GUINEA BISSAU: REFUGEES FROM SENEGAL

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1 GUINEA BISSAU: REFUGEES FROM SENEGAL appeal no: 10/98 25 March 1998 THIS APPEAL SEEKS CHF 597,000 IN CASH, KIND AND SERVICES TO ASSIST 5,000 BENEFICIARIES FOR 12 MONTHS The Disaster Casamance, in southern Senegal, has been the scene of unrest since In August 1997, renewed fighting between separatist rebels and the Senegalese army triggered further displacements across the border into neighbouring Guinea Bissau. Currently, 15,000 refugees are living among the local population in the Cacheu border region. Only 750 are being assisted by the UNHCR, which installed them in Jolmete camp, 46 km from the border, in After a meeting of the chiefs of staff of Guinea Bissau, Senegal, Gambia and Guinea Conakry on 17 October 1997, the Guinea Bissau government undertook to remove all Senegalese refugees from the insecure frontier zone, in accordance with the OAU Convention on Refugees in Africa (Addis Ababa, 10 September 1969), to help restore peace in Casamance. A UNHCR evaluation mission in January 1998 proposed that an initial 5,000 refugees be resettled in Jolmete camp. The Response so far Government action w The January survey estimated there were just over 4,000 refugees in the border zone and a further 750 in Jolmete camp. The operation to bring them together includes increasing refugee awareness of the move, constructing infrastructure to expand the camp and resettling 500 refugees per fortnight. The National Commission for Casamance Refugee Management, in charge of co-ordination of the operation will decide the timetable for the move. UNHCR, Guinea Bissau Red Cross Society (GBRCS) and the League of Human Rights (a Guinea Bissau NGO) are all members of the Commission. Red Cross/Red Crescent action w Supported by the Federation, and acting on the request of the Government, the National Society plans to provide health, water and sanitation services both in Jolmete camp itself and for the neighbouring community. Other Agencies Action w

2 UNHCR ensures protection for the refugees and is currently financing assistance to the 750 refugees in the camp. It provided financial and logistical support for the evaluation mission in January and plans to finance the move of the refugees and part of the cost of resettling them. ADRA has full responsibility for the management of the assistance programme in Jolmete camp, through a contract with UNHCR. The Government has appointed the League for Human Rights to ensure respect for the refugees during the move. The Intended Operation Assessment w An evaluation conducted by the Federation and the National Society identified the need for shelter, food distributions for eight months (until the next harvest), water and sanitation, health, distribution of household goods, education and agricultural programme aiming at self-sufficiency in food. Immediate needs w { 1 Head of Delegation; { 1 water and sanitation delegate; { Medical aid for the 750 refugees already installed at Jolmete; { 1 Landcruiser, 1 Pickup, 1 motorbike, 1 ambulance; { 2 Codan radio sets for the vehicles and an HF base. The move is expected to be completed in July, if it begins promptly, and will require: { construction of 160 latrines; { provision of water for 4,000 people; { extension of the Health Centre building, and provision of medicaments, medical supplies and other health services for the 4,000 new arrivals; { training of volunteers and refresher training for the community based first aiders. Red Cross Objectives { To provide the water supply, sanitation and health provision for about 5,000 Senegalese from Casamance at the Jolmete camp and the surrounding community; { To draw up a disaster preparedness plan for potential cholera epidemics and and/or an influx of refugees; { To help reinforce the operational capacities of the GBRCS. National Society/Federation Plan of Action 1st phase : creating infrastructures : January-May

3 Selecting and training of National Society personnel involved in the operation: { 30 community health workers (for the relief operation and disaster preparedness plan), 30 sanitation workers, 30 volunteers in medical and nutrition education, a technical team of five to instal and maintain the water network, training in management (headquarters, Canchugo Regional Committee) Setting up essential infrastructures in the areas of health, water supply and sanitation for 5,000 refugees: { install the water network, construct 160 latrines, enlarge and equip the Health Centre, provide medical assistance for the refugees and local population. During this phase, the National Society and the Federation will prepare for a further intake of Senegalese refugees from Casamance. With the approach of the rainy season in June, GBRCS/Federation must also be alert to cholera epidemics. Operations will be co-ordinated by a Federation Head of Delegation in Guinea-Bissau, in close collaboration with the GBRCS Secretary General. The Abidjan Regional Delegation will lend technical and logistical support. 2nd phase: supervision, June-December 1998 { Continue the health, water and sanitation programme; { Set up the programme for health and nutrition education for the refugee and local population; { Follow-up of the needs and supervise activities while ensuring that staff are complying with Federation standard management systems; { Evaluate the operation and consider to what extent the strengthening of the National Society s capacities will allow it to deal with a possible cholera epidemic or a further influx of refugees; Capacity of the National Society GBRCS has eight regional committees, including Cacheu where Jolmete camp is situated. A community-based training programme for first-aiders was started in 1997 with the training of 24 instructors in all regional committees. Follow-up training was conducted by the director of the disaster relief department in October and November Jolmete is situated 36 km from a regional committee (at Canchungo, the chief town of the region) where an operational base will be opened. The capital Bissau will be the operational centre the main road link from Bissau to Canchungo (80 km) is in good repair, although the river Mansoa has to be crossed by ferry. Capacity of the Federation in Guinea Bissau The operation will be co-ordinated and supervised by the Head of Delegation in Bissau, and will also require a water/sanitation delegate. National staff will consist of a medical officer for health education, an administrative/financial assistant, a radio operator and a driver. 3

4 Evaluation The Regional Delegation or Secretariat staff will carry out an evaluation of the operation in June 1998, in order to determine the intervention strategies to be adopted (relative to relief and development) for continuing the operation in Immediate Action GBRCS/Federation will negotiate and draw up operational agreements with the UNHCR, select and train NS personnel, construct the water network, latrines and extension to the Health Centre and procure the necessary materials both in-country and from Abidjan and Geneva. The Regional Delegation in Abidjan will provide support and technical advice, as well as acting as an intermediary for the purchases made within the region and forwarding other material to Guinea-Bissau. The Federation Secretariat in Geneva will grant the status of Delegation to the team of delegates in Guinea- Bissau, raise the necessary funds from donors, recruit a HOD and a water/sanitation delegate, supply the operation in Guinea-Bissau with the equipment ordered either directly or through the Regional Delegation, facilitate the installation of the telecommunications equipment already situated in Bissau. Participating National Societies will be able to consider financing the operation, providing delegates and donating materials, equipment and funds. Budget Summary See Annex 1 for details. For more information donors are requested to contact João Zita, Desk Officer, on , zita@ifrc.org Conclusion The opportunity exists to provide appropriate services to 5,000 refugees and to pass the benefits of these services on to the local community. GBRCS/Federation will also prepare for any possible further influxes and will take steps to ensure that the potential for outbreaks of cholera is reduced. Margareta Wahlström Under Secretary General, Disaster Response & Operations Coordination George Weber Secretary General 4

5 C:\In\Tmp\1098.sam BUDGET SUMMARY APPEAL No. 10/98 IN CHF ANNEX 1 NEEDS IN KIND (OR CASH) Shelter, construction material Blankets, sheets, mattresses Food Water, sanitation Vaccination kits for 10,000 persons 1 WHO emergency kit 1 UNICEF maternity kit Medical supplies Utensils and tools 1 "4WD" vehicle 1 motorcycle computer and telecom. equipment Office and housing equipment 2 generators 2 water tanks TOTAL NEEDS IN KIND (OR CASH) NEEDS IN CASH Transport, storage & vehicle costs Personnel (2 delegates / 12 months) Personnel (local staff) Training of local personnel Personnel (support costs) Travel & related expenses Information Administrative, office & general expenses Secretariat operational support TOTAL NEEDS IN CASH 11, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , TOTAL APPEAL CASH & KIND 597, LESS CASH ON HAND NET REQUEST CASH & KIND ,