CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC (CAR)
120 FAMILIES FLEE TO CAMEROON
Around 120 families have fled to Gbiti locality in eastern Cameroon following an attack blamed on Central African Republic’s Seleka rebels. The assailants burned down houses during the 29 January raid on Banga village north of the capital Bangui.
CAMEROON
BOKO HARAM ATTACKS CHAD ARMY
Three Chadian soldiers were reportedly killed in the Far North region when Boko Haram attacked Chadian army positions in Fotokol area on 29 and 30 January. The Chadian army said it killed some 120 Boko Haram fighters during the attack, according to media reports. Chad deployed forces in January to northern Cameroon at Yaoundé’s request.
NIGERIA
95 KILLED IN INSURGENT ATTACKS
Some 82 people were killed when Boko Haram militants attacked Maiduguri on 1 February, the second time in a week, in a bid to take control of the capital city of their Borno state homeland. In separate attacks in Yobe and Gombe states, suicide bombers also killed 13 people, according to the National Emergency Management Authority and local sources.
AU AUTHORISES REGIONAL FORCE
At its 30-31 January summit in Addis Ababa, the African Union authorised a regional force of 7,500 troops to combat Boko Haram. A meeting in the Cameroonian capital Yaoundé is expected to discuss the command, control coordination mechanisms.
WORSENING FOOD SECURITY
Many households in the conflict-hit northeastern Nigeria regions have fled to urban areas for safety. According to FEWSNET, they continue to face food shortages as harvests have been reduced, and are unable to buy foods from the markets. Areas worst affected by the violence will remain in crisis (IPC Phase 3).
COTE D’IVOIRE IDPS RECEIVE 20 MT OF RELIEF AID
Some 20 MT of relief items have been distributed to 3,053 people displaced by attacks in January in Dahioké, Grabo and Irato villages in the country’s restive western region. Two sites have been set up to shelter to 523 IDPs. The remaining IDPs are staying with host families.
REGIONAL / EBOLA VIRUS DISEASE (EVD)
FEWER THAN 100 EVD CASES REPORTED
A total of 99 cases were reported in the three West African countries worst hit by Ebola in the week to 25 January. WHO says the focus is now shifting from curbing infection rates to ending the epidemic. This entails improving case-finding, case management, safe burials and collaboration with communities.
22,057 CASES AND 8,795 DEATHS
There now are a total of 22,057 confirmed, probable and suspected EVD cases reported in the three countries and 8,795 deaths according to WHO’s 28 January update.
