in office on Saturday, has intensified the battle against Boko Haram.

The Nigerian army said Thursday it had reinstated about 3,000 soldiers who were dismissed for alleged indiscipline in the battle against the insurgents.

Attacks by Boko Haram, which wants to impose a strict Islamic system in northern Nigeria, have killed at least 15,000 people and displaced 1.5 million since 2009.

Military and police sources in Cameroon said the first suicide bombing took place shortly before noon in the marketplace of Kerawa, a city on the border with Nigeria.

It was followed by a second attack about 200 metres (yards) from a military camp, said a police officer who asked not to be identified.

At least 30 people were killed, the sources said, but there was no indication of the number of wounded.

Some 50 people were killed in July in the same region in five suicide attacks blamed on Boko Haram.

• Survivors 'trampled to death' -

Cameroon is part of a five-nation coalition fighting Boko Haram with Nigeria, Chad, Niger and Benin.

Cameroon's far north region bordering Nigeria and Chad for the past two years has seen frequent Boko Haram raids, kidnappings and, more recently, suicide attacks.

Witnesses in the village of Fatawe in Nigeria's Borno state told AFP that Boko Haram militants on Monday rounded up residents, tying their hands behind their backs then slitting their throats.

"They killed several dozens but I can't give a precise number because we have yet to go back and take a headcount of the dead," said Amodu Kadir, a village resident who fled to Mubi village in neighbouring Adamawa state.

Kadir, whose father was among the victims, said the "macabre sight sent the terrified crowd fleeing in all directions in a frenzied effort to escape.

"But the attackers pursued us on their horses, shooting and trampling to death their victims," he said.

Galadima Bubba, another resident who fled to the town of Michika, gave a similar account.

He said the village had ignored advice by Nigerian troops to relocate to Gwoza, eight kilometres away, after troops retook the town from Boko Haram forces in March.

Boko Haram militants had seized Gwoza in July last year and made it into the headquarters of their so-called Caliphate.

Nigerian troops based in the northeast have at times defied orders to battle Boko Haram Islamists, citing a lack of adequate weapons and other essential equipment.

Nigerian army spokesman Colonel Sani Usman told reporters in Abuja that the cases of 5,000 soldiers who were dismissed for indiscipline were reviewed, out of which 3,032 soldiers were pardoned and recalled.

"The reinstated soldiers have shown their total readiness to be re-launched into the theatre to combat insurgency and have now commenced retraining exercise," he said.

Usman said the army authorities had upheld the sentences of those "with criminal cases", without explaining the nature of the crimes.

He said a judicial process would however determine the fate of 66 soldiers sentenced to death for mutiny and abandoning the war front.

burs/wdb/txw

© 1994-2015 Agence France-Presse

QUEZON CITY, Sep. 4 -- To help farmers cope with and mitigate the extreme impact of El Niño, the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) encourages them to plant drought-tolerant varieties and use El Niño-ready technologies on rice production.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) recently reported that the ongoing El Niño condition is likely to continue until early 2016 with chances of strengthening toward the end of the year.

For irrigated lowland, farmers may consider planting several early-maturing varieties such as PSB Rc10 (Pagsanjan), NSIC Rc130 (Tubigan 3) and NSIC Rc152 (Tubigan 10). Pagsanjan matures in 106 days with a maximum yield of 7.5t/hectare (ha). Tubigan 3 matures in 108 days with a maximum yield of 7.6t/ha while Tubigan 10 matures in 109 days with a maximum yield of 8.7t/ha.

Farmers may also plant NSIC Rc134 (Tubigan 4), an early-maturing variety (107 days) with a maximum yield of 9.8t/ha and NSIC Rc160 (Tubigan 14) also an early-maturing variety (107 days) with a maximum yield of 8.2t/ha.

For rainfed lowland, farmers may choose from NSIC Rc192 (Sahod Ulan 1), PSB Rc14 (Rio Grande), and PSB Rc68 (Sacobia). Sahod Ulan 1 matures in 106 days with a maximum yield of 5.5t/ha. Rio Grande matures in 110 days with a maximum yield of 6.1t/ha. Sacobia matures in 116 days with a maximum yield of 4.4t/ha. These varieties are also known for their drought-tolerant properties preferable in areas where El Niño is expected to hit worst.

Drought-tolerant varieties for the uplands include PSB Rc80 (Pasig), PSB Rc9 (Apo), and NSIC Rc23 (Katihan 1). Pasig can yield up to 8.7t/ha and matures in 112 days. Apo matures in 119 days with a maximum yield of 5.6 t/ha while Katihan 1 matures in 108 days with a maximum yield of 7.6t/ha.

Farmers can also use water-saving technologies such as controlled irrigation or alternate wetting and drying (AWD), aerobic rice, drip irrigation, and reduced tillage technology. (DA)

Background:

With increasing rates of population growth and urbanization, infrastructure in African cities, such as water delivery systems and wastewater systems, can be overwhelmed. Poor governance, chronic underinvestment and a lack of skilled staff make it difficult for urban water utilities to provide safe drinking water to consumers. However, experience suggests that strong leadership and institutions, coupled with preventative risk-based management approaches and sustained capacity-building efforts, are critical to improving the quality of drinking water services in African cities.

In West Africa, access to improved drinking water sources ranges from 46 percent in Niger to 84 percent in Côte d’Ivoire (UNICEF/WHO, 2012). The region continues to have a high rate of infant mortality—many of these deaths are preventable and stem from the lack of clean drinking water (WHO 2013).

Program Description:

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) is the U.S. federal government agency responsible for regulating issues relating to human health and the environment in the United States. USEPA will support the development of an enabling environment in the water supply and wastewater sectors through capacity-building. This program will develop and harmonize water supply and wastewater legislation/regulations, improve related law enforcement as well as water supply and wastewater monitoring and surveillance; build capacity for water monitoring through targeted technical assistance to labs; and promote public participation.

Program Objectives:

• Strengthen the regulatory environment to maintain water quality standards and support regional actors to coordinate drinking water standards.
• Increase public awareness and engagement in ensuring potable water standards.
• Improve water-testing laboratory standards to ensure water is potable.

Background:

It is widely recognized that inadequate access to water and sanitation services has enormous health, economic and social consequences. Poor water quality continues to pose a major threat to human health. Diarrheal disease is the second leading cause of death in children under five years old, and is responsible for killing around 760,000 children every year (WHO, 2013). A significant proportion of diarrheal disease can be prevented through safe drinking-water and adequate sanitation and hygiene. In communities that lack safe drinking water, women and girls spend several hours each day collecting water from distant sources, and this reduces opportunities to attend school.

Program Description:

WA-WASH introduces innovative and low-cost water and sanitation technologies, and promotes appropriate hygienic behaviors at the community level. The program also develops practical models of sustainable WASH service delivery; and increases the capacity of national and regional institutions to replicate these approaches and models throughout the region. WA-WASH is partnering with the African Water Association to serve as a Knowledge dissemination platform.

Program Objectives:

• Support catalytic approaches to accelerate regional access to improved water supply/sanitation services and improved hygiene behaviors.
• Develop and implement improved models for sustainability of rural and peri-urban WASH service delivery that are replicable throughout West Africa.
• Build synergies among WASH actions and critical USAID/West Africa regional priorities related to food security, climate change, and sustainable resource management.
• Strengthen the regional enabling environment and capacity for WASH to achieve WASH Millennium Development Goals in West Africa.

the Ministry Of Disaster Management and Refugee Affairs (MIDIMAR) has established all measures to reduce risk following the prediction of unusual rains and storms across East Africa caused by El Nino.

The Intergovernmental Authority for Development (IGAD) Climate Prediction and Application Centre predicts that the rise in water temperature in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans may lead to floods and landslides in affected regions.

“We have established a response protocol on flood and landslides which will coordinate the work of different institutions and stakeholders in case of disasters”, says Seraphine Mukantabana, the Minister of Disaster Management and Refugee Affairs.

Effective next week, technical experts will be working on strengthening measures for risk reduction and response in case the predicted heavy rains and storms occur.

The public will be kept informed and early warnings will be enforced throughout the country.

Rome, Italy | AFP | Thursday 9/3/2015 - 14:37 GMT |

by Fanny CARRIER / Ella IDE

The sensation of drowning, short-term memory loss, insomnia and suicidal tendencies: they may have made it safely to Italy, but many asylum seekers are plagued by symptoms of trauma and the psychological help they need is in short supply.

Between 10 percent and 30 percent of asylum seekers reaching Europe are estimated to have been tortured in their home countries. All are at risk of trauma during desert crossings, a lawless Libya, or treacherous boat journeys.

Italy's Doctors for Human Rights association (Medu) noted in a recent report that over half of some 100 asylum seekers interviewed in Sicily had seen a travelling companion or close relative die during the Mediterranean crossing.

One man, who lost both his wife and child when the boat he was travelling on sank, was so distressed at having to relate the experience to an asylum commissioner, that he threw himself out of a window.

A fellow survivor, a 26-year old from Sub-Saharan Africa, spent so many hours desperately trying to keep his head above water as he clung to a bit of driftwood that he is now plagued by sensations of drowning at night, leading to insomnia and anxiety issues.

New arrivals are often confined for months in crowded centres while refugee applications are slowly processed.

Traumas can go undetected or have a detrimental effect on requests for asylum, according to psychologist Massimo Germani, who directed a centre for torture victims in Rome.

Germani said victims often narrate facts but not emotions, listing atrocities in such a neutral tone of voice that those examining their status doubt they are refugees "when it is actually a sign of a very serious problem".

• 'System worsens mental heath' -

A study carried out in 2013 by the Italian Refugee Council (CIR) found that 38 percent of asylum seekers in Italy suffered from depression, while 44 percent were battling with complex post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Welcome centres are expected to provide psychological assistance as part of services financed by the state, but the interior ministry is unable to supply figures on how many migrants actually have access to care.

In theory, asylum seekers can use the public health system, though there are limited facilities tailored specifically for migrants, and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said here too numbers were unclear.

Palermo psychologist Maria Chiara Monti works for one of the few clinics which organises sessions twice a week, where both an anthropologist and a cultural mediator who speaks the patient's language are present.

"They are often vulnerable people or trauma victims, and the system -- the long, bureaucratic process of asylum -- worsens their mental health," she told AFP, describing testimonies "from far away lands, which leave deep marks".

"Sometimes therapy has to be interrupted because patients are moved, often without warning, to another centre. But we do the best we can with the time we have," she said.

There are other challenges too: one 30-year-old from Gambia is so traumatised by an episode of police torture in his home country that his short-term memory is affected, meaning each session has to begin more or less from scratch.

From camps housing thousands of people to small converted hotels, "the implementation of psychological assistance is very patchy," said Gennaro Migliore, head of a parliamentary investigation into Italy's reception system.

"The health system needs to be computerised to allow care to be monitored from the arrival of asylum seekers until they obtain their refugee status," he said.

"There are sometimes some very good services, particularly in the centres for unaccompanied minors. But often, the health priority is elsewhere, in the fight against infections for example," he added.

• 'Enormous damage' -

Fiorella Rathaus, who coordinates projects to support torture victims for the Italian Refugee Council, said that in numerous centres in fact, "often psychological assistance is not provided at all, or just for a few hours a week, and in general it's given by a young graduate little equipped to deal with such traumas".

Psychologist Germani said some PTSD symptoms can be eased by giving sufferers access to decent living conditions, opportunities to enjoy themselves and prospects for the future -- no easy task in a country struggling to deal with mass arrivals.

Others suffer from much graver traumas which need to be identified and addressed as soon as possible.

"We're talking about people who have suffered repeated abuse, over a long time and in a coercive context," he said.

"If they remain in the melee with the others, they cannot keep up. They cannot concentrate enough to learn Italian, they are unstable and their condition deteriorates with their isolation.

"That causes enormous damage, on both a human and social level, because they become a burden on the system, they turn into ghosts who congest social services for years," he said.

Younger victims have been known to turn to prostitution, while unchecked trauma in those affected can boil over into violence.

The interior ministry set up a round table in November to draw up guidelines for welcome centres on psychological care, but in the meantime sufferers continue to fall through the gaps, while funding cuts have forced some public services -- including Germani's -- to shut their doors.

fcc-ide/ach

© 1994-2015 Agence France-Presse

Western Balkan - Regional Overview

• Currently Greece, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Serbia are transit countries for migrants and refugees trying to re-enter the Schengen area in Hungary.

• Due to the construction of the fence in the Hungarian southern border with Serbia, migrants/refugees may seek alternative routes: for example from Albania to Italy or through Croatia to the Schengen area.

ECHO involvement

• ECHO is releasing €1.5 million in humanitarian funding to assist refugees and migrants in Serbia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. The aid will support humanitarian partners in helping with the provision of basic emergency services (water, hygiene, health care, winterization and basic protection).

• ECHO has granted over €90,000 in EU humanitarian assistance to the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (on 31/07) and €150,000 to Serbia (on 20/08). The funding went directly to the International Federation of the Red Cross/Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the actions will be implemented by the national Red Cross Societies of the two countries.

Greece - Over the past week, IOM Greece estimates that over 5,000 migrants and refugees a day have crossed the Aegean Sea into Greece.

The largest group are Syrians, followed by Afghans. They mainly include men, families with children, and minors accompanied by close relatives. Many of the families, especially the Afghans, include pregnant women and new-borns.

On Monday (31/8), according to IOM staff on the island of Kos, the Hellenic Police estimated that there were approximately 4,000 migrants on the island – of whom 2,000 had yet to be identified.

The authorities and civil society are trying to provide basic services, including healthcare and food. But tensions are rising between the Kos authorities and the central government, with the local authorities making it clear that they lack the resources to support all the new arrivals.

The municipality has withdrawn its offer of Kos’ stadium to provide temporary accommodation for the migrants. Many Pakistanis, Bangladeshis and Egyptians are now being housed at an abandoned hotel – the “Captain Elias”. Many Syrians are opting for alternative accommodation, according to IOM staff on the island.

IOM Greece staff on Kos are working with the local authorities to identify and coordinate assistance to the most vulnerable migrants. They are also distributing bottled mineral water and food to the migrants on arrival.

On Monday, on the island of Lesvos, there were an estimated 4,750 people at the Moria screening centre, which normally processes 600-900 people a day. Some of them were waiting to be registered by the police, others were waiting for their documentation, and the remainder were waiting for relatives and friends to be released in order for them to continue their journey. With processing times now reaching 5-6 days, people are camped outside the centre in tents and sleeping bags bought from local vendors.

Tensions at the centre are also rising. Last week, a female police officer was injured when distributing police documentation to migrants about to be released. Another group of migrants waiting to be processed and frustrated by the delay rushed forward. The officer suffered a broken finger and minor injuries.

The number of migrant deaths in the Aegean is also steadily increasing. On August 29th, in an incident involving the Hellenic Coast Guard and smugglers off the coast of Symi, a young refugee boy lost his life. A Turkish smuggler and an officer of the Greek Port Police were also seriously injured.

On Monday, a 47-year-old Somali mother of two children also died at the Moria Center in Lesvos. She had been hospitalized for a week, but was subsequently released. She died of a heart attack during the registration procedure, despite efforts by Médecins Du Monde doctors to save her. Her children were present at the time of her death and her funeral took place on Lesvos.

Yesterday (3/9), IOM’s Head of Office in Greece, Daniel Esdras, met with Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos to brief him on the migration situation and IOM’s activities in the country. President Pavlopoulos recognized IOM’s contribution to Greece since the 1950s and expressed his appreciation of IOM’s ongoing support and cooperation.

IOM works closely with the Greek Ministry of Interior, the Alternate Ministry of Public Order and Citizens Protection, the Alternate Ministry of Migration Policy, the Hellenic Police and Hellenic Coast Guard, the Asylum Service and the First Reception Service.

Meanwhile, in Italy, yesterday evening, a ship brought 91 migrants and one corpse to Lampedusa. The 91 are the survivors of a shipwreck. The number of missing migrants is still unknown.

A Nigerian woman also gave birth to a child on board a coastguard ship that brought 106 migrants to Lampedusa. Mother and baby are reported to be doing well.

For more information, please contact Daniel Esdras at IOM Greece, Tel: +30 210 9912174, Email: iomathens@iom.int

For the latest Mediterranean Update data on arrivals and fatalities please visit: http://missingmigrants.iom.int

Cameroon - Two years since the conflict in the Central African Republic (CAR) began, IOM is continuing to help Chadian migrants stranded in Cameroon to return home. The migrants were living in CAR and had to flee during the conflict.

Last weekend (29/8) IOM transported 129 Chadian migrants from Cameroon to Chad by road with funding from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF).

The move follows operations earlier this year to help 191 migrants from Liberia, Niger, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire and Chad still living in IOM-built transit sites in Kentzou and Garoua Boulai in eastern Cameroon on the CAR border return home.

Some 299 Nigerians are still living in the sites, pending their repatriation. IOM has provided shelter, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and medical services at the sites since May 2014. The World Food Programme has provided food.

As the result of the CAR crisis, which began in December 2013, over 18,000 migrants from Chad, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal and Sudan were forced to flee to Cameroon.

“We have been working with the Chadian Embassy in Cameroon, IOM colleagues in Chad, the Cameroonian and the Chadian authorities to ensure the group’s safe transportation and return home by road,” said Roger Charles Evina, IOM Chief of Mission in Cameroon. “It took a long time to approve their request for repatriation, because of security concerns.”

IOM medical staff provided pre-departure “fit to travel” medical checks before the journey and travelled with the migrants to Chad. IOM also provided hot meals and water during the trip. The migrants were also given basic and non-food item kits which included blankets, mosquito nets, mattresses, and kitchen kits upon arrival in Chad

“The biggest challenge for this latest group of Chadian returnees and the other 60,000 who are still in the temporary sites in the Chadian capital N’Djamena and in the south of the country is their reintegration, stabilization and social cohesion with the host communities,” said IOM Chad Chief of Mission Dr. Qasim Sufi. “We are appealing to the donor community to continue providing financial assistance to IOM,” he added.

Another consequence of the crisis is that many migrants are in limbo in terms of their cultural identity. “The tensions between the communities caused by the crisis in CAR have led to the ‘return’ of people whose ancestors left Chad decades ago,” explained IOM Chief of Mission in CAR, Torsten Haschenz. “These people are ‘returning’ to a country they might have never lived in,” he added.

For further information, please contact Roger Charles Evina at IOM Cameroon, Tel: +237 652 234 640, Email: revina@iom.int or Dr. Qasim Sufi at IOM Chad, Tel: +235 62900674, Email qsufi@iom.int

Nigeria - Over 2.1 million people or 300,000 households are now internally displaced in northern Nigeria, according to IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM). The recent spike in attacks by insurgents triggered the increase.

Released yesterday (03/09) in Abuja, the 5th DTM report tracks displaced populations in the six northeastern states covered in the previous four rounds of the DTM - Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe. It also covers Nassarawa State and the Federal Capital Territory of Abuja in the north central part of the country.

The increase in the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) from the 1.3 million recorded in the June DTM report can be attributed to the intensification of attacks carried-out by the insurgents, as well as to improved access to previously inaccessible areas of Borno State, where the IDP population is now well over 1.6 million.

The report also reveals that the majority of the IDPs (92 per cent) displaced by insurgency now live in host communities, while the remainder live in camps or camp-like sites. Major needs listed by the IDPs include food (58 per cent), shelter (13 per cent) and non-food relief items (7 per cent).

IOM Nigeria Chief of Mission Enira Krdzalic notes: “Many IDPs, especially in host communities, have yet to receive basic items, including food and shelter. It is very important for the authorities and humanitarian partners to speed up the delivery of adequate assistance to these people.”

Since October 2014, IOM has been implementing the DTM program in close collaboration with Nigeria’s National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and the Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS). The process includes assessment at local government level and site assessments, as well as registration in camps and host communities.

The DTM was extended from the northeast to other States in the north central and northwest parts of the country at the request of NEMA.

All IOM’s Nigeria DTM reports and interactive maps can be found at: http://nigeria.iom.int/dtm

For further information, please contact Stéphanie Daviot at IOM Abuja, Tel: +234 903 885 2524, Email: sdaviot@iom.int

Recent increases in rainfall provide little relief to long-term dryness in East Africa and Hispaniola

1. Widespread, persistent, and heavy rainfall over the past several weeks have led to saturated ground conditions and localized flooding in several regions of West Africa. The continuation of heavy rainfall is forecast for the upcoming week, maintaining flooding risks throughout several areas in Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, western Niger, eastern Guinea and Sierra Leone.

2. While the recent increase in precipitation in August is expected to lead to more favorable ground conditions, a delayed onset and uneven rainfall distribution observed during the June-September season may negatively impact cropping and pastoral conditions in the region.

3. Despite the recent increase in rainfall, the much delayed start to the rainfall season has resulted in drought, which has severely impacted ground conditions and led to livestock death across parts of north-central and eastern Ethiopia