Key Messages

• Nigeria continues to face one of its worst economic recessions following over a two-thirds decline in oil revenues from September 2014 to July 2015. The reduction in foreign reserves has resulted in the persistent depreciation of the Naira (NGN) in heavily import-dependent Nigeria. The Interbank exchange rate was around 318.21 NGN/USD and the parallel (Bureau de Change) one reached closer to 400 NGN/USD in August, up from 203.76 and 289.78, respectively in January. And, that upward trend steadied following the Central Bank’s decision to allow the Naira to float in June. The national inflation rate stabilized at around 17% according to the National Bureau of Nigeria continues to face one of its worst economic recessions following over a two-thirds decline in oil revenues from September 2014 to July 2015. The reduction in foreign reserves has resulted in the persistent depreciation of the Naira (NGN) in heavily import-dependent Nigeria. The Interbank exchange rate was around 318.21 NGN/USD and the parallel (Bureau de Change) one reached closer to 400 NGN/USD in August, up from 203.76 and 289.78, respectively in January. And, that upward trend steadied following the Central Bank’s decision to allow the Naira to float in June. The national inflation rate stabilized at around 17% according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). Prices of key imported commodities like rice continued to increase and remained well above average.

• Nigeria has a structural deficit in rice and wheat, and is among the greatest international importers of these two commodities. Between 2011 and 2015, Nigeria imported on average around 1.5 million MT of rice and 4.2 million MT of wheat, and valuing about $731.4 million and $1.3 billion, respectively. However, the lower Naira value and low purchasing power have considerably reduced the import volumes. Import cargo tonnages among Nigeria’s major ports have showed steady decline since 2014.

• Elsewhere in the region, cereal prices (maize) were more stable. In Nigeria, in contrast, ongoing inflation in addition to the lean season pushed up prices of local coarse grains by around 20-50 percent this August compared to the previous month. The average year on year price increases were between 100 and 150%. Despite the slight increase in demand for Tabaski holiday, livestock prices remained below average in many areas of the region due to the reduction in Nigeria’s import demand.

• Military operations to overcome the Boko-Haram insurgency continue to limit access and humanitarian activity to a large part of Northeast Nigeria. Despite governmental and humanitarian efforts and push for a return to more normal state, some key markets in Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa States are still disrupted with limited or no activity, not only due to insecurity but also poor road conditions. Nevertheless, there have been few improvements in the resumption of activities, such as around Ngala and Gubio (Borno State), and Michika (Adamawa State).

• There are good 2016/2017 harvest prospects in Nigeria, due to a general normal rainy season pattern and the use of early maturing seeds. Thus, a marginal increase in crop performance is expected compared to last year at the national level. However, there was a late onset of the rainy season and early cessation of rain in some parts of the country, and dry spells in the North. First season harvests are completing in the Southern part of the country, and harvests of early crops are starting in the North. Markets supply will start to increase gradually as more harvests continue, and there could be an ease on the pressure on market purchase by poor households due to own consumption.

Highlights

• An aid worker was tragically shot and killed in an ambush on a clearly marked NGO vehicle in Eastern Equatoria.
  
• Outflows of refugees into Uganda continues.
  
• A new outbreak of measles was confirmed in Gogrial West in late September.
  
• The cholera outbreak has spread to Unity.

Aid worker killed in Eastern Equatoria

An aid worker was tragically shot and killed in an ambush on a clearly marked NGO vehicle in Eastern Equatoria on 14 October, when a team from the NGO ZOA was travelling from Torit to a project site. The deceased was a 41-year-old agricultural officer who had worked for ZOA since 2014.

Key roads in Eastern Equatoria have witnessed ambushes against both civilian and humanitarian vehicles in recent weeks. Between 28 September and 2 October, four separate ambushes on humanitarian vehicles were reported on the Torit-Juba, ToritMagwi and Magwi-Parjok roads. During the incidents, humanitarian vehicles were shot and damaged and staff members were robbed of electronics, money and other personal belongings. Separately, due to active hostilities, 10 aid workers had to be relocated from Budi County in Eastern Equatoria on 11 October.

The Humanitarian Coordinator, Eugene Owusu, said the following when informed of the latest attack: “I am absolutely outraged by the attack against a clearly marked NGO vehicle near Torit on 18 October which resulted in the killing of an aid worker. I have repeatedly said that attacks against aid workers are deplorable, and violate international humanitarian law. Yet, they continue to take place. This has got to stop. Action must be swiftly taken to hold those responsible to account for this attack. At the same time, it is imperative that all efforts be exerted to prevent such attacks in the future. Violence against humanitarians jeopardizes the delivery of vital humanitarian assistance to millions of people in dire need across this country.” Since the conflict began in December 2013, at least 67 aid workers, most of whom are South Sudanese, have been killed. This includes three aid workers killed in the first two weeks of October – the ZOA staff member, a national staff from a humanitarian organization in Akobo who was killed on 8 October in circumstances still under investigation and a national staff from an NGO who was killed when their compound came under fire during fighting in Budi.

In the first nine months of 2016, more than 640 humanitarian access incidents were reported in South Sudan, including 81 in September alone. Out of the 81 incidents, 59 involved violence against humanitarian personnel and assets. This included a substantial increase in assaults, ambushes and armed attacks, with 11 incidents reported in September compared to 5 in August. Armed ambushes and attacks were mainly reported in Eastern Equatoria, Central Equatoria, Western Equatoria, Lakes and Western Bahr el Ghazal.

Impediments and restrictions have continued to affect the delivery of humanitarian assistance to people in need in October. In Western Bahr el Ghazal, after occasional access in previous weeks, humanitarians have again been denied passage at checkpoints outside of Wau town in the past two weeks, preventing access to tens of thousands of people in dire need of assistance.

Background

The violent conflict in the Lake Chad Basin has continuously deteriorated. Boko Haram raids and suicide bombings targeting civilians are causing widespread trauma, preventing people from accessing essential services and destroying vital infrastructure. Around 21 million people live in the affected areas across the four Lake Chad countries. The number of displaced people has tripled over the last two years. Most of the displaced families are sheltered by communities that count among the world’s poorest and most vulnerable. Food insecurity and malnutrition have reached critical levels.

Recent developments

Attacks attributed to Boko Haram continue to rattle several localities in the region. Insecurity in border areas in Chad’s Lac region has constrained humanitarian access, depriving thousands of conflict-affected populations of adequate assistance.

In the Far North region of Cameroon, several cross-border raids have been reported recently, resulting in civilian and military casualties.

Newly-accessible localities in north-eastern Nigeria have also come under repeated attacks by suspected Boko Haram elements, with markets, homes food and livestock convoys hit by the gunmen. Separately, an ongoing massive polio vaccination campaign across the Lake Chad Basin aims to immunize 41 million children against the virus and contain an outbreak that erupted after new cases were diagnosed in August in Nigeria’s north-eastern Borno State. Population movement due to the Boko Haram-related conflict in the region raises concerns that the disease could spread across borders. Some 39,000 health workers have deployed across Chad, the Central African Republic, Niger and Nigeria to vaccinate children in areas at high-risk of infection.

The vaccination is being carried out in five coordinated rounds.

Highlights

• More than 250,000 South Sudanese refugees have arrived in Sudan since December 2013 - UNHCR.
  
• $2.6 million from SHF to support South Sudanese refugees in Al Nimir camp and El Ferdous in East Darfur State.
  
• Inter-agency return monitoring missions visited several locations in Um Baru and Tina localities in North Darfur.
  
• Water supply to 21,500 IDPs from Jebel Marra in Sortony, North Darfur has increased by 30 per cent over the past week.

Over 250,000 South Sudanese refugees in Sudan since December 2013 - UNHCR

The number of registered South Sudanese refugees who have arrived in Sudan since December 2013 now exceeds a quarter of a million and as of 15 October stands at 254,757 people (including 90,000 who arrived this year), according to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). About 40 per cent of South Sudanese arrivals are hosted in Whilte Nile State, and 22 per cent in East Darfur State (see the table on p.2 for details).

Key Achievements

• IOM responded to the July crisis in Juba by establishing a clinic to deliver primary healthcare services at the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) Tonping transit site immediately following the ceasefire on 11 July. IOM’s response expanded to include reproductive health care and Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) services, as well as a cholera treatment unit (CTU).
  
• IOM successfully completed the treatment of 34 tuberculosis (TB) patients at the Bentiu protection of civilians (PoC) site. This is the first cohort to complete the 6-month treatment out of 127 patients who have commenced treatment since February 2016.
  
• From 17–20 September, IOM led a mass joint oral cholera vaccination (OCV) campaign in Juba town in partnership with the Ministry of Health, UNICEF, HealthLink and LiveWell. Nearly 29,300 people were vaccinated in Juba’s Gumbo and Mangaten neighbourhoods.
  
• IOM undertook a training of peer counselors in Wau County under the Global Fund project. 20 participants, including people living with HIV (PLHIV), were trained on HIV-awareness raising in the community where they will alert PLHIV of available services.
  
• IOM deployed three Rapid Respond Teams (RRTs) to Renk County to provide primary health care services following closure of many facilities due to temporary suspension of the World Bank-funded programme, implemented by IMA, in Upper Nile and Jonglei.
  
• IOM strengthened psychosocial support (PSS) through community mobilization activities at displacement sites in Bentiu, Bor and Wau. Activities focused on conflict mediation training in Bor, where 4,690 people received direct assistance. At the Bentiu PoC site, PSS activities reached 10,647 people and 57 PSS mobile team members facilitated the activities of 28 PSS groups. In Wau, 100,588 people received key messages through community mobilization activities.

FAITS SAILLANTS

• Epidémie de Fièvre de la Vallée du Rift pour la première fois au Niger.

• Deux sites de réfugiés maliens attaqués entre le 10 septembre et le 6 octobre.

• Plus de 123 000 personnes affectées par les inondations.

• Plus de 300 000 personnes déplacées dans la région de Diffa.

Epidémie de fièvre de la Vallée du Rift dans la région de Tahoua

La Fièvre de la Vallée du Rift (FVR) a touché 132 personnes (57 femmes et 66 hommes) et causé 31 décès dans la région de Tahoua, au 18 octobre, selon les autorités sanitaires du Niger. Tchintabaraden et Tassara sont les deux districts sanitaires les plus touchés par cette épidémie déclarée le 20 septembre par le Gouvernement du Niger. Ci-après la carte présentant les cas suspects par district.

Le Ministère de la Santé publique, en collaboration avec les partenaires, poursuit les activités de riposte. Au 18 octobre, 22 malades étaient hospitalisés au centre de prise en charge de Tchintabaraden et un autre à celui de Keita.

European Commission - Press release

Managing migration effectively: Commission reports on progress in the implementation of the Partnership Framework with third countries

Brussels, 18 October 2016

The Commission presents today its first progress Report on implementing the Partnership Frameworks with third countries: the EU's new approach to more effectively managing migration jointly with countries of origin and transit is starting to yield results.

Today, the Commission presents its first progress report on the implementation of the Partnership Framework with third countries to more effectively manage migration together. Four months after the Commission proposed this new Framework under the European Agenda on Migration and its endorsement by the June European Council, which also called for its swift implementation, the EU's new partnership approach with countries of origin and transit of migration is starting to yield results. President Juncker said: "Europe needs to do more to tackle the tragedy of thousands of migrants and refugees that every year cross the Mediterranean, fleeing from poverty, war and persecution. That is the spirit of the New Partnership Framework approach we have launched in June – and today's First Progress Report shows that this new approach works, in the interest of both the EU and partner countries. Now the task is to step up our efforts and deliver a lasting change in the way we manage mobility and migration with our partners in Africa and the neighbourhood". High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini said: "Migration is a global issue that concerns our internal policies and our external relations, but most of all it concerns the lives of millions of people. And it has to be managed in a coordinated, sustainable, jointly responsible and human way. The Partnership Framework approach we have put in place four months ago goes exactly in this direction: it is a two way process based on shared interests and a common work that has already brought first results. Tackling the root causes of migration, ensuring adequate protection for people on the move, reducing the number of irregular migrants as well as improving cooperation on return and readmission, fighting smugglers and traffickers of human beings, are all integral parts of the common work we have started to develop with our partners." The Partnership Framework is a forward-looking European approach to deepening cooperation with countries of origin, transit and destination. Since June, under the leadership of the High Representative/Vice-President, EU institutions and Member States have jointly put substantial efforts into making this new approach a success. Work to address short-term solutions to immediate migration pressure, as well as deeper investment to tackling the root causes of irregular migration has started with five priority countries: Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Mali and Ethiopia. Thanks to the coordinated action of all sides involved, the EU and its Member States, the collective work is starting to bear fruit and is resulting in tangible outcomes. The coordinated approach between the EU institutions and Member states that was activated after the adoption of the Communication, has led to a step change in the level of coordination and strategic joint planning. High-level visits to priority countries have been conducted by a number of EU Commissioners and Member States political leaders backed by technical missions of senior officials of EU institutions and Member States. Through these visits a better understanding of EU and partner countries' priorities and a greater willingness to cooperate is being established. Furthermore, the Commission has proposed key initiatives such as the External Investment Plan to encourage investment in Africa and the EU Neighbourhood and the proposal for a Union Resettlement Framework to ensure orderly and safe pathways to Europe for persons in need of international protection. The first results can already be seen in the priority countries. Niger has taken action to combat migrant smuggling and set up an institutional framework for managing the migration dialogue with the EU and its Member States. Strengthened operational cooperation is being put in place with Senegal and Mali, with identification missions agreed for the coming weeks. Standard Operating Procedures with Mali are being finalised. Negotiations on a Readmission Agreement with Nigeria will open in the coming days. Actions with other partners countries has continued and will be further intensified in the coming months. The EU has stepped up its support through its CSDP Missions, its technical assistance and financial tools, in particular the EU Trust Fund for Africa. Under the EU Trust Fund for Africa, contracts in support of the actions foreseen in the Valletta Action Plan were signed for almost €400 million. In Niger, the EU is providing support through the new field office of EUCAP Sahel Niger in Agadez, and by addressing the root causes of irregular migration. In Nigeria, the EU Trust Fund for Africa has mobilised projects addressing specific migration management issues. Projects creating jobs for youth have been adopted under the EU Trust Fund for Africa in Senegal. Also in Mali and Ethiopia a number of projects have been approved. The next months will see continued common action on the external side, matched by improvement of procedures and operations inside the European Union. European Migration Liaison Officers will be posted in key third countries to serve as focal points in EU Delegations to liaise and cooperate with our partners and support the delivery of the new approach. Identification missions to the priority countries will be carried out jointly with Member States and EU agencies' involvement, in particular of European Border and Coast Guards and EUROPOL, on the ground will be strengthened. Specific projects under the EU Trust Fund for Africa, are being finalised to address key challenges in the priority countries. The Commission has further adopted a decision to increase the EU Trust Fund for Africa by a further € 500 million from the European Development Fund reserve to finance actions under the partnership framework. As set out in the Bratislava roadmap, progress on this new approach will be assessed by the European Council in December. Background External action is a crucial component of the comprehensive EU strategy to manage the migration challenge set out in the European Agenda for on Migration. The factors driving migration flows today are here to stay, requiring a long term response. The European Union has taken a key step through the Valletta Summit in November 2015. In June 2016, the Commission proposed a new Partnership Framework with third countries under the European Agenda on Migration. The June 2016 European Council endorsed the Partnership Framework and called for its swift implementation, starting with a limited number of countries. In September, the Bratislava roadmap underlined that this process should "lead to reduced flows of illegal migration and increased return rates", and recalled that progress would be assessed by the European Council in December.

IN 2015, ACTION AGAINST HUNGER’S GLOBAL NETWORK SERVED 14.9 MILLION PEOPLE IN 47 COUNTRIES.

AFGHANISTAN. BANGLADESH. BOLIVIA. BURKINA FASO. CAMBODIA. CAMEROON. CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC. CHAD. COLOMBIA. CÔTE D’IVOIRE. DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO. DJIBOUTI. EGYPT. ETHIOPIA. GEORGIA. GUATEMALA. GUINEA. HAITI. INDIA. INDONESIA. JORDAN. KENYA. KURDISTAN REGION OF IRAQ. LEBANON. LIBERIA. MADAGASCAR. MALI. MAURITANIA. MONGOLIA. MYANMAR. NEPAL. NICARAGUA. NIGER. NIGERIA. OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES. PAKISTAN. PERU. PHILIPPINES. SENEGAL. SIERRA LEONE. SOMALIA. SOUTH SUDAN. SYRIA. UGANDA. UKRAINE. YEMEN. ZIMBABWE.

Baga Sola – La Journée mondiale du lavage des mains, qui est célébrée le 15 octobre, met en lumière l'importance de cette pratique, l'une des actions les plus efficaces et les moins coûteuses en matière de santé. Bien plus qu’une simple journée, cet événement permet de sensibiliser les populations par rapport à un geste simple, qui peut sauver des vies.

La 4ème édition de cette importante journée a été célébrée, samedi 15 octobre 2016, au camp des réfugiés de Dar Es Salam dans la région du Lac où depuis près de deux ans, le bureau local du Haut Commissariat des Nations Unies pour les réfugiés, le HCR, et son partenaire de mise en oeuvre la Croix rouge tchadienne (CRT), assurent l’accès à l’eau potable, aux infrastructures d’assainissement et surtout la promotion des pratiques d’hygiène dont le lavage des mains à l’eau et au savon.

La cérémonie a été présidée par le Secrétaire Général du Département assurant l’intérim du Préfet de Kaya et en présence de plusieurs autorités administratives et militaires, ainsi que les humanitaires et les réfugiés. Après plusieurs discours dont ceux du responsable WASH (Eau, Hygiène et Assainissement) du HCR, du gestionnaire de camp de la CNARR, de la Cheffe de bureau du HCR et du Président de la cérémonie, qui ont rappelé encore une fois l’importance du lavage des mains dans la prévention des maladies diarrhéiques, la cérémonie a été marquée par des danses, des jeux et sketch.

Parmi les messages clés à retenir des différents discours, il a été souligné que la commémoration de cette journée ne consiste pas uniquement à parler de lavage des mains au savon mais aussi à mettre l’accent sur le changement de comportement des réfugiés en maintenant propres les latrines, les points d’eau ainsi que leur domicile. Le lavage des mains au savon est un autre vaccin efficace pour les réfugiés de prévenir les maladies de santé publique que sont la diarrhée, la poliomyélite et le choléra etc. Aussi il a été indiqué que les efforts ne doivent pas se limiter aux activités de la célébration de la journée et que le lavage de main doit devenir une habitude chez les réfugiés.

Sur le thème de « le lavage des mains au savon et à l’eau propre pour une meilleure santé », le sketch parfaitement mis en scène par les réfugiés, a permis, d’une part, de montrer l’importance de cette pratique d’hygiène et, d’autre part, une démonstration claire de comment se laver proprement les mains à l’eau et au savon. Cette démonstration a été l’objet de rappeler que le lavage des mains, bien qu’un geste simple, requiert plus d’attention. Différentes questions ont été posées durant le jeu-concours dont les gagnants ont pu bénéficier d’un kit WASH composé d’une bassine, d’une bouilloire en plastique et du savon.

A la fin de cette commémoration, les réfugiés ont déclarés avoir désormais une meilleure compréhension de l’importance du lavage des mains au savon grâce aux différents messages reçus et de leur responsabilité pour se garantir une très bonne santé, en adoptant cette pratique, comme une habitude quotidienne.

ABSTRACT

This paper examines how women’s empowerment is essential for food and nutrition security and resilience in West Africa and suggests policy “pointers” arising from the West African experience that can help inform policies and strategies, particularly in view of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. West African women play a significant role at each stage in the food system, from production to distribution to nutrition, and they contribute to building resilience and adaptability to uncertainty and shocks including the effects of climate change. While it is clear that women significantly contribute to the eradication of hunger and malnutrition, it is also evident that there is a need for greater political representation and participation in policy dialogues.

Keywords: gender, women, food systems, empowerment, West Africa

JEL classification: J16, R11, R58, Q18, Q01, Q15

Burkina Faso - For the first time, Burkina Faso will be able to monitor electronically migration flows at the border crossings of Dakola (border with Ghana) Madouba Department (border with Mali) and Yendéré (border with Côte d'Ivoire), following the instalment of a Migration Information and Data Analysis System (MIDAS), donated by IOM Burkina Faso and funded by the Government of Japan.

With growing insecurity at borders in the region, the installation of MIDAS will represent a significant improvement in migration data collection and management of migration flows into and out of Burkina Faso.

The handover ceremony was held at the offices of the Ministry of Territorial Administration, Decentralization and Homeland Security in Ouagadougou. It was attended by Japanese Ambassador Masato Futaishi and IOM Burkina Faso Head of Office Abdel Rahmane Diop.

They handed over the MIDAS system to Simon Compaore, Minister of Territorial Administration, Decentralization and Homeland Security, representing the National and Border Police of Burkina Faso.

This initiative is part of an IOM project: Coordinated Border Management in Niger, Mali, Mauritania and Burkina Faso, funded by the Government of Japan.

Ambassador Futaishi said: “The recent acts of terrorism in the region have once again underlined the importance of the management and protection of borders and cross border cooperation. This partnership between the G5 countries Sahel, IOM and Japan should serve as an example. I would like to reassure you of the full cooperation of Japan to support the west and central African region in its collective efforts in the promotion of peace, security, stability and development.”

Diop said: “The IOM Burkina Faso Country Office is very pleased to be able to support the Burkinabe government with this installation of MIDAS. We are convinced that MIDAS will improve and increase the collection and management of migration data.”

For further information please contact Cindy Nouria Zongo at IOM Burkina Faso, Tel: +226 67711366, Email: czongo@iom.int

Au Tchad les trois journées internationales qui viennent d’être célébrées, la Journée Internationale de la Fille, la Journée Internationale des Femmes Rurales et la Journée Mondiale de l’Alimentation, montrent à quel point il est urgent de faire des progrès pour atteindre l’objectif Faim Zéro d’ici 2030.

Le Tchad, pays enclavé marqué par une pauvreté endémique, la faim et une malnutrition chronique a souffert des ravages de la guerre et de conflits pendant des décennies jusqu’en 2008. Voisin de pays marqués par l’insécurité le Tchad accueille l’une des plus larges populations de personnes déplacées sur le continent, refugiés, retournés, et communautés déplacées internes.

La découverte du pétrole a donné un espoir de développement et de croissance. Mais en 2015 et 2016 la situation s’est détériorée. Les effets combinés d’une chute globale des prix du pétrole, la violence dans le nord- est du Nigeria, la désertification, des saisons des pluies erratiques : tous ces éléments ont contribué à aggraver la situation alimentaire et nutritionnelle.

Le 12 octobre nous avons présenté les résultats de l’enquête sur le cout de la faim en Afrique au Tchad. Un travail mené en collaboration avec le gouvernement tchadien et l’Union Africaine. 43 pour cent de la mortalité infantile est associée à la sous-nutrition. Un enfant sur cinq est né avec une insuffisance pondérale. La faim et la malnutrition coutent au Tchad 9.5% de son Produit Intérieur Brut (PIB) en perte de productivité, en termes de couts pour les services de santé, l’éducation et les ménages. En 2012 cela représentait l’équivalent de 1,1 milliards de dollars, plus du double de l’aide reçue cette année-là. Sur l’index global de la Faim 2016 le Tchad est classe avant dernier sur 118 pays.

Quand je voyage à travers le Tchad je vois le cout humain derrière ces chiffres, l’impact de la faim et de la malnutrition, en particulier chez les enfants et les femmes. Et quand je dis voyager, je veux dire sur des pistes sablonneuses, à travers des wadis; dormant des guesthouses simples mais hospitalières ou sous des abris de fortune. La nuit la musique est le son du silence ou le bruit d’un générateur. Le bonheur c’est la fraicheur d’une douche à la fin d’un jour torride et poussiéreux. Mais cela, pour la majorité des Tchadiens, c’est un luxe, un rêve.

A travers la bande Sahélienne vous avez un aperçu de la vie dans le désert. Des mères attendent sous le soleil de plomb, leur bébé dans les bras, pour être soigné. Les pluies ont été rares en 2015. Pendant la période de soudure de juin à septembre la nourriture est extrêmement rare ; les animaux sont faméliques. Il est difficile pour les familles de vendre leur bétail. Les enfants risquent de ne pas aller à l‘école. L’eau est précieuse.

Cette année le thème pour la Journée Mondiale de l’Alimentation était « le climat change, l’alimentation et l’agriculture aussi ». Un thème approprié alors que les dunes de sable menacent les rivières ; les récoltes et la production pastorale sont menacées par la désertification et les pluies aléatoires.

Dans la région du Lac Tchad, les familles qui ont fui les attaques de Boko Haram trouvent refuge sur des sites spontanés. Plus de 130 000 personnes ont perdu leurs maisons et leur mode de vie. Les femmes me parlent de la vie simple qu’elles avaient sur leurs iles, elles n’étaient pas riches mais c’était leur paradis. Cette vie a été détruite quand elles ont fui avec leurs enfants avec seulement les vêtements qu’elles portaient. Elles expliquent la générosité et l’accueil des communautés hôtes, des communautés qui souffrent elles-mêmes en raison de la crise. L’assistance humanitaire a apporté un peu de soulagement mais cela n’est pas assez. Ces communautés ont besoin de notre aide pour reconstruire leurs vies, retrouver l’espoir et reconstruire un avenir pour leurs enfants.

A la frontière soudanaise, plus de 290 000 réfugiés Soudanais vivent dans des camps. Ces camps ont été « leur maison » depuis plus de 12 ans. Dans le sud du Tchad des dizaines de milliers de personnes qui ont échappé aux violences en République Centrafricaine vivent comme refugies ou retournes dans des camps ou des villages d’accueil.

Avec une aide internationale en baisse les rations alimentaires sont réduites d’année en année. Plus de 40 pour cent des enfants réfugiés souffrent d’un retard de croissance.

Femmes, hommes, enfants, refugiés : au Tchad la population a la force de faire face au soleil qui frappe sans répit dans un vaste environnement largement marque par le sous-développement. Parmi ceux que j’ai rencontrés nombreux sont ceux qui vivaient une vie simple avant qu’elle ne soit détruite par les conflits et la violence. Nombreux sont ceux qui sont en première ligne du changement climatique.

Désormais ils sont unis dans l’inacceptable cycle faim et malnutrition qui ne sont pas de leur fait. Ils ne doivent pas être oubliés.

Par: Mary Ellen McGroarty, Representante du PAM au Tchad.

Outbreak continues in Mauritania and could develop in Sudan

A Desert Locust outbreak continues in western Mauritania where groups of mature adults are present, and egg-laying and hatching are underway, causing early instar hopper groups and small bands to form. Ground control operations are in progress and have treated nearly 6,500 ha since the beginning of the campaign.

In Morocco, solitarious adults are present in the Adrar Settouf area of the extreme south as well as further north along the southern side of the Atlas Mountains.

During November, locusts will decline in southeast Mauritania as a few remaining groups form and move to the northwest where they will supplement egg-laying that started during the last week of September. Second-generation hatching that commenced in early October will continue during November, giving rise to hopper groups and bands throughout October and November. Fledging is expected to commence during the second week of November and continue during December, giving rise to immature adult groups and swarms from about mid-November onwards. Seasonal rainfall predictions suggest slightly above average rainfall in November and December that should allow the continuation of favourable conditions for locust breeding and survival. Some of the infestations are likely to extend to adjacent areas of southern Morocco.

In Sudan, groups of gregarious late instar hoppers are forming in North Kordofan and hopper bands formed northwest of Khartoum in the Baiyuda Desert. Groups of hoppers and immature adults were also seen further east near Kassala. Control operations are in progress and have treated at least 500 ha so far. As vegetation dries out, more groups, bands and perhaps a few small swarms are expected to form and move to the winter breeding areas.

Elsewhere, small-scale breeding continues in parts of northern Niger where small grops are present, and locust infestations are declining in Chad

Highlights

• UNHCR reports that there are now over 1 million South Sudanese refugees, with the largest number of new arrivals reported in Uganda.

• WFP enhanced its air fleet to address the increasing humanitarian assistance needs.

• Fighting and insecurity have resulted in increased displacement in Unity State and the Equatoria region.
  Access permitting, WFP is working with partners to provide assistance to affected communities.

• Flight safety assurances have become mandatory in Northern Bahr el Ghazal for the first time in WFP’s operations in South Sudan.

WFP Assistance

SO 200775: The Food Security and Livelihoods Cluster, which WFP co-leads with FAO, is dedicated to coordinating the food security sector nationally to ensure the most efficient response to food availability and access issues. More information: http://fscluster.org/south-sudan-rep

SO 200778: Through the Logistics Cluster, WFP supports the humanitarian community by providing logistical expertise, coordination and transportation of humanitarian cargo. More information: http://www.logcluster.org/ops/ssd11a

SO 200931: The Emergency Telecommunications Cluster (ETC) provides necessary telecommunication services where basic infrastructure is limited. More information: https://www.etcluster.org/emergencies/south-sudanconflict

SO 200786: WFP operates the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) on behalf of the humanitarian community, providing safe and reliable air transport to thousands of humanitarian personnel.

SO 200379: The feeder roads operation is dedicated to linking farmers and communities to markets and basic services as well as to reducing transportation costs and improving delivery efficiency.
IR-EMOP: The IR-EMOP aims to provide immediate food assistance to an estimated 45,000 people who were displaced by the recent outbreak of violence in Juba in July 2016.

Operational Updates

• In line with increased requirements for movement of commodities by air, WFP is increasing its air fleet to include an additional two Ilyushins (IL-76). One IL-76 has already arrived and is operational while another waits clearance from the Government of South Sudan. The expanded fleet of 13 aircrafts will enable daily deliveries to increase from 360 mt to 480 mt. Throughout the remainder of the year, WFP expects that 95 percent of commodity deliveries will be through airdrops due to poor road conditions and insecurity.

• In September, WFP participated in an inter-agency assessment mission in three communities outside of Wau. The assessment found the food security situation of the population stressed though nutrition indicators were below emergency levels. In October, WFP is planning to airdrop and air lift commodities to assist these populations.

• WFP has supported the rehabilitation of the access road from Bentiu to the airdrop site in preparation for airdrops to commence in October. Roads have become inaccessible, requiring WFP to airdrop commodities to meet the needs of 196,000 people seeking shelter at the UN Protection of Civilian (PoC) site and within Bentiu town.

• WFP concluded phase III of the scaled up response in Northern Bahr el Ghazal, providing emergency food and nutrition assistance to 827,000 people. This included households who received general food distributions alongside nutrition support for the treatment and prevention of malnutrition in children and mothers.

Highlights

• On 21 September, the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) deployed a second helicopter to Maiduguri to boost humanitarian access in the northeast.

• WFP continued its cross-border food delivery operation from Cameroon to Banki, Borno state, and distributions to several other camps in Borno and Yobe States.

• As of end September, WFP assisted 95,500 people with cash transfers, 153,000 people with food and 99,130 children aged 6–59 months with nutritious food.

Operational Updates

• WFP and IOM have so far registered 312,000 people for assistance through CBT, including 5,700 households targeted through the joint programme with UNICEF and 8,000 households in Yobe that will receive cash-based transfers alongside FAO’s distribution of seeds to protect and enhance livelihoods.

• As of end September, WFP has assisted 73,886 children aged 6–59 months in Borno and Yobe States (49,903 and 23,983 respectively) under BSF.

• As of end September, WFP assisted 153,000 people (72 percent of planned) in seven locations in Borno State:
  Dalori 1 and 2, Gubio, Bama, Banki, Gwoza, and Pulka.
  In Yobe State, WFP delivered a one-off in-kind food assistance to 7,700 people in Damaturu.

• WFP has secured three warehouses in Maiduguri with a storage capacity of 5,900 mt and has set up mobile storage units in Banki for food coming from Cameroon.

• As of end September, UNHAS has transported 1,196 passengers from 23 organizations via helicopter, and 9,035 passengers from 62 organizations via fixed-wing aircraft.