CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC (CAR)91 PER CENT OF IDPS PLAN TO LEAVE SITES IN NEXT FOUR WEEKS Interviews conducted with IDPs show that 91 per cent envision leaving their displacement site within the next four weeks, according to IOM. While 77 per cent plan to return to their places of origin, 14 per cent want to relocate to new locations. As of this week, 152,525 IDPs remain internally displaced in CAR, and 418,296 live as refugees in neighboring countries, 180,011 having fled since December 2013.
CHADBORDER WITH NIGERIA RE-OPENED On 20 September, Chad opened a corridor along the border with Nigeria to permit trade between two countries. The border was closed in August reportedly as a measure to contain the Ebola outbreak in neighbouring Nigeria.
MALI/MAURITANIA/ SENEGALREDUCED AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION PREDICTED WFP reports that erratic and delayed rainfall has caused significant and widespread rainfall deficits, leading to below average vegetation level across the Sahel. Most affected areas are in Senegal, Mauritania and western Mali which will experience adverse impacts to their agriculture production. An extended rainfall season is increasingly unlikely.
NIGERIA1.5 MILLION IDPS IN THE NORTHEAST There now are up to 1.5 million IDPs in the six northeast states, according to the Nigerian National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) - a significant increase over the 646,693 IDPs reported from an inter-agency assessment in May 2014.
UNHCR LAUNCHES APPEAL FOR NIGERIAN REFUGEES On 16 September, UNHCR launched a USD$34 million appeal to assist the estimated 75,000 Nigerian refugees that have fled Northeast Nigeria for Cameroon, Chad and Niger. The Plan foresees upwards of 95,000 refugees by the end of the year—an additional 10,000 refugees in Chad alone.
REGIONAL: EBOLA
As of 22 September, the Ebola outbreak has caused 5,483 cases (suspected, probable, and confirmed) and 2,803 deaths. This is a 20 per cent increase in caseload as compared to last week. Liberia continues to be the hardest hit country hosting more than half of the EVD caseload.
EIGHT HEALTH WORKERS KILLED IN GUINEA On 16 September, eight people were killed while conducting Ebola awareness activities in Nzerekore; community members who carried out the attack were reportedly fearful that the group was spreading the Ebola disease. The attack underlines the serious risks faced by Ebola health workers in affected countries.
200 CASES IDENTIFIED DURING NATIONWIDE LOCKDOWN IN SIERRA LEONE
From 19-21 September, Sierra Leonean national authorities imposed an unprecedented nationwide lockdown, requiring all persons to remain indoors for three days while 30,000 community health workers went door-to-door to identify cases of Ebola and distribute soap.
The lockdown identified some 200 suspected EVD cases of which 130 have since been confirmed.
UN MISSION FOR EBOLA EMERGENCY RESPONSE (UNMEER) ESTABLISHED On 22 September, the UN Secretary-General established the UN Mission for Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER) to be headed by SRSG Anthony Banbury. The mission will be based in Accra, Ghana and lead all UN Ebola response efforts in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. Dr. David Nabarro has been appointed as the Special Envoy for Ebola.
