Profile of Internal Displacement : Guinea

PROFILE OF INTERNAL DISPLACEMENT : GUINEA

Compilation of the information available in the Global IDP Database of the Norwegian Refugee Council

(as of 25 November, 2001)

Also available at http://www.idpproject.org

Users of this document are welcome to credit the Global IDP Database for the collection of information.

The opinions expressed here are those of the sources and are not necessarily shared by the Global IDP Project or NRC

Norwegian Refugee Council/Global IDP Project Chemin Moïse Duboule, 59 1209 Geneva - Switzerland Tel: + 41 22 788 80 85 Fax: + 41 22 788 80 86 E-mail : [email protected] CONTENTS

CONTENTS 1

PROFILE SUMMARY 5

CAUSES AND BACKGROUND OF DISPLACEMENT 8

MAIN CAUSES OF DISPLACEMENT 8 CROSS-BORDER INCURSIONS FROM LIBERIA AND SIERRA LEONE DURING AUGUST 2000-MAY 2001 PERIOD CAUSED MAJOR DISPLACEMENTS (AUGUST 2000-MAY 2001) 8 FLOODS IN SEPTEMBER 2001 CAUSE ADDITIONAL DISPLACEMENT (OCTOBER 2001) 9 ETHNICITY MAY BE A FACTOR IN COMPLEX POPULATION DISPLACEMENT AT REGIONAL LEVEL (MARCH 2001) 9 BACKGROUND OF THE CONFLICT 10 STRAINED POLITICAL RELATIONS IN MANO RIVER REGION SINCE 1999 (1999-2000) 10 INTENSE CROSS-BORDER RAIDS FROM LIBERIA AND RUF-CONTROLLED SIERRA LEONE WERE CARRIED OUT DURING PERIOD FROM AUGUST 2000 TO MAY 2001 (DECEMBER 2000-MARCH 2001) 10 GUECKEDOU REGION, AND IN PARTICULAR PARROT'S BEAK, WAS PRIMARY SITE OF CLASHES DURING HEIGHT OF FIGHTING (JANUARY 2000-APRIL 2001) 12 ARMS AND DIAMOND SMUGGLING PLAY MAJOR ROLE IN THE DESTABILIZATION OF THE REGION (NOVEMBER 2000-MARCH 2001) 14 SECURITY SITUATION IN COUNTRY HAS STABILISED SINCE MAY 2001 (OCTOBER 2001) 15 FLOODS IN SEPTEMBER 2001 HAVE AFFECTED APPROXIMATELY 200,000 PERSONS IN UPPER GUINEA (OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 2001) 16

POPULATION PROFILE AND FIGURES 18

GENERAL 18 ICRC AND WFP CONDUCTED KEY CENSUS WORK OF DISPLACED POPULATIONS IN EARLY MONTHS OF FIGHTING (JANUARY 2001) 18 GLOBAL FIGURES 18 GOVERNMENT ESTIMATES THERE TO BE 359,000 IDPS IN GUINEA (NOVEMBER 2001) 18 SOME INTERNATIONAL SOURCES SUGGEST THAT AS MANY AS 190,000 TO 200,000 PERSONS MAY STILL BE INTERNALLY DISPLACED (AUGUST-OCTOBER 2001) 19 LOOSE ESTIMATES OF THE TOTAL NUMBER OF IDPS IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING CRISIS RANGED FROM 60,000 TO 300,000 (JUNE 2001) 19 GUINEA ALSO HOST TO SOME 192,000 REFUGEES 19 GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION 20 NEWEST IDPS FROM SEPTEMBER 2001 FLOODS PRIMARILY CONCENTRATED IN NORTH OF COUNTRY (SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2001) 20 CIVILIANS DISPERSED BY FIGHTING HAVE CONGREGATED IN VARIOUS CITIES AND VILLAGES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY (MAY-NOVEMBER 2001) 21

PATTERNS OF DISPLACEMENT 23

GENERAL 23 MANY OF THE DISPLACED HAVE REPORTEDLY INTEGRATED WITH RESIDENT POPULATIONS (NOVEMBER 2000-MARCH 2001) 23

PHYSICAL SECURITY & FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT 24

PHYSICAL SECURITY 24 IDPS SUBJECT TO HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN GUINEA (JUNE 2001) 24 IDP CHILDREN COMPRISE A PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE GROUP (JULY 2001) 24 FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT 25 LARGE NUMBER OF CHECK-POINTS HINDERS FREE MOVEMENT OF REFUGEES AS WELL AS IDPS (JULY 2001) 25 IDPS OF KISSI MINORITY ETHNIC GROUP FORCED TO PAY FINES AND MOVE FROM KISSIDOUGOU DURING COURSE OF HEAVIEST FIGHTING (MARCH 2001) 25

SUBSISTENCE NEEDS (HEALTH NUTRITION AND SHELTER) 26

HEALTH/NUTRITION 26 HEALTH COORDINATION MEETINGS RECOMMENCE IN GUECKEDOU (NOVEMBER 2001) 26 UNICEF AND ACF CONDUCT NUTRITIONAL SURVEY IN REGIONS WITH LARGE IDP POPULATIONS (JULY 2001) 26 OVERALL HEALTH CARE SITUATION POOR DUE TO UNSTABLE ENVIRONMENT (JANUARY-MARCH 2001) 26 UNICEF REBUILDING THREE HEALTH CENTRES IN GUECKEDOU (MAY 2001) 27 GLOBAL ACUTE MALNUTRITION RATES IN ACCESSIBLE AREAS AT UNACCEPTABLE LEVELS (APRIL 2001) 28 SHELTER AND NON-FOOD ITEMS 28 IDPS LIVING IN ABANDONED BUILDINGS UNFIT FOR HUMAN SURVIVAL (MARCH 2001) 28

ACCESS TO EDUCATION 30

GENERAL 30 UNICEF LEADS EFFORTS TO CONDUCT EMERGENCY EDUCATION FOLLOWING THE FIGHTING (OCTOBER 2001) 30 FIGHTING HAS RESULTED IN RUINED EDUCATION SYSTEM (MARCH 2001) 30

PATTERNS OF RETURN AND RESETTLEMENT 32

GENERAL 32

2 IOM PROJECT AIMS TO ASSIST IDPS TO MAKE A SAFE AND REGULARISED RETURN (MARCH 2001) 32

HUMANITARIAN ACCESS 33

GENERAL 33 HUMANITARIAN AGENCIES WERE ONLY ABLE TO PROVIDE INTERMITTENT ASSISTANCE IN MOST AFFECTED AREAS DURING HEIGHT OF EMERGENCY (SEPTEMBER 2000-MARCH 2001) 33 PARROT'S BEAK AREA, SOUTHWEST OF GUECKEDOU, WAS THE MOST VOLATILE AREA (JANUARY- APRIL 2001) 34 UNHCR STAFF MEMBERS HAVE BEEN PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE TO ATTACK (SEPTEMBER 2000-JANUARY 2001) 36

NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL RESPONSES 37

NATIONAL RESPONSE 37 GUINEAN GOVERNMENT DISPATCHED DONATED FOOD AND NON-FOOD ITEMS TO IDPS IN APRIL 2001 37 GOVERNMENT ASSESSMENT OF INTERNALLY DISPLACED CONDUCTED IN OCTOBER 2000 37 REGIONAL RESPONSE 38 REGIONAL LEADERS HAVE SEARCHED FOR WAYS TO END THE VIOLENCE (APRIL-MAY 2001) 38 PLAN TO SEND ECOWAS TROOPS TO BORDER AREAS PUT ON HOLD INDEFINITELY (NOVEMBER 2000-APRIL 2001) 39 INTERNATIONAL FUNDING 40 UN 2002 CONSOLIDATED APPEAL REQUESTS A TOTAL OF 58,470,746 USD FOR ASSISTANCE AND REHABILITATION ACTIVITIES (NOVEMBER 2001) 40 UN REQUESTS ADDITIONAL US$1.8 MILLION FOR SEPTEMBER 2001 FLOOD VICTIMS (NOVEMBER 2001) 41 UN CONSOLIDATED APPEAL FOR WEST AFRICA LAUNCHED IN MARCH 2001 REQUESTS SOME $35,641,467 FOR GUINEA EMERGENCY 41 LATEST OCHA UPDATE SUMMARISES FUNDING RECEIVED THUS FAR FOR GUINEA BY SECTOR (NOVEMBER 2001) 41 U.S. GOVERNMENT HAS PROVIDED MORE THAN $40 MILLION IN ASSISTANCE TO GUINEA IN FY 2001 (OCTOBER 2001) 42 EUROPEAN COMMISSION GIVES 4.5 MILLION EURO IN AID FOR GUINEA; GLOBAL PLAN RECENTLY ACCEPTED FOR ENTIRE MANO REGION WORTH 5.1 MILLION EURO (MAY 2001) 43 UK DEPARTMENT FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (DFID) HAS PROVIDED £5 MILLION TO STEM GROWING HUMANITARIAN CRISIS IN WEST AFRICA (FEBRUARY 2001) 44 SELECTED UN HUMANITARIAN ACTIVITIES FOR 2001 45 UN FLOOD ASSISTANCE INCLUDES DISTRIBUTION OF EMERGENCY FOOD AND NON-FOOD ITEMS (NOVEMBER 2001) 45 UN SECRETARY GENERAL DISPATCHED INTER-AGENCY MISSION TO EVALUATE HUMANITARIAN SITUATION IN WEST AFRICA (MARCH-MAY 2001) 45 WFP HAS PROVIDED FOOD ASSISTANCE TO IDPS SINCE THE OUTBREAK OF FIGHTING (JANUARY- NOVEMBER 2001) 46 UNHCR PROVIDED LIMITED ASSISTANCE TO INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS AT HEIGHT OF CRISIS (JANUARY 2001) 49 UNICEF AND WHO HAVE WORKED TO ADDRESS HEALTH NEEDS OF INTERNALLY DISPLACED AND OTHER VULNERABLE POPULATIONS (MARCH 2001) 50

3 UNDP PROVIDED AID TO INTERNALLY DISPLACED IN KANKAN (JANUARY 2001) 51 UN POPULATION FUND PROJECTS ARE PROPOSED TO ASSESS THE NEEDS OF IDPS (MARCH 2001) 52 SELECTED ICRC HUMANITARIAN ACTIVITIES FOR 2001 53 ICRC, ALONG WITH WFP, HAS ASSISTED THOSE GUINEANS DISPLACED BY FIGHTING SINCE LATE 2000; NEW AID ALSO DISTRIBUTED TO SEPTEMBER 2001 FLOOD VICTIMS (SEPTEMBER 2000- APRIL 2001) 53 SELECTED NGO HUMANITARIAN ACTIVITIES FOR 2001 55 ACTIVITIES OF MEDECINS DU MONDE (MDM) IN GUINEA 56 ACTIVITIES OF ACTION CONTRE LA FAIM (ACF) IN 2001 57 ACTIVITIES OF CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES (CRS)/CARITAS IN 2001 57 ACTIVITIES OF INTERNATIONAL RECUE COMMITTEE (IRC) IN 2001 60 ACTION BY CHURCHES TOGETHER (ACT) PROGRAMME 62 TEAR FUND PROGRAMME FOR 2001 62 ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS 63

LIST OF SOURCES USED 64

4 PROFILE SUMMARY

The crisis that began in Guinea in September 2000 gradually subsided during the course of 2001. As of November, the security situation had stabilized throughout the country with the exception of the town of Kissidougou where relief agencies reported sporadic skirmishes in August and September (USAID 3 October 2001). The intense fighting of previous months had left many southern towns and villages completely destroyed. At the same time, the internal displacement of civilian populations, a phenomenon previously unknown to this West African country, was widespread. According to the Guinean Government, some 359,000 Guineans remained displaced in the country as of August 2001 (UN November 2001, pp. 12-13). Another 192,000 refugees were also present, many of whom had been relocated to new camps north of the Parrot's Beak region and away from border areas (OCHA 5 November 2001; USAID 3 October 2001; HRW July 2001).

Violence spilled over into Guinea when cross-border raids from Liberia and areas of Sierra Leone controlled by the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) intensified in both severity and frequency in September 2000. For the first time, armed combatants attacked major provincial capitals at some distance from the frontier. The Guinean government accused Liberia and RUF rebels of being responsible for the attacks and responded forcibly with helicopter bombings on RUF-held villages in Sierra Leone (IRIN-WA 8 December 2000). The Parrot's Beak region, southwest of Gueckedou, was the main "theatre" of clashes with an estimated 70,000 refugees and IDPs trapped by fighting there during the height of the crisis (WFP 12 January 2001; UNHCR 2001). The towns of Gueckedou and Kissidougou were also heavily impacted. Gueckedou and its environs were completely deserted and destroyed. Only recently had activity in the main town of Gueckedou slowly recommenced (Childreach June 2001).

While the Government of Guinea puts the current number of IDPs at over 300,000, international agencies report figures ranging from 60,000 to 190,000 (USCR 19 June 2001; WFP 8 August 2001 in USAID 3 October 2001). One explanation for the variation in figures may be related to the recent floods in the country. Devastating flooding of the Niger River in September 2000 has affected an estimated 200,000 persons in Upper Guinea, at least some of whom have been displaced from their homes (OCHA 5 November 2001; DPI 29 October 2001). The bulk of the conflict-induced displaced are concentrated in the prefectures of Gueckedou, Nzérékoré, Kissidougou and Macenta. Kindia and Forécariah are also reported to have important concentrations of internally displaced persons (UN November 2001). The full and complete return of internally displaced persons has been slowed by the complete destruction of many of the southeastern towns from which they came. The flooding in September 2001 also resulted in instability that did not encourage return.

In large part, internally displaced persons have integrated with resident populations. Most of them originate from rural areas and have had to leave their lands for shelter in

5 urban and peri-urban environments. While it was unclear during the height of the crisis whether IDPs were victim to human rights abuses during flight (as was the case with many of the Sierra Leonean and Liberian refugees displaced by the fighting in Guinea), Amnesty International published a report in June 2001 indicating that Guinean IDPs also suffered serious human rights violations during this period. The report states that Guinean civilians were killed, beaten, raped and abducted by armed political groups, including the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) in cross-border attacks from Sierra Leone (AI 25 June 2001). Women and children, estimated by the UN to make up 60% of the IDP population, have been at particular risk (UN November 2001, p. 13).

The health and nutrition situation had been worrisome in early 2001 due to the unstable environment. However, the latest months of calm have allowed for a renewal of many health activities. OCHA reported that health authorities recently returned to Gueckedou and that the first health coordination meetings reconvened at the end of September with the participation of representatives of the Department of Health, WHO, WFP, MSF, ACF and MDM, among others (OCHA 5 November 2001). In parallel, UNICEF and ACF conducted a nutritional survey in regions hosting a large number of IDPs over the summer. The survey was followed by the implementation of nutritional rehabilitation activities (UNICEF 27 July 2001).

During the worst of the fighting, humanitarian agencies were only able to provide intermittent aid to refugees and IDPs, particularly in the Parrot's Beak region, where aid organisations were not even allowed to go for a significant period of time (DPI 30 January 2001; UNHCR 19 January 2001; WFP 19 January 2001). However, an improvement in the security situation over the last months as well as the relocation of refugees from Parrot's Beak and border areas has resulted in the resumption of many humanitarian activities.

In response to the deteriorating situation in Guinea and neighbouring Mano River countries in early 2001, the UN launched a Consolidated Appeal in March of this year requesting some $35 million USD. Aside from food security activities which were 94% funded by October 2001, other sectors pulled in anywhere between 35% and 15% funding (OCHA 5 November 2001). The Consolidated Appeal 2002 is requesting some $58 million dollars. After subtracting those monies going directly to refugee assistance activities, a remaining $43 million is expected to benefit IDP and resident populations (UN November 2001). In between the launch of the two consolidated appeals, the UN also put forth an emergency appeal for Guinea targeting the 200,000 persons affected by the floods in September 2001. This appeal called for $1.8 USD million in assistance (OCHA 5 November 2001).

Since the onset of conflict in Guinea, WFP and ICRC have acted as the key agencies supporting IDP communities. Early on in the crisis, they conducted a census of the IDP populations and distributed emergency food and non-food assistance. UNICEF has acted as the lead agency in emergency education with a programme aimed at children whose schooling has been disrupted by the fighting (UNICEF 22 October 2001). NGO work has been critical for the internally displaced as well as refugee communities. MSF, ACF,

6 MDM, IRC, Première Urgence and Caritas/CRS, in particular, have made important contributions to the well-being of these populations and are now implementing programmes to support their further rehabilitation. One such programme, started in July 2001 and headed by Caritas/CRS, aims to improve the food security of thousands of IDPs in southeastern Guinea through an agricultural rehabilitation project (CRS 4 September 2001).

(Updated November 2001)

7 CAUSES AND BACKGROUND OF DISPLACEMENT

Main causes of displacement

Cross-border incursions from Liberia and Sierra Leone during August 2000-May 2001 period caused major displacements (August 2000-May 2001)

• Rebel incursions from Liberia and Sierra Leone have resulted in death, physical injury and material destruction in southeast Guinea • Continued attacks from August 2000 to May 2001 forced thousands of Guinean inhabitants to flee north with refugees

Reports of displacement from August-December 2000 (in chronological order):

"Fighting between Guinean forces and fighters from Sierra Leone has displaced at least 1,000 Guineans in the past week and angry Guinean civilians have attacked humanitarian workers assisting Liberian and Sierra Leonean refugees." (IRIN-WA 14 September 2000)

"Guinea, bordering the war-ravaged countries of Sierra Leone and Liberia, has suffered 15 insurgent attacks that have killed some 360 people during the past year [2000], according to the Guinean government. The attacks are believed to have come from Liberia and Sierra Leone. Uncounted numbers of Guineans have become internally displaced in the widening violence, and the number of uprooted people could grow if attacks continue." (USCR 19 October 2000)

"The town of Gueckedou was attacked by suspected rebel groups from Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea in early December [2000], ending a one-month lull in hostilities. Fierce clashes ensued between the rebels and Guinean government troops. The situation deteriorated further when rebels raided Kissidougou to the north.

The IRC and other NGOs evacuated staff members from Gueckedou and Kissidougou amid the spate of attacks. Meanwhile, tens of thousands of refugees are fleeing the region, most moving north by foot, away from Guinea's volatile borders with Sierra Leone and Liberia. Thousands of Guineans have also been displaced by the latest fighting." (IRC 15 December 2000)

"The attacks against Guinean villages close to the borders with Sierra Leone and Liberia continue to result in deaths and injuries, material destruction and the displacement of local residents and refugees (estimated 50,000 people), who are forced to flee their villages to seek refuge in regions away from the borders and stay mainly in host communities. According to UNHCR, there are some 400,000 refugees still living in Guinea, concentrated in the Guinea Forestière and Forécariah regions. These include 340,000 refugees from Sierra Leone, 5,000 of whom have arrived since the renewal of

8 violence in May 2000, and 60,000 Liberian refugees." (ICRC 15 December 2000, Humanitarian situation)

Reports in January 2001 (in chronological order):

"Les attaques perpétrées par des groupes armés rebelles, dans le sud-est de la Guinée, au début du mois de décembre [2000], ont suscité un vaste mouvement de panique parmi la population guinéenne et les quelques 350,000 réfugiés sierra-léonais et libériens présents dans cette zone frontalière. La plupart ont dû fuir vers l'intérieur du pays, ou ont trouvé refuge dans des villages et camps environnants. D'autres tentent de retourner en Sierra- Léone, en se dirigeant vers Kabala (enclave gouvernementale au Nord du pays), ou vers Freetown, via Conakry." (ACF 5 January 2001)

"A la suite d'incursions militaires de rebelles venant du Libéria et de Sierra Leone en Guinée forestière, plus de 300 000 réfugiés et environ 100 000 habitants ont été dispersés par une série d'attaques contre plusieurs camps et localités dans le sud-est du pays. Médecins du Monde lance une mission d'urgence pour venir en aide aux populations guinéennes et réfugiées de la région." (MDM 11 January 2001)

Since January 2001, fighting has continued in the border areas of the country. Most recently, Guinean security forces were criticized by Amnesty International for indiscriminate attacks on villages in Sierra Leone. See full report dated 4 May 2001 [in list of sources].

Floods in September 2001 cause additional displacement (October 2001)

"Gunea's humanitarian needs remain unmet following last month's [September 2001] severe floods in the eastern part of the country, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said today. [...] According to Government estimates, the floods affected more than 200,000 people to different degrees, including many who were displaced from their homes." (DPI 29 October 2001)

Ethnicity may be a factor in complex population displacement at regional level (March 2001)

• Existing ethnic affinities which transcend national boundaries are such that instability in the border areas could spread quickly • Mandingo and Kran groups in Guinea have strong ethnic affinities with identical groups in Sierra Leone

"The existence of identical ethnic groups across the four countries and beyond contributes to the prolongation of the conflicts and to complex population displacements. In Liberia, the Mandingo and Kran ethnic groups from Lofa county which form an important part of

9 the current dissident group in the country, have strong ethnic affinity with identical groups in Guinea and Sierra Leone. There is also an ethnic affinity between the same groups in the southwest of Côte d'Ivoire and the eastern part of Liberia. [...] The nature of the existing ethnic affinities which transcend national boundaries is such that instability in the border areas between Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea, involving Liberian Malinkes, Mandingos and Krans, spreads quickly into Guinea." (UN 23 March 2001, p. 7)

Background of the conflict

Strained political relations in Mano River region since 1999 (1999-2000)

• Rebel incursions from Sierra Leone in May and September 1999 were not taken lightly by Guinean government • Ambush at Macenta in September 1999 resulted in broken relations between Liberia and Guinea • Guinea closed border with Sierra Leone in August 2000 for fear of further RUF incursions

"Political relations between Guinea and Liberia worsened following a deadly ambush at Macenta in September 1999 in which Liberian soldiers were blamed for the death of 27 Guineans. Calm was only restored on the Guinean-Liberian border following negotiations at an extraordinary summit of the Economic Commission of West African States (ECOWAS) in Abuja. Sierra Leoneon rebel incursions into Guinea's Forécariah region in May and September 1999 have not been taken lightly in Conakry due to the human casualties and material damage. In July 2000, a third dissident incursion into Liberia was launched from the border with Guinea. The Liberian government has registered serious concern and threatened to pursue the dissidents into Guinea. All three governments within the Mano River Basin believe that the situation has degenerated beyond the management capacity of ECOWAS alone and sustained intervention will be urgently needed to avoid a full-scale war between Liberia and Guinea." (FEWER 19 September 2000, sect. 4)

"In early August [2000], Guinea closed its borders with Sierra Leone, fearing further incursions by RUF rebels. By mid August as many as 10,000 refugees trying to flee into Guinea to escape RUF atrocities in Sierra Leone were trapped on the Sierra Leoneon side of the border – most of them women and children. Conditions on the border were appalling and UNHCR reported that at least one pregnant woman and three children died while waiting to cross into Guinea." (HRW 3 October 2000)

Intense cross-border raids from Liberia and RUF-controlled Sierra Leone were carried out during period from August 2000 to May 2001 (December 2000-March 2001)

• Liberia and RUF accused of aiding and participating in incursion attacks

10 • Guinean army deserters are also said to be involved • Some 1000 persons thought to have been killed since fighting started • Guinea and Liberia have traded accusations that each harbours men seeking to overthrow the other's government

General: "The nature and intensity of recent attacks are characterised by destruction of villages, displacement of both refugee and Guinean residents, and human rights abuses. Efforts by UN Agencies, NGOs and the Red Cross Movement to supply food and medicines to the refugee camps and to IDPs, have been severely hampered by the fighting and general tightening of security in high-risk border areas." (UN 23 March 2001, pp. 13- 14)

"Before September [2000], cross-border incursions in the sub-region consisted of limited hit-and-run raids by marauding rebel groups or other local people with guns settling scores. Assailants would typically retreat back across the border within hours, leaving limited numbers of civilian casualties behind. However, the most recent attacks into Guinea indicate a more sophisticated military operation and a more ambitious aim: political and economic destabilization. For the first time, armed combatants have attacked major provincial capitals. More than 500 Guinean civilians have been killed, according to government officials. Tens of thousands have been displaced. Hundreds of thousands of refugees remain at risk." (USCR 12 January 2001)

"In August and especially September [2000], a series of cross-border raids were staged from Sierra Leone and Liberia into Guinea (in and around Macenta and Yomou, east of Guéckédou, and in the Forécariah and Kindia regions), and for the first time against villages at some distance from the frontier, prompting forceful reactions by the Guinean military and political authorities. Guinea accuses Liberia of aiding attacks launched across its borders with Liberia and Sierra Leone in Guinea's porous borders with Sierra Leone (around Forécariah, Pamelap, Benty, Kindia, Dar Salam and Madina Voula) and Liberia (Guéckédou, Nzérékoré and Macenta) remain extremely volatile and sporadic cross border raids by insurgents are continuing. At the same time, cross-border attacks in the Yèndè region of Guinea Foréstière have recently been followed by major assaults deeper and further into Guinean territory against Guéckédou and Kissidougou." (ICRC 15 December 2000, Introduction)

Reports of different attacks:

"Guinea's government has blamed Liberia and Sierra Leoneon Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rebels for a cross-border raid that killed scores of people in the Guinean town of Guekedou on Wednesday [6 December 2000], although independent confirmation of the attackers' identity has been hard to come by.

It was the biggest battle the Guinean army had fought at home since fighters first invaded Guinea in September [2000] near the town of Forecariah, some 75 km south of Conakry.

11 The BBC quoted aid workers in Guinea as saying hundreds of people had been killed in the latest battle. The government said 48 died, 36 civilians and 12 rebels.

Red Cross official Umar Issa Damagaram told the BBC at least 1,000 people were wounded. The rebels burnt homes, public buildings, businesses, vehicles and cut telephone lines. Thousands of civilians have fled, underpinning an assessment by UN High Commissioner for Refugees Sadako Ogata that the region was 'on the verge of a humanitarian catastrophe.'

The United States, which condemned the attack, said the insurgents came from Liberia and RUF-held territory in Sierra Leone.

'We regard these attacks on Guinea as an expansion of hostilities at a time when the Revolutionary United Front supposedly remains committed to the November 10 Abuja cease-fire agreement with the government of Sierra Leone,' Deputy State Department spokesman Philip Reeker said on Thursday [7 December 2000].

At one time or another, Liberia and Guinea have traded accusations that each harbours armed men seeking to overthrow the other's government. Similar charges have flown back and forth between Liberia and Sierra Leone. [...] Taylor has been accusing Guinea of being behind rebel efforts to overthrow him. That assertion got some support from an unlikely source: inhabitants of Guinea's forest region last month asked their government to expel Liberian ULIMO-K fighters who, they said, had attracted the cross border raids from Liberia. [...] The Guinean government insists that it has never harboured camps on its territory for Liberian rebels." (IRIN-WA 8 December 2000)

"More than 900 people, including hundreds of civilians, have been killed, on conservative estimates based on official government figures, since armed bands launched a major insurgency in border territory at the beginning of September [2000].

The fighting pits Guinean army deserters and insurgents against government troops, according to Conakry, where authorities also blame Liberia, Burkino Faso and Sierra Leoneon rebels of the Revolutionary United Front for aiding efforts to 'destabilise' it." (AFP 18 December 2000)

Gueckedou region, and in particular Parrot's Beak, was primary site of clashes during height of fighting (January 2000-April 2001)

• Parrot's Beak – southwest of Gueckedou – is main "theatre" of fighting • Humanitarian agencies have been forced to pull back repeatedly • Thousands of refugees and displaced persons trapped by the fighting

12 General:

"The Parrot's Beak has been largely cut off by fighting since last September [2000], leaving thousands without regular humanitarian assistance. The impending onset of the rainy season also adds to the urgency of the relocation effort." (UNHCR 6 April 2001)

"The situation in Guinea has become increasingly volatile over the past few months. The southwestern region of Guekedou, Languette (security phase four) and Kissidougou (security phase three), where approximately 150 UN staff and partners work, is especially a concern to the Security Management Team (SMT). In this region, there are approximately 1,000 untrained Guinean soldiers mixing with 400,000 refugees, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and UN humanitarian workers.

Reports from 12/13 January 2001 attacks:

"Heavy fighting between government troops and insurgents in southeastern Guinea has claimed 93 lives and forced thousands of civilians to flee their homes, the security services said Tuesday [16 January 2001].

Renewed clashes broke out on Saturday [13 January 2001] when the army launched an offensive against rebels who are accused by the Conakry government of infiltrating the forested border areas from Sierra Leone and Liberia.

Security officials said 83 rebels had been killed since then, with two regular soldiers, two retired veterans, two conscripts, a customs inspector and three civilians.

Many huts belonging to local villagers have been razed to the ground and thousands of people were fleeing the combat zone either eastward to the town of Macenta, near the Liberian border, or north towards Kissidougou, officials said." (AFP 16 January 2001)

"In recent weeks, MSF has witnessed increased levels of instability and insecurity in the Guekedou area of Guinea, which for the time being hosts around 250,000 Sierra Leoneon and Liberian refugees.

The region of Parrot's Beak in particular, located south west of Guekedou, has faced several incidents of attacks by armed groups which has put approximately 180,000 refugees and the Guinean resident population in the area (around 70,000) at severe risk. Following the last attack on January 12th, several thousand refugees have fled their camps trying to reach the Nyaedou camp north of guekedou, which is supported by MSF.

13 The Nyaedou camp itself has also recently been threatened by armed groups and cannot be considered safe. In this camp, MSF staff talked to several refugees who reported both the harassment and killing of civilians. [...] A large part of the refugees in Parrot's Beak seem now to be trapped in the fighting and have, as such, no access to safer areas. In addition, and due to the insecurity in the area, humanitarian assistance to the refugees is permanently hampered and intermittently impossible." (MSF 19 January 2001)

Reports from 23 January 2001 attack:

"Four people were killed and two wounded Tuesday [23 January 2001] when fresh clashes broke out in southern Guinea along the border with Sierra Leone and Liberia, sources here said.

The fighting in Guekedou sparked fear among some 23,000 Liberian and Sierra Leoneon refugees in the Nyaedu camp some 15 kilometres (9 miles) north of the city, military and humanitarian officials told AFP. [...] It was unclear who was behind the attacks Tuesday [23 January 2001] in Guekedou, however.

Some sources claimed rebels from outside Guinean territory were responsible, but others blamed the fighting on Liberian factions in Guinea." (AFP 23 January 2001)

"La ville frontalière du sud-ouest de la Guinée, Gueckedou, a été mardi [23 janvier 2001], l'objet d'une nouvelle attaque armée, a-t-on appris auprès de sources non officielles.

Les mêmes sources ont indiqué que la gendarmerie de la ville, située non loin de la préfecture, a été prise par les assaillants.

Des sources humanitaires contactées, ont rapporté une panique généralisée au sein de la population du camp de réfugiés de Nyaedou, situé a 15 km au nord de Gueckedou.

Suite aux attaques de début du mois de décembre, des milliers de réfugiés dont des guinéens, avaient convergé vers ce camp, portant sa population à 20.000 personnes, contre 13.000 auparavant. La zone de Gueckedou avait été l'objet d'attaques le 13 janvier dernier, rappelle-t-on." (PANA 24 January 2000)

Arms and diamond smuggling play major role in the destabilization of the region (November 2000-March 2001)

• Instability in Guinea and elsewhere in the sub-region fuelled by trafficking of diamonds and arms • UN report submitted to Security Council in December 2000 detailed involvement of Liberia and Burkino Faso in attacks on Guinea and war on Sierra Leone • Charles Taylor, President of Liberia, is major player in sub-regional illicit trade

14 "Underlying the Sierra Leone conflict and its spread in the sub-region is the trade in its illegally mined diamonds, and the proliferation of small arms in the entire region. Instability in Sierra Leone and Guinea is fuelled by armed support being provided from outside the country to the RUF in Sierra Leone and the related insurgents who attack Guinea. Recent reports have confirmed that trafficking in diamonds and gun running are used to finance war efforts in West Africa. In the recent past, some important steps have been taken to curb the contribution of the diamond trade to the instability in the region, including the certificate-of-origin regime for rough diamonds, established by the Government of Sierra Leone." (UN 23 March 2001, pp. 7-8)

"Freetown, Conakry, Britain, the United States and some West African governments have either accused or suspected Liberia – and to some degree Burkino Faso – as being the bogey man [in the illicit trade of diamonds and arms]. Both nations have vehemently and repeatedly denied these charges.

But behind these accusations lies Liberian President Charles Taylor's close ties to the imprisoned RUF leader, Foday Sankoh. Although Taylor admits this, he has consistently denied controlling or supplying the RUF with arms, and smuggling diamonds out of Sierra Leone. Britain and the United States say they have proof to the contrary. Taylor says they must table the evidence, but through association, his 'fingerprints' appear wherever the RUF surfaces." (IRIN-WA 8 December 2000)

"The principal support for the cycle of violence that has spread from Sierra Leone to Guinea comes from neighboring Liberia. Liberian President Charles Taylor reportedly continues to plunder the region's natural resources – particularly diamonds and timber – in order to foment instability, settle old scores, and pay off personal debts. The United States, United Kingdom, and other world powers have warned President Taylor to stop his 'diamonds-for-guns' trade with Sierra Leone's RUF rebels. However, according to observers in the region – and at last week's [mid January 2001] well-coordinated attack on southeastern Guinea suggests – Taylor's relationship with the RUF has continued unabated. Liberia has some legitimate grievances against Guinea, but they do not justify further appeasement of Taylor." (USCR 12 January 2001)

For full details of regional arms and diamond smuggling in West Africa, see Report of the Panel of Experts appointed pursuant to Security Council 1306 (2000), para 19, in relation to Sierra Leone (S/2000/1195) [External link].

Security situation in country has stabilised since May 2001 (October 2001)

• Crisis has stablised somewhat since early 2001 • Situation on border areas is still tenuous • Villages in and around Gueckedou are completely destroyed

15 "The general security situation in Guinea remains stable, with the exception of the town of Kissidougou, where relief agencies reported sporadic skirmishes and incidents in August and September. While there have been no recent reported incidents along the border with Liberia, the security situation remains tenuous. Areas along the border with Sierra Leone, the Parrot's Beak, and Gueckedou remain secure according to authorities of the Government of Guinea (GOG). Security in and around refugee camps remains tight, particularly in camps near Macenta and N'Zerekore." (USAID 3 October 2001)

"According to the report, villages in and around the city of Gueckedou are almost completely destroyed. Burned-out homes and looted buildings are much of what remains. Families are hopeful for a return to normalcy, and life in the town is slowly reemerging. Many local vendors are reopening and the busy Wednesday Markets are running again, growing in size each week. But the town is not yet livable. After the market is closed and work is finished, Gueckedou is practially deserted." (Childreach 30 June 2001)

Floods in September 2001 have affected approximately 200,000 persons in Upper Guinea (October-November 2001)

• Overflow of Niger river in August/September 2001 causes worst flood damage in 30 years • 200,000 persons affected to varying degrees • Worst-hit areas are Kankan, Mandiana and Kouroussa prefectures in eastern region of Kankan

"The Niger river and its tributaries overflowed in August/September 2001 causing the worst flood damage in 30 years.

Government authorities report 9 dead and more than 200,000 people affected in varying degrees, including some 40,000 children under the age of 5.

Flood waters have destroyed rice paddies and subsidiary crops, lead to a wide spread pollution of drinking water sources, compromised health and sanitary conditions and damaged a number of classrooms.

Upper Guinea is the poorest region in the country (62% of the population lives under the poverty level). To make matters worse, it is also host to thousands of IDPs who fled border conflicts last year." (OCHA 5 November 2001)

"In Guinea, the worst affected areas are Kankan, Mandiana and Kouroussa, three prefectures in the eastern region of Kankan, according to the OCHA report for that country.

It said an assessment carried out on 20 to 30 September by OCHA and the Guinean National Service for Humanitarian Action indicated that 1,226 huts and 99 houses had been destroyed in the three prefectures, while 20,531 ha of farmland were destroyed. OCHA said many areas were still inaccessible except by boat.

16 The Faranhah region, west of Kankan, was also affected." (IRIN-WA 8 October 2001)

17 POPULATION PROFILE AND FIGURES

General

ICRC and WFP conducted key census work of displaced populations in early months of fighting (January 2001)

"On January 23 [2001], ICRC announced that it was preparing an IDP census of the Forest Region. ICRC also performed an IDP census of the Upper Region in January." (USAID 5 February 2001)

"WFP and ICRC have agreed on joint efforts to identify displaced people in 'Haute Guinée' and 'Guinée Forestière'." (WFP 19 January 2001)

"Over the next few months, the ICRC hopes to quickly increase and extend its activities throughout Guinea on behalf of victims of armed conflict and internal violence. Evaluations are currently taking place in Guinea Forestière to assess the extent of the humanitarian problems and needs." (ICRC 15 December 2000)

Global figures

Government estimates there to be 359,000 IDPs in Guinea (November 2001)

• Government of Guinea puts number of IDPs at 359,000

"Dans le même temps, la problématique de l’assistance aux populations guinéennes déplacées et aux communautés hôtes se pose de manière accrue. Selon le Gouvernement, environ 359 000 personnes sont aujourd’hui dans cette situation. Le PAM et ses partenaires ont, pour leur part, fourni une assistance alimentaire à environ 190 000 personnes au sommet de la crise (septembre- décembre 2000). Depuis le début de l’année 2001, en moyenne 40 000 personnes par mois ont bénéficié de l’aide alimentaire du PAM. [...] Les statistiques du Gouvernement guinéen après la caravane de solidarité nationale menée au cours du mois d’août 2001 font état d’un total de 359 077 déplacés sur l’ensemble du territoire, dont 46% (165 122) dans les préfectures forestières (Gueckedou, Nzérékoré, Kissidougou et Macenta). Les préfectures de Kindia et Forécariah, qui ont subi des destructions lors des attaques, abritent également un nombre important de déplacés." (UN November 2001, pp. 12-13)

18 Some international sources suggest that as many as 190,000 to 200,000 persons may still be internally displaced (August-October 2001)

"Estimates of the number of internally displaced Guineans in mid-2001 ranged from 60,000 to as many as 200,000." (USCR August 2001)

"Although there are still an estimated 190,000 IDPs in Guinea, many returned to their homes. With improved stability and reconstruction efforts in the major market town of Gueckedou, many IDPs have returned to repair their homes." (USAID 3 October 2001 from WFP source dated 8 August 2001)

There is currently a wide variation in IDP figures. Some light may be shed on the question of numbers with the release of the UN Consolidated Inter-Agency Appeal 2002 due out the end of November 2001.

Loose estimates of the total number of IDPs immediately following crisis ranged from 60,000 to 300,000 (June 2001)

• Accurate figures impossible to verify at height of fighting • Agencies put the total number of displaced between 60,00 and 300,000 • UN planned for 150,000 IDPs in March 2001 Consolidated Inter-Agency Appeal

"At year's end [2000], Guinean government officials reported that the conflict had displaced more than 90,000 civilians and killed 360 to 600. Aid agencies estimated that the number of internally displaced Guineans ranged from 40,000 to more than 100,000. These figures were impossible to verify. The U.S. Committee for Refugees (USCR) conservatively estimated that about 60,000 people were internally displaced in Guinea at the end of 2000." (USCR 19 June 2001, sect. Population Displacement)

"Guinean civilians have suffered similar grave abuses during attacks by armed political groups. Towns and villages in southern Guinea have been occupied or have been the sites of protracted fighting between these groups and Guinean security forces. This has forced tens of thousands of Guineans, perhaps as many as 300,000 at one point, to flee their homes in search of safety. Most remain internally displaced within Guinea and in need of protection and humanitarian assistance." (AI 25 June 2001, sect. Guinea)

"Some 150,000 [persons] have been internally displaced, while about 135,000 Sierra Leonean and Liberian refugees have been trapped in difficult-to-access areas for months without regular humanitarian assistance." (UN 23 March 2001, p. 13)

Guinea also host to some 192,000 refugees

• 192,000 refugees in Guinea in May 2001 • 110,000 are Sierra Leonean; 81,000 are Liberian • Refugees have been moved from Parrot's Beak and camps along border to new sites in Albadaria and Dabola prefectures of Upper Guinea

19 "The number of refugees in Guinea was estimated in May [2001] at 192,000 (based on a joint WFP/UNHCR food assessment mission undertaken in early May 2001). The majority of them are Sierra Leonean (111,000) while the Liberians are 81,000.

The majority of Sierra Leoneans are now settled in four new camps (Sembakounya, Dabola; Telikoro, Kountaya, Boreah in Albadaria) with a population of 57,905 refugees living in Albadaria, Kissidougou and Dabola." (OCHA 5 November 2001)

For security reasons, the majority of refugees were moved from the Parrot's Beak region and from camps along the border to new camps further in the interior:

"Since the evacuation of Parrot's Beak refugees was completed [end May 2001], those refugees have settled primarily in the Albadaria and Dabola Prefectures of Upper Guinea. There are three active camps in Albadaria: Boreah with 13,000 refugees, Kountaya with 26,000, Telikoro with 11,500; and one active camp in Dabola, Sembakounya with 7,500 refugees. The majority of these refugees are from Sierra Leone. In the southern Forest Region, near Macenta and N'Zerekore, there are two active camps: Kouanakan with 13,500 refugees and Kola with 2,500. The majority of these refugees are Liberian. Refugees in camps continue to be reliant upon humanitarian assistance, including food aid. However, thousands more unregistered refugees have established their own settlements or moved in with host Guineans." (USAID 3 October 2001)

"By the end of May 2001, when the relocation process officially ended, UNHCR had relocated some 57,000 refugees of the estimated 90,000 from the border region. At the same time as UNHCR was emptying the border area of refugees, hundreds of new Liberian asylum seekers attempting to enter Guinea were being turned away at the border by the Guinean military, in violation of refugee law.

The relocated refugees have moved to six new camp sites in Guinea's northern prefectures of Albadariah and Dabola, some 200 kilometers from the border, with a total capacity of 100,000 persons. Four of the camps have already received refugees:

Kountaya (with 27,000 refugees has reached its planned capacity); Boreah (which can receive 10,000 and hosted 7,000 in May 2001); Sembakounya (which can receive 25,000 people and had 3,600 in May 2001); and Telikoro (which can receive 15,000 and had 2,600 in May 2001)." (HRW July 2001, p. 6)

Geographic distribution

Newest IDPs from September 2001 floods primarily concentrated in north of country (September-October 2001)

• Persons displaced by floods have been identified in Kankan and Mandiana prefectures of Upper Guinea region

20 "As soon as it was announced that water levels were rising, the volunteers identified the displaced people in Kankan, in the north of the country. Most of the supplies distributed came from ICRC stocks, although some were provided by the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Similiar assistance will be distributed to 125 families in Mandiana, near the border with Mali." (ICRC 4 October 2001)

"(a)...WFP in collaboration with Organisation Catholique pour la Promotion Humaine (OCPH) and Première Urgence (PU) is currently assisting 27,000 flood victims, including 2,000 IDPs in the Mandiana prefecture." (WFP 26 October 2001)

Civilians dispersed by fighting have congregated in various cities and villages throughout the country (May-November 2001)

• There are high concentrations of conflict-induced displaced in the following areas: Dabola, Dinguiraye, Gueckedou, Macenta, Forecariah, Kissidougou, Kindia, Kankan, Kerouane, Faranah, and Mamou • Government assessment of IDPs in August 2001 concludes that 46% of displaced are in prefectures of Gueckedou, Nzérékoré, Kissidougou and Macenta

"Les statistiques du Gouvernement guinéen après la caravane de solidarité nationale menée au cours du mois d’août 2001 font état d’un total de 359 077 déplacés sur l’ensemble du territoire, dont 46% (165 122) dans les préfectures forestières (Gueckedou, Nzérékoré, Kissidougou et Macenta). Les préfectures de Kindia et Forécariah, qui ont subi des destructions lors des attaques, abritent également un nombre important de déplacés." (UN November 2001, p. 13)

"(e) ...Finally, 13,500 IDPs received WFP assistance in the Kerouane prefecture (Kankan region)." (WFP 9 November 2001)

"(e) WFP in partnership with the Dinguiraye Red Cross completed food distribution to over 8,400 IDPs in Dinguiraye (Dabola region)." (WFP 26 October 2001)

"Following the outbreak of border attacks last September [2000], UNICEF responded by addressing the immediate needs of the refugees, internally displaced people and host communities in the most affected areas – Forecariah, Kissidougou, Kindia, Gueckedou, Faranah and Kankan." (UNICEF 27 July 2001)

"In southwestern Guinea, repeated attacks on Forecariah and Kindia in September and October [2000] temporarily displaced as many as 10,000 to 15,000 civlians. In southeastern Guinea's Forest Region, attacks on Macenta, Gueckedou, and Kissidougou in November and December increased the number of internally displaced persons." (USCR 19 June 2001)

"b) WFP completed the distribution of 165 tons of food to 14742 IDPs hosted in the region of Mamou. These beneficiaries were identified as vulnerable among a list [of]

21 32310 originally proposed by the local authorities. Of the persons assisted, 89 percent were women, elderly and children." (WFP 4 May 2001, Guinea)

22 PATTERNS OF DISPLACEMENT

General

Many of the displaced have reportedly integrated with resident populations (November 2000-March 2001)

"Over 150,000 Guineans have been forced to flee their homes in Gueckedou, Macenta and Nzerekore in the Forest area and in Forecariah. In some cases, the IDPs are mingled with the refugee population, while in other instances they have fled to their hometowns, as the Forest region attracted Guineans from all over the country. The majority of Guineans are being hosted by relatives." (UN 23 March 2001, p. 14)

"For the most part, internally displaced persons are not residing with refugees. Instead, they are finding accommodation with family and friends." (Timothy Bishop, IRC 30 January 2001)

"Ethnic affinities and cultural tendencies across the sub-region lead to significant displacements in host communities. While this is considered a healthier approach for displaced people, it also makes targeting difficult and blurs the line between displaced and resident local populations." (UN November 2000, sect. E, 2)

23 PHYSICAL SECURITY & FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT

Physical security

IDPs subject to human rights abuses in Guinea (June 2001)

• IDPs along with refugees have suffered human rights abuses related to the crisis • Guinean towns and villages have been occupied and have been the sites of protracted fighting

"The situation for refugees and internally displaced people in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone is a human rights crisis. Thousands of civilians, including large numbers of refugees and internally displaced people,have suffered serious human rights abuses, particularly since September 2000 when incursions by armed political groups resulted in fighting along the borders between the three countries.

In Guinea, Sierra Leonean refugees and Guinean civilians have been killed, beaten, raped and abducted by armed political groups, including the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) in cross-border attacks from Sierra Leone. Liberian and Sierra Leonean refugees have been killed, tortured, ill-treated, arbitrarily arrested and intimidated by Guinean security forces and harassed by Guinean civilians. More than 80,000 Liberian refugees in Guinea are in urgent need of protection and humanitarian assistance and others fleeing ongoing fighting in northern Liberia are being prevented by Guinean security forces from entering Guinea. Hundreds of thousands of refugees and as many as 300,000 Guineans have been displaced within Guinea as a result of the violence. [...] Guinean civilians have suffered similar grave abuses during attacks by armed political groups. Towns and villages in southern Guinea have been occupied or have been the sites of protracted fighting between these groups and Guinean security forces. This has forced tens of thousands of Guineans, perhaps as many as 300,000 at one point, to flee their homes in search of safety. Most remain internally displaced within Guinea and in need of protection and humanitarian assistance. (AI 25 June 2001)

IDP children comprise a particularly vulnerable group (July 2001)

• Displaced children suffer from psychological stress related to the conflict • IDP children along with refugee children have been separated from their families

"To protect children from exploitation, violence, abuse and from being enrolled into armed groups, UNICEF is conducting sensitisation campaigns and training for the Guinean armed forces, traditional healers, local authorities and host communities. HIV/AIDS education and FGM are also included in these campaigns.

24 In partnership with the Ministry of Social Affairs and IRC, local protection committees have been established to address the psychologial needs of displaced and refugee children and to trace families of separated children. To date, some 300 separated children have been reunited with their families. UNICEF is also supporting an assessment of children enrolled in armed groups, including regular armed forces." (UNICEF 27 July 2001)

Freedom of movement

Large number of check-points hinders free movement of refugees as well as IDPs (July 2001)

• Security forces have established a large number of checkpoints in response to threat of cross- border attacks

"Responding to the threats of cross-border attacks and heightened regional tensions, the Guinean government has increased the deployment of military personnel in the border areas and established a large number of checkpoints within the country with the primary purpose of screening refugees to prevent rebel infiltration into Guinea from neighboring countries. There are fewer checkpoints than there were several months ago on main roads in Guinea, but they are still plentiful. There are always checkpoints between any refugee camps and the nearest town. In the Kissidougou region, which refugees enter after leaving the border area, the checkpoints are numerous and often close together. At the end of April 2001, Human Rights Watch counted thirty-four checkpoints on the approximately eight hour drive between Kissidougou and Conakry – a route well traveled by refugees seeking to get to Conakry in order to get the boat to return to their country of origin. Checkpoints are often manned by police or army personnel, but many are either partially or entirely run by civilian defense groups." (HRW July 2001)

IDPs of Kissi minority ethnic group forced to pay fines and move from Kissidougou during course of heaviest fighting (March 2001)

"Following the September and December 2000 border attacks and skirmishes, some 150,000 persons are displaced within Guinea. UNDP and IOM will cooperate closely with UNHCR in an effort to fund activities that contribute to the easing of tensions between communities and the refugee population. IDPs without sufficient funds to pay for transport were forced to walk from areas such as the 'Parrot's Beak' to the relative safety of Kissidougou. Since Guinea is a country where ethnic divisions and boundaries are of paramount importance, IDPs who are not from the Kissi ethnic group were forced to pay 50,000 Guinean Francs and move to their own ethnic areas further north." (UN 23 March 2001, p. 81)

25 SUBSISTENCE NEEDS (HEALTH NUTRITION AND SHELTER)

Health/nutrition

Health coordination meetings recommence in Gueckedou (November 2001)

• Health authorities have returned to Gueckedou • First health coordination meeting since heavy fighting took place in Gueckedou at end September 2001

"Medecins du Monde (MDM) reported recently that health authorities had returned to the prefecture of Guéckédou, the region that received the most structural damages during cross border conflict. The first health coordination meeting for the Guéckédou prefecture took place at the end of September and is expected to continue meeting on a bi-monthly basis, MDM reported. Participants included the Department of Public Health, WHO, WFP, Plan Guinea, MSF, ACF, and MDM.

Since the destruction of the Guéckédou hospital, the closest option for Guéckédou patients is the overcrowded hospital in Kissidougou." (OCHA 5 November 2001)

UNICEF and ACF conduct nutritional survey in regions with large IDP populations (July 2001)

• UNICEF and ACF undertook nutritional surveys in regions hosting large numbers of IDPs in July 2001 • Six tonnes of BP5 were delivered to Kissidougou and Faranah to address the high levels of malnutrition

"UNICEF recently completed a nutritional survey in the regions hosting large numbers of displaced people, in partnership with the Action Contre la Faim (ACF) and the National Institute for Nutrition. This activity was followed by the implementation of a community based nutritional surveillance in 53 of the 70 targeted districts and nutritional rehabilitation centres in Tokonou, Banian, Gbangbadou and Sangardo. To address the high levels of malnutrition, six tonnes of BP5 have also been established in Kissidougou and Faranah to enhance the emergency response capacity in these zones." (UNICEF 27 July 2001)

Overall health care situation poor due to unstable environment (January-March 2001)

• Only 42% of Guineans with access to basic health care • Fighting has led to destruction of 11 health facilities

26 • Kissidougou Hospital is only referral hospital for populations in Kissidougou and Gueckedou • Conditions in existing health facilities are often poor

"...while in Guinea, only 42% of the population have access to basic health care. Recent fighting there has led to the destruction of 11 health facilities. Insecurity in many parts of the sub-region has hampered the regular provision of urgently needed drugs and medical supplies to PHUs." (UN 23 March 2001, p. 111)

"Kissidougou Hospital is the only referral hospital for Kissidougou and Gueckdou prefecture residents and displaced, plus the refugees at Massakoundou, Nianfrando, Sanguardo, the new Albedaria camps and the Bec de Perroquet, since Gueckedou ceased functioning.

The hospital itself is poorly equipped, particularly in terms of surgery and laboratory work, and even more so now that its catchment area and population is greatly expanded. UNHCR has supplied some kits to encourage free treatment of refugees." (WHO 20 March 2001, sects. 1, 3)

"The scope for outbreaks of communicable disease has escalated dramatically in Guinea and Sierra Leone, and simple human acts such as giving birth have become life threatening. Aid agencies are increasingly unable to reach refugees and displaced people trapped by fighting or taking refuge in the forests." (WHO 26 January 2001)

"There are few health facilities in the areas receiving the displaced population, and those available lack clean water and are incapable of handling the additional cases." (CRS 5 January 2001)

For further information on the general health care situation in southeastern Guinea, please refer to the WHO Rapid Assessment report of 20 March 2001 [External link].

UNICEF rebuilding three health centres in Gueckedou (May 2001)

"The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) is rebuilding three health centres in the south Guinean town of Gueckedou, which were badly damaged in fighting early this year, a UNICEF official said.

The UN agency hopes that rebuilding the clinics would help to encourage civilians who fled the region because of the fighting to come back before the main rainy season begins in June [2001], local UNICEF coordinator David Moussa said.

Moussa, who is based at Kissidougou further to the north of the embattled territory, said some of Gueckedou's inhabitants go back to the town in the daytime but almost nobody spends the night there.

27 UNICEF has sent vaccines to the town, where aid workers would like to see some stability restored, despite the lack of basic amenities such as running water and electricity. There are also no working telephones." (AFP 4 May 2001)

Global acute malnutrition rates in accessible areas at unacceptable levels (April 2001)

• Malaria, diarrhoea and respiratory infections do not aid the nutrition of IDPs • Malnutrition has increased sharply, particularly among children

"Access to basic health care and minimal food is limited for the majority of children. This resulted in the increase in avoidable diseases such as malaria, diarrhoea, and respiratory infections. Malnutrition has increased sharply, particularly among children. MSF has reported they are currently treating up to 200 people a day for malnutrition. In Massakoundou camp, for example, a recent assessment revealed that 15% of the population was malnourished. Global acute malnutrition rates in accessible areas are already reported above acceptable levels. In inaccessible areas, it is expected that malnutrition rates will be far higher for all vulnerable populations (refugees, IDPs and host communities)." (UN 23 March 2001, p. 113)

"e) According to the medical NGOs, the nutritional situation in the camps outside the Parrot's Beak remains alarming but stable, with malnutrition among children under five years at 10-15 percent." (WFP 6 April 2001, Guinea)

Shelter and non-food items

IDPS living in abandoned buildings unfit for human survival (March 2001)

• Female-headed households and unaccompanied elderly people are most vulnerable • Many IDPs being accommodated in overcrowded households

"The recent attacks in Guinea have displaced up to 150,000 Guineans, mostly women and children. These innocent civilians have had to abandon their homes and properties in a desperate search for safety and security. Most have taken refuge with relatives of friends, in already overcrowded homes, or are occupying public buildings, such as school or abandoned buildings, where conditions are unfit for human survival. Female-headed households and unaccompanied elderly people are the most vulnerable and destitute. The need for temporary shelter assistance in the affected areas is therefore considerable. Recent access to the forest region by humanitarian agencies for instance, has revealed the squalid conditions in which the IDPs exist. [...] Housing is one of the sectors most severely hit by the crisis that has been unfolding in the southern border region of Guinea since September 2000. Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) numbering 150,000 have lost everything, from crops, food reserves, seeds,

28 clothing to their homes, due to the scorched earth policy implemented by the rebels. Hundreds of houses have been burnt down sometimes with the occupants still inside. Localities such as Pamelap, Madina-Oula and Gueckedou have been completely destroyed. Many IDPs are being accommodated in overcrowded households, which has raised a number of health and sanitation concerns." (UN 23 March 2001, pp. 161-164)

29 ACCESS TO EDUCATION

General

UNICEF leads efforts to conduct emergency education following the fighting (October 2001)

• UNICEF prioritizes access to education following September 2000 emergency • Education infrastructures and services for IDPs and host communities in Kindia have already been inaugurated

"UNICEF is the lead agency for emergency education in Guinea. A priority for UNICEF is to ensure that children affected by the conflict have access to education. With funds from the Danish Government, UNICEF is now distributing 'school in a box' basic education kits. UNICEF is working in partnership with local and international NGOs (including Aide et Action and IRC) to repair and rebuild schoolrooms and establish early childhood interventions. In addition, UNICEF recently supported the training of 700 teachers in peace education and children's rights. UNICEF is also helping the Ministries of Education and Social Affairs with the creation of child rights clubs in schools located in the areas affected by the crisis." (UNICEF 27 July 2001)

"In Kindia, the first step of the response to the September 2000 emergency has been completed. Local authorities and communities inaugurated the latest infrastructures and services put in place for the internally displaced persons (IDPs) and host communities: 13 classrooms, 30 school latrines, 4 water points and 5 playgrounds." (UNICEF 22 October 2001)

Fighting has resulted in ruined education system (March 2001)

• 58 schools reportedly destroyed in conflict zone • Teachers have been forced to flee fighting and basic materials have been destroyed

"The average literacy rate in Guinea is 56%. However, as a result of conflicts rates along the border regions of Liberia and Sierra Leone are even significantly lower. Fighting since September of last year has resulted in mass displacement along these border regions and the education system is now in ruins.

Reports indicate that 58 schools have been destroyed in this conflict zone. Schools are being turned into temporary shelters and teachers have had to flee fighting and become part of the displaced. Many schools lack basic materials and are unable to cope with the influx of refugees and IDPs. Large numbers of children are therefore without access to any education, in addition to being denied other basic rights. In sum, the insecurity has

30 devastated the education system in this part of Guinea. Despite the presence of UNHCR and other partners, the situation for emergency education is still critical. If this project is not implemented, UNICEF and UNESCO fear that many of these children will fall into dangerous activities, will be recruited as child soldiers, and the delinquency rate will increase." (UN 23 March 2001, p. 91)

31 PATTERNS OF RETURN AND RESETTLEMENT

General

IOM project aims to assist IDPs to make a safe and regularised return (March 2001)

• Project will target 50,000 IDPs from Kissidougou, Dabola and Faranah • IDPs to undergo medical exam and registration prior to return • IDPs will only be allowed to return after safety in their regions of origin is ensured

"This project will contribute to the orderly migration of IDPs by setting up a reliable, effective transport system for a safe and regularised return of approximately 50,000 displaced persons from the prefectures of Kissidougou, Dabola and Faranah to their home communities along the southern border areas. Prior to departure, IOM will ensure that returnees undergo a pre-departure medical exam and be provided with reintegration packages in order to enable them a window of time in which they can concentrate on re- establishing their normal activities of life.

Return of IDPs will only be conducted after safety is ensured. The project will provide reintegration kits. This reintegration assistance will be provided only to those family heads whose return is facilitated through this project. Project staff will escort transport vehicles and a receiving project team will be positioned at the receiving end. In order to avoid duplication of budget line items, trucks purchased under the “Supplementary Emergency Transport” proposal can also be used for the return of IDP’s.

Return will be arranged and organised in close cooperation with UNDP, UNHCR, FAO, WHO and UNICEF. IOM will also cooperate closely with the ICRC in order to ascertain the safety of return routes and destination villages, to better identify the exact locations and numbers of IDP’s willing to return, and to better understand the time-frame within which the returns should take place. IOM will also coordinate closely with the Government of the Republic of Guinea through the office of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Bureau for Coordination of Refugees (BNCR) and local government authorities. In addition, they will cooperate closely with the NGO “Africare”, especially in the prefecture of Dabola in order to benefit from Africare’s on-going IDP population and attitude surveys. Potential areas of cooperation and collaboration also exist with NGO’s such as MSF.

Without return and reintegration assistance, IDPs will be forced to pay for transport, risk travel in medically unsound conditions, and arrive home lacking life’s basic necessities. In short, the return would possess the characteristics of an unorganised, unregulated migratory flow." (UN 23 March 2001, p. 81)

32 HUMANITARIAN ACCESS

General

Humanitarian agencies were only able to provide intermittent assistance in most affected areas during height of emergency (September 2000-March 2001)

• Pull out of UN and other humanitarian agencies from southeast Guinea in September 2000, December 2000 and January 2001 • Thousands of refugees and displaced persons remain cut off from humanitarian assistance and international protection • UN security phase four declared in southeast Guinea at end of 2000

"The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) today [30 January 2001] announced that it was once again scaling down its operations in southern Guinea because of fresh outbreaks of violence.

The renewed clashes and the withdrawal of UNHCR staff from the area around Gueckedou has left an estimated 250,000 refugees in a very precarious situation, the Geneva-based agency warned. Most staff operating in Kissidougou have been withdrawn northwards, with only several dozen international and national staff remaining. [...] The refugee organization had resumed food distributions on 15 January [2001] in Nyaedou, a camp situated 15 kilometres north of Gueckedou, when tensions in the area subsided...

Despite the problems around Guinea's borders, UNHCR continues to work at tow sites north of Kissidougou – Borea and Kuntaya." (UN DPI 30 January 2001)

"Relief agencies have been able to resume work in some regions of southern Guinea after scaling down briefly earlier this week in the wake of fresh attacks. But the situation remains tense across the region, making it one of the most dangerous areas for humanitarians worldwide." (UNHCR 19 January 2001, Guinea)

"Heavy fighting between government troops and insurgents took place in south-east Guinea, claiming 93 lives and forcing thousands to flee to safer areas. These fresh clashes forced WFP and other humanitarian agencies to temporarily suspend their operations in Gueckedou, pulling back staff to Kissoudougou, only a week after returning to the area. Consequently, more than 200,000 refugees are once again out of reach." (WFP 19 January 2001, sect. D, 1)

"Recent attacks in southeastern Guinea targeted UN offices and threatened aid workers. The repeated incursions, and resulting mobilization of Guinean civilian militias, have

33 created a security vacuum in which relief workers can no longer operate. Consequently, hundred of thousands of Sierra Leoneon and Liberian refugees are cut off from humanitarian assistance and international protection." (USCR 12 January 2001)

"The IRC and other NGOs evacuated staff members from Gueckedou and Kissidougou amid the spate of attacks...

The instability [in September 2000] forced the IRC to suspend its Gueckedou-based programs and leave the region. But when violence quelled two months later, the IRC began establishing a new logistics and staffing base in Kissidougou. Those plans have now been put on hold. Preparations for reopening IRC schools will likely be superseded by emergency camp construction, health, water, sanitation, and child-tracing and reunification." (IRC 15 December 2000)

" Phase four of the UN Security plan was declared in Forecariah, Guekedou, N'zerekore and Macenta areas, while UN and NGO staff were evacuated from the border areas. The Government subsequently issued a more reassuring statement, indicating that it would continue its tradition of hosting refugee populations. However, it stopped short of requesting that Sierra Leoneon and Liberian city dwellers be housed in camps, and that UNHCR relocate the refugee camps further away from the border." (UN November 2000, sect. C, 2)

Parrot's Beak area, southwest of Gueckedou, was the most volatile area (January- April 2001)

• Hundreds of thousands of refugees and IDPs trapped in dangerous Parrot's Beak region • Guinean military tells aid workers to stay out of Gueckedou and Parrot's Beak

"The Parrot's Beak has been largely cut off by fighting since last September, leaving thousands without regular humanitarian assistance. The impending onset of the rainy season also adds to the urgency of the relocation effort." (UNHCR 6 April 2001)

In addition, there are approximately 2,000 to 5,000 aggressors (RUF, Ulimo-k, Kamajor and Liberian/Guinean rebels) just over the border in Sierra Leone. No more than 20 kilometers separate these aggressors from UN staff and partners. Given the increasingly precarious situation today in Guinea, it is essential that the UN reinforce its security so as to ensure the safety of its humanitarian workers. If security cannot be enhanced, the SMT fears that UN staff and partners could be put at risk." (UN 23 March 2001, p. 158)

34 "Access to the affected areas of southwest Guinea has been greatly limited by bad roads and continued insecurity. The heavily forested region does not allow for airdrops of humanitarian aid. The rainy season is expected to begin in April [2001], which will further complicate the logistics of accessing the region by road." (CRS 26 February 2001)

"a) The situation in Forest Guinea remains tense. In the past week, fighting continued in Gueckedou town. This resulted in a closure of all public institutions such as dispensary, hospital, schools and police station. In addition, two-thirds of Gueckedou population has fled. WFP operations have been temporarily suspended. b) In Kissidougou District, the Guinean army carried out air raids on 27/28 January. UNHCR security officers, who also evacuated some of their staff, from Kissidougou to Kankan in Upper Guinea, have declared the region inaccessible." (WFP 2 February 2001)

"A large part of the refugees in Parrot's Beak seem now to be trapped in the fighting and have, as such, no access to safer areas. In addition, and due to the insecurity in the area, humanitarian assistance to the refugees is permanently hampered and intermittently impossible. [...] An assessment in Parrot's Beak conducted by MSF on January 11 [2000] – just one day before renewed fighting occurred – confirmed the lack of basic humanitarian assistance such as medical care and food in some, but not all, of the visited camp sites." (MSF 19 January 2001)

"UNHCR and other relief agencies suspended operations in Guinea's volatile 'parrot's beak' area and the neighbouring Gueckedou region on Monday [15 January 2001], amid fresh reports of fighting in south-eastern Guinea. The move represents a setback for UNHCR's effort to supply urgently needed aid to an estimated 250,000 people in a string of encampments in the 'parrot's beak' – a thumb of Guinean territory jutting into Sierra Leone.

UNHCR staff on Monday [15 January 2001] traveled from their base in the relatively safe town of Kissidougou to the more volatile Gueckedou and Nyaedou areas, further south. They encountered heavy military presence in Gueckedou town, which they described as virtually deserted. The military told aid workers to keep out of the northern Gueckedou and the 'parrot's beak' areas, which they said had been the scene of major military operation since an attack on Gueckedou last Saturday [13 January 2001]." (UNHCR 15 January 2001)

"L'axe Kissidougou-Guéckégou ayant été réouvert fin décembre, les organisations humanitaires, qui avaient été contraintes d'évacuer la zone pour des raisons de sécurité, ont pu y retourner, et porter assistance aux populations dispersées. Une zone sensible reste cependant inaccessible: la région dite du 'Bec du Canard', au sud-ouest de Guéckédou, où de nombreux camps de réfugiés sont privés d'assistance depuis plusiers semaines." (ACF 5 January 2001)

35 UNHCR staff members have been particularly vulnerable to attack (September 2000- January 2001)

• UNHCR staff member killed in 17 September 2000 raid • Another staff member kidnapped in same attack and later released • Guinean radio operator abducted in December 2000 and later freed

"A UNHCR staff member was killed Sunday [17 September 2000] and another was reported missing following a raid by unknown gunmen in the southeastern Guinea town of Macenta, near the border with Liberia. He was the fourth UNHCR staff member murdered in less than two weeks.

UNHCR officials in the Guinean capital, Conakry, said the slain staff member had contacted them at 6 a.m. Sunday to report that armed men had attacked and burned Macenta's military garrison at 4:30 a.m. He remained in contact until approximately 8 a.m., when UNHCR Conakry lost contact. Local UNHCR staff were later sent to his house, where they found his body. He had apparently been shot by the retreating gunment. His house had been burned, as well as a UNHCR vehicle parked outside. Witnesses said there were several bodies in the streets of the town. The identity of the victim is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

Witnesses also reported that UNHCR staff member Sapeu Laurence Djeya, a Cote d'Ivoire national, had been abducted by the attackers." (UNHCR 17 September 2000)

"The security of humanitarian organizations, particularly in the Guinea Forestière area, is a worrying issue. Aid agencies assisting refugees have been accused of supporting rebels and several humanitarian convoys have been attacked. Recent tragic events have demonstrated the dangerous working environment only too clearly. On 17 September [2000], during an attack on the town of Macenta, east of Guéckédou, 10 people were killed, including a Togolese expatriate working for UNHCR." (ICRC 15 December 2000, Humanitarian response)

"A radio operator for the UN refugee agency in the West African state of Guinea was freed Monday [22 January 2001] in neighbouring Liberia, 47 days after he was abducted by gunmen, the UN spokesman said.

Joseph Loua, a 51-year-old father of five, was seized December 6 [2000] as his home town of Guekedou was overrun by rebels in a border area packed with hundreds of thousands of refugees from Liberia and Sierra Leone. [...] After the attack on Guekedou, UNHCR pulled its staff out of the surrounding area, a part of Guinean territory that protrudes into Sierra Leone and is known as 'parrot's beak'." (AFP 22 January 2001)

36 NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL RESPONSES

National response

Guinean government dispatched donated food and non-food items to IDPs in April 2001

• Items were donated by individuals of the Guinean population • Supplies were for IDPs in Forecariah, Gueckedou, Macenta, Kankan, Kissidougou, Faranah and Kindia

"Relief items, including food, clothes and building materials, have been dispatched to Guinean nationals displaced by border attacks.

The materials, transported in 20 trucks were donated by the Guinean population, comprised of 146 tons of food, 400 tons of clothes and various items, 500 tons of cement, 15,000 corrugated iron sheets and some cash.

The supplies are for three categories of people, namely those in Forecariah, Gueckedou and Macenta, as well as those in Kankan, Kissidougou, Faranah and Kindia, and victims of the ammunition store fire at the Alpha Yaya Diallo Camp in Conakry.

At a ceremony to mark the departure of the trucks Saturday [31 March 2001], President Lansana Conte said he was pleased with the 'surge of national solidarity.'" (PANA 2 April 2001)

Government assessment of internally displaced conducted in October 2000

• Assessment mission conducted from 13 to 16 October 2000 • In Gueckedou and Macenta, Government relocated some displaced persons to safer locations

"The Government of Guinea undertook an assessment mission from 13 to 16 October 2000 to the prefectures of Kindia, Guekedou, Forecariah and Macenta. The mission estimated that there were approximately 76,000 IDPs as follows: Kindia: 8,000, Forecariah: 8,000, Guekedou and Macenta: 60,000.

In Guekedou and Macenta, the Government relocated some of the displaced persons to safer locations. It was unclear what the proportion was between those who had fled voluntarily and those relocated by the Government. A regular UN inter-agency forum has been established in Conakry to discuss coordination issues and other matters of concern regarding assistance to IDPs." (UN November 2000, sect. C, 2)

37 Regional response

Regional leaders have searched for ways to end the violence (April-May 2001)

• ECOWAS calls for extraordinary summit in April 2001 to discuss conflict between Mano River countries • ECOWAS supports UN efforts to impose sanctions on Liberia • Malian and Nigerian presidents lay the groundwork for negotitations between Guinea and Liberia

"Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) leaders discussed the situation along Guinea's borders with Sierra Leone and Liberia at a one-day extraordinary summit on Wednesday [11 April 2001] in Abuja, Nigeria.

The leaders expressed concern at the tension along the three borders, urged the United Nations to help the deployment of regional troops there, and called on the three governments 'to take individual and collective measures to curb the activities of armed rebel groups operating on their respective territories'.

The meeting also decided that a mission of the ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council would travel to Liberia on 18 April to monitor the implementation of measures the Liberian government has been required to take under a UN Security Council resolution. The mission will comprise Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Mali, Nigeria, Togo and the ECOWAS executive secretariat, the ECOWAS leaders said in their final communique.

Security Council Resolution 1343 of 7 March 2001 on sanctions against Liberia seeks to ensure that Monrovia stops supporting Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rebels in Sierra Leone. It was passed after UN and other reports accused the Liberian government of backing the RUF and illegally trading guns for diamonds with the rebels." (IRIN-WA 13 April 2001)

"Malian and Nigerian Presidents Alpha Oumar Konare and Olusegun Obasanjo have begun laying the groundwork for a political settlement to a six-month-old conflict between Guinea and Liberia, an official said Monday [26 March 2001].

On Sunday [25 March 2001], the two regional leaders called for an extraordinary summit of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to be held in the Nigerian capital on April 11 over the crisis.

Konare is the current holder of the rotating presidency of the 15-member ECOWAS, which is headquartered in Nigeria.

The official here told AFP on Monday that Konare and Obasanjo would work first to prepare the summit, adding that the 'big problem' for the time being is mistrust between the Guinean and Liberian presidents, Lansana Conte and Charles Taylor.

38 They will send envoys to Conakry and Monrovia to try to bring about a 'psychological breakthrough,' the source said." (AFP 26 March 2001)

Plan to send ECOWAS troops to border areas put on hold indefinitely (November 2000-April 2001)

• ECOWAS adopted decision in December 2000 to deploy 1,600 force along Guinea/Liberia/Sierra Leone borders • Deployment scheduled to be completed by end of February 2001 • By April 2001, intense fighting had delayed the deployment of troops indefinitely • Future deployment of troops still under active consideration

"At the sub-regional level, ECOWAS adopted a decision in December 2000 to deploy a 1,600 force along the borders Guinea shares with Liberia and Sierra Leone particularly in order to reduce tensions between Guinea and Liberia. Modalities of implementation were debated and established by ECOWAS at its meeting in Abuja on 12 January 2001. Subject to a number of clarifications and logistical arrangements the deployment is scheduled to be completed by the end of February 2001. The force, which will mainly patrol borders in the Forest region of southeast Guinea near Gueckedou, Macenta and Nyerekore, intends to: monitor the border areas, neutralize irregular armed groups, ensure free movement of persons, goods and services, ensure the security of refugees and displaced persons, establish a conducive environment for humanitarian assistance.

(UNHCR January 2001, sect. I: "Political and security environment")

"The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has remained an essential vehicle in the efforts to re-establish peace and stability in the countries concerned. The first ECOWAS peackeeping initiative (ECOMOG) was launched in Liberia in 1990, and was later extended to Sierra Leone in 1997 to assist the country's peace efforts. Although ECOMOG troops were withdrawn from Sierra Leone by the beginning of 2000, ECOWAS member states have contributed generously to the UN peacekeeping mission there.

The current ECOWAS chairman and President of Mali, Alpha Oumar Konare, informed a visiting UN Security Council mission that three important initiatives were being taken to reduce tensions between the Mano River Union member states, which include Sierra Leone, Liberia and the Republic of Guinea. First, it would station an ECOWAS political representative in Freetown, convene a meeting of the Joint Security Committee of the Mano River Union at the ministerial level, and a meeting of the Committee of Six on

39 Sierra Leone on the cease-fire. ECOWAS is also preparing to implement its decision to deploy military personnel to the Guinean borders.

Despite these commitments, the role of ECOWAS in resolving the region's problems continues to be compromised by severe lack of resources and capacity. Further, subregional leaders have been largely divided and some have supported one belligerent against the other, or a rebel group against a government." (UN November 2000, Sect. B, 3)

Escalating violence by early February 2001 put plans for the peacekeeping force at risk:

"A 1,700-strong west African peacekeeping force to be deployed in a war-torn region of Guinea along the border of Sierra Leone and Liberia is in jeopardy because of spiralling unrest, an senior official [said] Tuesday [6 February 2001].

'With new tensions flaring along the borders of the three countries, there is no question of sending our troops into a slaughterhouse,' said the high-ranking official from one of four nations that agreed to send troops to the conflict zone." (AFP 6 February 2001)

"Regional leaders have agreed to deploy some 1,700 troops in the troubled border area, but the soldiers have not moved in. ECOWAS has cited logistical problems, but Malian army sources have spoken of the risks of a powderkeg." (AFP 11 April 2001)

Idea of border troops remains under consideration:

"The possible deployment of an interposition force along the borders between Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone to help prevent the armed incursions occurring in the area remains under active consideration by ECOWAS." (UNSC 2 May 2001)

International funding

UN 2002 Consolidated Appeal requests a total of 58,470,746 USD for assistance and rehabilitation activities (November 2001)

• Of total requested, 14,507,800 USD is for UNHCR activities in favour of refugees • Remaining 43,963,736 USD to benefit directly or indirectly Guinean IDPs • Some 5,000,000 USD to go to heath and sanitation programmes • WFP requests 20,801,392 USD for food security activities

40 (UN November 2001, p. 10)

UN requests additional US$1.8 million for September 2001 flood victims (November 2001)

"Following a recent interagency assessment mission with national authorities, United Nations Agencies in Guinea and a special UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) team are calling on international donors to respond to existing unmet needs to assist thousands of flood victims living in the Northeast. According to a joint government of Guinea/UN/UNDAC mission report issued 29 October 2001, the initial estimate of funds required totals some US$1.8 million. (OCHA 5 November 2001)

UN Consolidated Appeal for West Africa launched in March 2001 requests some $35,641,467 for Guinea emergency

See Table I (pg. 3) and Table IV (pp. 15-16) in the UN Consolidated Appeal for West Africa for details on funding requirements for Guinea [External link].

Latest OCHA update summarises funding received thus far for Guinea by sector (November 2001)

"...By the end of October [2001], the agriculture sector through the CAP 2001 for Guinea was 15 percent financed:

41 [...] The overall funding situation in the Coordination and Support Services sector for Guinea was 12% percent funding by the end of October. [...] There has been no funding through the CAP 2001 for this sector [Economic recovery and infrastructure]. [...] The overall financial situation for the Education Sector through the CAP 2001 was 21% financed by the end of October. [...] The overall funding situation in the Family Shelter and Non Food Items sector remained unfunded. [...] From table: The financial situation for the Food Security sector was 94% funded. [...] From table: The financial situation for the Health/Nutrition sector was 35% funded. (OCHA 5 November 2001)

For full information, refer to the Humanitarian Situation Report UN OCHA-Guinea October 2001 [External link].

U.S. Government has provided more than $40 million in assistance to Guinea in FY 2001 (October 2001)

• USAID/OFDA assistance in FY 2001 totals over $1 USD million • USAID/Food for Peace programming totalled over $7 USD million • USAID/Africa Bureau budget was over $9 USD million • State/Bureau for Population, Refugees and Migration provide $ 22.8 USD million through various humanitarian agencies

"USAID/OFDA Assistance. In FY 2001, USAID/OFDA provided more than $1 million in humanitarian assistance in support of ongoing agricultural programs, emergency non- food items, and humanitarian coordination programs for IDPs and war-affected Guineans.

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) - Emergency agricultural assistance to IDPs $196,000

International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) - Distribution of non-food items to IDPs $279,000

U.N. Development Programs - Grant to support the Humanitarian Assistance Coordination Unit for disseminating information and coordinating relief efforts $545,000

Total USAID/OFDA FY 2001 $1,020,000

42 USAID/FFP Assistance. In FY 2001, USAID/Office of Food for Peace/Emergency Programs (FFP/EP) provided $7.6 million in emergency food assistance, including 13,770 MT of commodities, in support of the U.N. World Food Program's (WFP) Protracted Relief and Recovery Operation (PRRO) and Emergency Operation (EMOP) for refugees, IDPs, and war-affected Guineans.

Total USAID/FFP FY 2001 $7,580,400

USAID/AFR Assistance. In FY 2001, USAID Africa Bureau (AFR) provided an estimated $9.5 million in support of humanitarian assistance programs including: child survival programs, democracy and human rights programs, and the special self-help fund for war-affected Guineans.

Total USAID/AFR FY 2001 $9,482,000

State/PRM Assistance. In FY 2001, the U.S. Department of State's Bureau for Population, Refugees, and Migration (State/PRM) provided $22.8 million through UNHCR, other U.N. agencies, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and NGOs in support of agriculture, education, health, nutrition, refugee relocation and repatriation, and other humanitarian assistance programs for refugees and IDPs in Guinea.

Total State/PRM FY 2001 $22,819,966

TOTAL USG Humanitarian Assistance to Guinea in FY 2001 $40,902,366." (USAID 3 October 2001)

European Commission gives 4.5 million Euro in aid for Guinea; global plan recently accepted for entire Mano region worth 5.1 million Euro (May 2001)

• Targeted beneficiaries for Mano River region plan are refugee, returnees and internally displaced persons • Aid earmarked for health care, water and food aid activities • Beneficiaries will include refugees, IDPs and residents

"The European Commission (EC) has adopted a global plan worth euro 5.1 million (about US $4.7 million) for victims of the 'continuing humanitarian crisis' in the countries of the Mano River Union, the EC Humanitarian Aid Office, ECHO, reported.

The targeted beneficiaries are refugees, returnees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Guinea and Sierra Leone which, together with Liberia, make up the Mano River Union." (IRIN-WA 10 October 2001)

"The European Commission is providing humanitarian aid worth €4.5 million to help victims of the fighting in frontier areas of Guinea adjacent to Sierra Leone and Liberia.

43 The aid is earmarked principally for health care, water and food. It is being channelled by the Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO) through partner organisations working in the region.

A significant proportion of the new funding has been earmarked for health care, targeting both refugees and resident populations. Health facilities in the affected area have been damaged or destroyed in the fighting and the incidence of serious diseases including malaria, respiratory infections and diarrhoea is increasing. Integrated relief operations are also envisaged focusing on the provision of water/sanitation and of non-food items, including shelter. A third component of the decision involves support for food distribution to refugees and internally displaced people.

Since September 2000, there have been a series of incursions and rebel attacks on Guinean territory, emanating from Sierra Leone and Liberia. These have profoundly destabilised the Guékedou/Kissidougou area in South West Guinea, provoking movements of Sierre Leonean refugees living in camps and forcing local people to leave their homes.

The Commission plans to continue supporting both the internal relocation and repatriation exercise organised by the humanitarian community in the region.

ECHO gave over €4 million in 2000 to tackle the regional crisis. This included funding a major vaccination campaign against yellow fever." (ECHO 8 May 2001)

UK Department for International Development (DFID) has provided £5 million to stem growing humanitarian crisis in West Africa (February 2001)

• Humanitarian assistance to target refugee and internally displaced populations • £1.5 pledged to ICRC for its work with internally displaced persons

"Today, Clare Short, Secretary of State for International Development committed a further £5 million to stem the growing humanitarian crisis in Guinea and Sierra Leone.

Ms. Short said: ' We are providing urgent humanitarian assistance to help the refugee and internally displaced populations affected by the conflict in Guinea. There are some 250,000 refugees from Sierra Leone and Liberia who have been caught up in the fighting in Guinea initiated by Charles Taylor and the RUF who are also destroying half the territory of Sierra Leone.' [...] The assistance comprises of:

A grant of £1.5 million towards the 2001 Appeal of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), primarily for their work with IDPs;

44 A contribution of £500,000 to UNOCHA to assist with their regional coordination role and particularly to help put in place appropriate security measures to create a sufficiently safe environment in which the humanitarian aid community can operate; And a further donation of up to £3 million for further emergency work planned by other humanitarian agencies once we have established the highest priorities in terms of need.

This brings the UK assistance to refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in West Africa to £12 million since December 2000.

Last December, DFID provided a grant of £7m to provide immediate humanitarian assistance to improve the basic welfare and protection of a growing refugee and IDP population in Guinea, Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone and Liberia.

£3m was given to UNHCR who responded to the crisis by strengthening its local management and by developing alternative refugee camps away from the worst affected areas, further inside Guinea. £2m to the World Food Programme to meet additional food needs for refugees; returnees and IDPs. £1.5m to be divided between the ICRC and operational NGOs £0.5m to UNOCHA for human [sic!]." (DFID 23 February 2001)

Selected UN humanitarian activities for 2001

UN flood assistance includes distribution of emergency food and non-food items (November 2001)

See table in latest OCHA Humanitarian Situation Report of October 2001 [External link].

UN Secretary General dispatched inter-agency mission to evaluate humanitarian situation in West Africa (March-May 2001)

• UN inter-agency mission dispatched from 6 to 26 March • Objective of mission was to take stock of priority humanitarian needs in region • Mission warned of a deterioration in the sub-region if conflict not addressed • Mission underscores the importance of ECOWAS efforts to resolve conflict

"The Secretary-General has decided to dispatch an inter-agency mission to West Africa, from 6 to 26 March, led by Ibrahima Fall, Assistant Secretary-General, Department of Political Affairs. The mission will visit Côte d'Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea- Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo.

45 The primary objective of the mission is to take stock of the priority needs and challenges in West Africa and make recommendations on a coordinated United Nations response to the multifaceted problems confronting the region, taking into account initiatives already under way or being proposed by the various actors.

The inter-agency mission will include 10 United Nations departments, agencies and programmes. A representative of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) will also participate in the mission." (UNSG 2 March 2001)

A mission report was later released in May 2001:

A mission to West Africa by United Nations agencies has recommended that an integrated subregional approach be taken by the international community to prevent the further emergence of conflicts, restore peace and stability and promote economic and social development in the area, according to a report released today in New York.

The 32-page report, which Secretary-General Kofi Annan had submitted to the Security Council and the Economic and Social Council, is based on the results of an assessment mission to 11 West African countries carried out by representatives from the UN Secretariat and several UN agencies and offices specializing in the issues of development, refugees, children, human rights and food security. Staff from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) also took part in the mission, which visited the region from 6 to 27 March.

The inter-agency mission reports a widely shared view in the region that the situations in the Mano River Union countries, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau and the Casamance region of Senegal, were expected to deteriorate, with serious implications for the entire subregion, if steps were not taken to address the problems in a regional, rather than a national perspective.

On the conflict along the borders between Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia, the mission underscores the importance of efforts by ECOWAS leaders and the UN to promote reconciliation between the leaders of the three countries and the need for the development of a concerted approach by those governments was stressed to them during their trip.

'Concern was expressed at the alleged involvement of state and non-state actors in providing support for the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) in Sierra Leone,' the report states. 'Several interlocutors were of the view that such support was being provided by Governments, both within and outside the subregion, and actors such as dealers in conflict diamonds, mercenaries and international arms dealers.'" (UNDPI 7 May 2001)

WFP has provided food assistance to IDPs since the outbreak of fighting (January- November 2001)

• Food distributions to IDPs on-going in various villages throughout the country; some 180,000 assisted by May 2001

46 • As recently as October and November 2001, WFP distributed aid to 13,500 IDPs in Kerouane and another 2,000 IDP flood victims in Mandiana

WFP reported in October and November 2001:

"(a) The general security situation is stable. WFP assisted a total of 21,245 vulnerable people, distributing 465 tons of food through various projects from 7 to 21 October. WFP in collaboration with Organisation Catholique pour la Promotion Humaine (OCPH) and Première Urgence (PU) is currently assisting 27,000 flood victims, including 2,000 IDPs in the Mandiana prefecture (Upper Guinea). [...] (e) WFP in partnership with the Dinguiraye Red Cross completed food distribution to over 8,400 IDPs in Dinguiraye (Dabola region)." (WFP 23 October 2001)

"(c) WFP assisted over 49,100 vulnerable people under various programmes from 22 October to 5 November, providing them with 1,000 tons of food... [...] ...Finally, 13,500 IDPs received WFP assistance in the Kerouane prefecture (Kankan region)." (WFP 9 November 2001)

WFP reported in May 2001:

(b) As of 8 May, WFP assisted 180,375 IDPs in collaboration with ICRC and Premiere Urgence. WFP has delivered 80 tons of food to ICRC in order to assist approximately 7,500 persons in the Kissidougou region found vulnerable through household surveys. WFP has started a socio-economic survey in Faranah among 18,000 IDPs. OCPH is currently undertaking a socio-economic survey in the region of Kankan and is planning to organise a similar exercise in the region of Kindia next week (WFP 11 May 2001).

WFP reported in April:

"The World Food Programme (WFP) is seeking additional funds for relocated refugees and returnees in Guinea and Sierra Leone, WFP spokesman Ramin Rafirasme told IRIN on Monday [9 April 2001].

Rafirasme said WFP would need an extra US $10 million to US $15 million this year for the Mano River countries (Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone). He said an appeal to this effect was made on Sunday by the agency's director for Africa, Manuel da Silva. Da Silva left Guinea on Monday after a three-day visit.

WFP's food pipeline for the three countries is secure up to the end of June, said Rafirasme, who stated that his agency was "extremely grateful for the response from the international community since January," when the refugee crisis in Guinea deteriorated following fighting between insurgents and government forces in southern Guinea. "The donor countries have been very sensitive," he said, "providing us with what we need."

47 However, the need to relocate tens of thousands of refugees from the area around Gueckedou and the nearby 'Parrot's Beak', a tongue of Guinean territory that juts into Sierra Leone, has greatly modified the situation. Most of the refugees had lived there for years and were able to cater for some of their needs. Transferred to new camps, they no longer have any coping mechanisms, and are thus totally dependent on food aid, which increases the quantity of supplies relief agencies need to provide for them, Rafirasme explained. Refugees who opt for voluntary repatriation to Sierra Leone, as thousands have already done this year, also need support." (IRIN-WA 9 April 2001)

Reported in March 2001:

"Break in fighting has presented aid agencies with window of opportunity to deliver food to 25,000 refugees in southwest Guinea – but the security situation remains unstable. More Sierra Leone refugees are returning to their own country, putting pressure on humanitarian supplies.

WFP has taken advantage of a rare lull in fighting in southwest Guinea to deliver emergency food rations to 25,000 refugees sheltering at the Kolomba camp in the Parrot Beak region.

Until the French non-governmental organisation 'Premiere Urgence' delivered the food and other relief items on April 19 [2001], Kolomba had been cut off from humanitarian assistance since December last year.

The Parrot Beak, a part of southwest Guinea that juts into rebel-held Sierra Leone, has become a battleground over the past few months as Guinean troops fight rebels allegedly based in neighbouring Sierra Leone and Liberia.

Despite the restoration of relative calm, WFP remains concerned at the plight of 10s of 1000s of refugees, mainly Sierra Leoneans, who were sheltering at camps within the Parrot Beak prior to the fighting.

Earlier respites in the ongoing conflict have been all too brief.

Last March, a break in the fighting opened the door to the delivery of WFP food supplies to refugees and IDPs for the first time since November 2000." (WFP 20 April 2001)

"b) Food aid distribution has been completed in Kissidougou, for 20,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs), and in N'zerekore, for 13,000 newly registered IDPs. Complementary registration in Kissidougou is still under way. International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is ready to undertake second food distribution only in the event that the nutritional and households surveys confirm the necessity to assist the IDPs. A meeting was convened to harmonise the approach and eventually define vulnerability criteria." (WFP 2 March 2001, Guinea)

January-February 2001:

48 "d)... WFP completed food distributions in the districts of Kerouane, Upper Guinea (for 13,354 vulnerable people among 23,600 IDPs), Siguiri (for 3,741 vulnerable among 10,300 displaced) and in Mandiana (for 1,700 vulnerable among 2,700 displaced). In Forecariah (Coastal Guinea), a second food distribution in favour of 5.305 IDPs took place." (WFP 2 February 2001)

"b) WFP fielded a mission to Kankan and Kerouane for the registration of IDPs. A second mission wen tot Gueckedou and Kissidougou in order to examine the possibilities of re-starting relief assistance, if the security conditions allows to do so. The third ongoing mission is in Faranah, where WFP is carrying out registration of IDPs and refugees. c) WFP is presently assisting more than 1,800 IDPs in Conakry, who had been displaced due to the cross-border fighting... d) Overall, WFP is presently assisting 50,000 IDPs and 55,000 refugees in the country." (WFP 12 January 2001)

UNHCR provided limited assistance to internally displaced persons at height of crisis (January 2001)

• UNHCR Emergency teams with total of 55 persons have been deployed to Guinea • UNHCR to assist those displaced persons intermingled with refugees • UNHCR to provide protection to displaced persons where immediate and grave protection concerns exist and where differentiation from refugees not feasible

"There are scores of refugee settlements in the Parrot's Beak region. Monday's [26 February 2001] first deliveries will benefit some 3,000 people in Temessadou, Mongo and Kamayan. By the end of the week, aid agencies hope to have delivered a total of 425 metric tonnes of food for some 3,000 people, including displaced Guineans. Rations are sufficient for 2,100 kilo-calories per person per day for one month." (UNHCR 26 February 2001)

"Since mid-December [2000], UNHCR has gradually regained access to refugees in southeast Guinea. Three UNHCR Emergency teams with a total of 55 persons were deployed to reinforce offices in both Guinea and Sierra Leone. UNHCR has provided emergency assistance (emergency medical and food aid) to some 65,000 refugees and IDPs in camps in the Kissidougou and Gueckedou region. UN partner agencies and non- governmental organizations have also reinforced their response capacity. [...] In Guinea, local residents forced to flee attacks are also displaced within the Forest area and are usually assisted by ICRC. Additional response mechanisms are also being established by other UN agencies, in order to support the Guinean authorities in their efforts to provide assistance to IDPs. In some cases, internally displaced are mingled

49 with refugees. Given the very difficult and complex issues facing UNHCR and the Liberian and Sierra Leonean refugees who are its primary beneficiaries, UNHCR's assistance for refugees will include the provision of ad hoc emergency assistance towards Guinea's internally displaced populations in main areas of UNHCR's interventions. This approach should help to alleviate immediate assistance needs while creating an environment conducive to the respect of basic human rights of the refugees by local populations who benefit from equal standards of assistance. [...] UNHCR will also provide assistance and protection to internally displaced and to the local population where immediate and grave protection concerns persist and where a differentiation is practically not feasible, such as in the evacuation of the 'Languette'. These efforts should be limited to a short-term intervention until the internally displaced can benefit from the existing system provided by ICRC as well as other UN agencies and NGOs." (UNHCR January 2001, sect. I: "Progress", sect. II: "Internally Displaced Persons", sect. III: "Emergency intervention in southeast Guinea")

UNICEF and WHO have worked to address health needs of internally displaced and other vulnerable populations (March 2001)

• UNICEF to respond to immediate needs of some 2 million persons in Guinea in first half of 2001 • UNICEF has asked for 3,690,490 for 2001 activities • WHO opens sub-office in Kissidougou to meet needs of war-affected populations

UNICEF:

"In the first phase of six months, UNICEF's response will address immediate needs of some 2 million people in selected areas that are easily accessible and in which close inter- agency co-operation is possible. The interventions will be focused on assistance to populations seriously affected by the events since September [2000] (refugees, internally displaced and host communities) to prevent a serious humanitarian emergency. Considering the high risk of a measles outbreak, a national-level response will be undertaken. During the second phase, the interventions will be extended in terms of geographical areas as well as scope of intervention. These activities will aim to reduce the vulnerability of internally displaced persons as well as host communities. [...] While an Inter-agency Appeal is expected to be launched later this month, UNICEF has formulated a proposal to provide immediate assistance to children and women in the affected regions of Guinea. UNICEF re-programmed some US$ 200,000 from its regular resources and advanced a loan of US$ 500,000 from its Emergency Programme Funds. This has allowed the immediate provision of essential drugs, and other basic health and nutritional supplies. The following table gives a brief summary of the sectoral requirements." (UNICEF 16 February 2001)

50 For detailed information on UNICEF planning in the sectors of health/nutrition, education/protection and water/sanitation, please see UNICEF 16 February 2001 Donor Update [External link].

See also "UNICEF leads efforts to conduct emergency education following the fighting (October 2001)" [Internal link].

WHO:

"Dans le cadre de l'exécution de son programme d'assistance humanitaire et urgences, l'Organisation Mondiale de la Santé (OMS) vient d'ouvrir un sous Bureau dans la préfecture de Kissidougou, située à 601 kilomètres de Conakry. L'ouverture de ce Bureau fait suite à la mission d'évaluation sanitaire par le département chargé de l'assistance humanitaire au siège de l'OMS sur la situation des réfugiés et personnes déplacées après les incursions rebelles aux frontières de la Guinée avec le Liberia et la Sierra Leone." (WHO 17 April 2001)

For more information on the general health care situation in southeastern Guinea, please refer to the WHO Rapid Assessment report of 20 March 2001 [External link].

UNDP provided aid to internally displaced in Kankan (January 2001)

• UNDP to disburse funds to assist displaced in Kankan • Estimated 47,000 persons internally displaced in Kankan from Gueckedou and Kissidougou • They are to be assisted with medical and educational facilities

"The UNDP resident representative in Guinea, Christian Lehembre Wednesday [31 January 2001] said that his agency would soon disburse funds to assist internally displaced Guineans presently residing in Kankan, 600 km east of Conakry, the capital.

Lehembre said the estimated 47,000 displaced people would be assisted with medicines and educational facilities for school going children.

Speaking Wednesday on Guinean national television in Conakry following a meeting with officials of the ministry of territorial administration and Kankan citizens on strategies to cater for the displaced people, Lehembre expressed optimism that the situation would be handled.

Residents in Kankan say the massive presence of displaced people in the region is creating problems in the areas of health and education.

For his part, the Permanent secretary of the ministry of territorial administration said the displaced people needed assistance for a period of between six months and one year 'to avoid disrupting development projects'.

51 The official, also speaking on national television, said a committee to help supervise relief assistance to the displaced people would soon start looking for funds from various quarters.

The region of Kankan currently hosts several thousands of displaced Guineans from the Gueckedou and Kissidougou regions in southern Guinea. These escaped from cross border raids by armed men from Sierra Leone and Liberia over the past eight months." (PANA 31 January 2001)

UN Population Fund projects are proposed to assess the needs of IDPs (March 2001)

• UN working on establishment of system to evaluate quickly the needs of displaced persons • The establishment of a database including census information on the displaced populations is proposed to complement the assessment mechanism

"In parallel to distribution of foodstuffs and medicines already underway in some prefectures, the UN System is working on the establishment of a mechanism for rapid evaluation of the humanitarian situation of displaced people that will enable organising rational and efficacious assistance. But the lack of reliable information on the localisation, composition and profile of the displaced population would be a major impediment to the implementation of this project. In remedy to this situation, it thus appears indispensable to organise a systematic census of displaced people in the host areas. Data from this census would constitute the first elements of the database.

Outputs Systematic census of displaced people would facilitate: 1. The production of maps of all host sites and sites of the origin of displaced people and materialisation of inlets to those sites. 2. Knowledge of the geographical distribution of displaced people. 3. Knowledge of the profile of displaced people (demographic and socio-economic features). 4. Information on their intent to return to their sites of origin. 5. Information on their conditions of accommodation in host families. [...] The plight of displaced persons has become seriously worrying after the last attacks of December 2000, which sent over 150,000 people fleeing their homes. Unfortunately, the international solidarity is not yet operational in the field because there is no efficient mechanism or system so far likely to permit any accurate assessment of humanitarian assistance requirements. The need for establishing an adequate system to collect information and a mechanism to build a reliable and operational database is felt as a sine qua non pre-requisite for any worthy humanitarian intervention. This has prompted the Government and the UN System to set up a unique database that could gather all information relating to the situation of displaced persons.

The constituent elements of such database will be as follows:

52 Information, resulting from mapping work carried out on the sites of origin and host sites of displaced people; Census figures of displaced people; Data on the assessment of relief needs of displaced persons in various fields (food, water, health, agriculture, environment).

In other words, the database will include all necessary information needed for the rational and effective coordination of the situation facing displaced people on the host sites and sites of origin in view of preparing their return once the hostilities are over.

The database will be regularly updated according to the development of the situation of the displaced people on the field. To that end, a monitoring and follow-up system will be worked out for the collection of information on specified dates or when an exceptional case of need arises close with OCHA. Through the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Government and all other actors on the field will be called upon to help update the database.

Outputs Establishing a reliable database will allow: a more accurate assessment of assistance needs to displaced people; a better organisation of coordination of humanitarian relief and fund raising with donors; designing coherent and suitable assistance programmes which address the various areas of intervention aimed at displaced persons; regular monitoring of the development of the situation of displaced persons; institutional capacity building of the BNCR in the evaluation and monitoring of displaced people."

(UN 23 March 2001, pp. 73-76)

Selected ICRC humanitarian activities for 2001

ICRC, along with WFP, has assisted those Guineans displaced by fighting since late 2000; new aid also distributed to September 2001 flood victims (September 2000-April 2001)

• Since September 2001 flood, ICRC and the Red Crescent Society have provided food and non- food relief to victims in Haute Guinée • Since beginning of 2001, some 83,000 IDPs have received food and other relief from the ICRC • Future ICRC efforts will focus on vulnerable populations only • Aid has been distributed primarily in south-eastern Guinea

ICRC reported in October 2001:

53 "Following the recent flooding in Guinea, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, whose operations are being coordinated by the ICRC, has taken urgent steps in Haute-Guinée while waiting for the arrival of other humanitarian organisations. From 25 to 27 September, Guinean Red Cross volunteers carried out an initial distribution of blankets, soap and sleeping mats to around 1,000 families, or nearly 10,000 people.

As soon as it was announced that water levels were rising, the volunteers identified the displaced people in Kankan, in the north of the country. Most of the supplies, distributed came from ICRC stocks, although some were provided by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Similar assistance will be distributed to 125 families in Mandiana, near the border with Mali." (ICRC 4 October 2001)

ICRC reported in April 2001:

"Since the beginning of the year [2001], some 83,000 internally displaced citizens of the Republic of Guinea have received food and other relief items from the ICRC. In total, 96,000 people have benefited from such aid since fighting broke out in September 2000.

The aid has been distributed mainly in south-eastern Guinea, but also in Kindia, Forécariah and Haute-Guinée. In the next few days, nearly 2,000 more people will receive food and the emergency phase of the operation will come to an end.

During the next phase, tens of thousands of people in the most vulnerable categories (single-parent families, the elderly and unaccompanied children) will be given food and basic necessities. People are now starting to return to Guéckédou, an important commercial centre situated four kilometres from the Liberian border. The town had been subject to repeated attacks, forcing its 90,000 inhabitants to flee.

Since the start of the year, the ICRC has increased its operational capacity in the Republic of Guinea, where it now has 20 expatriates covering Conakry, Kissidougou, Nzérékoré and Kankan." (ICRC 12 April 2001)

Reported in March 2001:

"Since clashes involving armed groups from Liberia and Sierra Leone broke out in the Republic of Guinea in September 2000, more than 80,000 internally displaced Guineans have received emergency assistance from the ICRC. The purpose of the aid, which consists of food (cereals, peas, cooking oil and salt) and other supplies (sleeping mats, blankets, soap and jerrycans), is to help these people regain a measure of self-sufficiency.

Fleeing the areas bordering Liberia and Sierra Leone, where the fighting is taking place, the displaced, who have lost all their belongings, are seeking refuge with relatives in various parts of the country. Since they are completely dependent on the resources of those who take them in, they place a heavy burden on the host families and the assistance is all the more appreciated.

54 In view of the constant movement of displaced people, a survey is being carried out with the help of Guinea Red Cross volunteers and the local authorities to determine which groups are the most vulnerable and provide them with additional assistance. Drugs and other medical supplies have been distributed to health centres in the border areas and to the country's main hospitals treating the war-wounded.

The ICRC, which has recently increased its operational capacity in the country, now has 20 expatriates there covering Conakry, Kissidougou, N'zérédoré and Kankan." (ICRC 8 March 2001)

"ICRC staff joined volunteers of the Red Cross Society in Guinea on 24 March to begin clean-up and sanitation work in Guéckédou, in south-eastern Guinea. A main trading hub in that part of the country, the town has been the target of several large-scale attacks in the past three months and is at present practically empty, its population having fled northwards.

The joint ICRC/National Society team from Kissidougou, 80km away, worked to clean the town's hospital, which had been completely ransacked, and a number of places along the river Makona." (ICRC 30 March 2001)

Reported in February 2001:

"The ICRC has provided food and other assistance to over 53,000 of the 70,000 Guinean displaced persons registered by the organization in recent weeks. The people affected come mainly from the areas near the Sierra Leonean and Liberian borders, where fighting is taking place between the Guinean army and various armed opposition groups. Most of the displaced are staying with host families in the country's interior.

Working with the Red Cross Society of Guinea, the ICRC started its programme of aid distribution at the end of January [2001], assisting over 7,000 people in Dabola (Faranah prefecture) and Beyla (Nzérédoré prefecture). In addition, food and soap were distributed to 6,800 people in Dinguiraye (Faranah prefecture) and the surrounding countryside. The organization has also provided food aid to over 12,400 displaced persons in Kouroussa (Kankan prefecture) and nearly 6,300 in Nzérékoré, in the south-east of the country.

The number of displaced persons is still increasing, with civilians continuing to evacuate villages in the combat zones. The ICRC is registering newly displaced people and plans to distribute further aid in the next few days. A system is being set up to restore ties between family members separated by the conflict. The staff involved will be concentrating on conveying Red Cross messages between members of scattered families and reuniting parents separated from their children." (ICRC 8 February 2001)

Selected NGO humanitarian activities for 2001

55 Activities of Medecins du Monde (MDM) in Guinea

• MDM programming benefits 140,000 persons at 19 different sites in Guinée Forestière • MDM manages a mobile medical aid programme in Kassadou, Yendé, Walto and Nyaedou and in the Parrot's Beak region at Koundou

"Présent en Guinée maritime depuis 1993, Médecins du Monde démarré dans la Langue de Guéckédou un programme d'urgence dès le mois de janvier 2001 dans un climat permanent d'insécurité.

L’intervention de Médecins du Monde touche 140 000 personnes sur 19 sites en Guinée forestière (7centres et 12 postes de santé) et vise à :

Réduire la mortalité et la morbidité pour les Guinéens et les réfugiés d’une partie de la langue de Guéckédou (110 000 personnes). Des dotations en médicaments et des consultations ont lieu dans les structures médicales de la Langue de Guéckédou. La situation nutritionnelle générale est très préoccupante. Le taux de malnutrition globale chez les enfants de 1 à 5 ans (allant jusqu‘à 11.5%) a amené le HCR et plusieurs ONG à mettre en place un plan de distribution d’urgence et l’établissement de centres nutritionnels.

Réduire la mortalité et la morbidité pour les Guinéens victimes des combats en dehors de la Langue, dans les sous préfectures de Yendé, Kassadou et Tékoulo (33 000 personnes) Médecins du Monde mène des consultations ambulatoires sur les sites de Kassadou, Yendé, Walto, Nyaedou et dans la Langue à Koundou auprès des populations essentiellement guinéennes. La situation générale des réfugiés arrivant dans les camps après plusieurs jours de marche est catastrophique : taux de malnutrition globale des enfants très élevé ; Pathologies liées au déplacement (diarrhées et douleurs musculaires intenses) ainsi qu’un risque épidémique de rougeole important ; Taux de mortalité des réfugiés en provenance de la Langue anormalement supérieur à la moyenne.

Dans tous les sites, Médecins du Monde réhabilite les centres et postes de santé démolis et pillés lors des combats. Les activités de consultations médicales sont rétablies grâce à des approvisionnements en médicaments et en équipements des structures de santé. Par une réactivation du programme d’éducation à la santé auprès des personnes déplacées et une veille épidémiologique, Médecins du Monde surveille et anticipe la survenance d’éventuelles épidémies (rougeole, méningite, shigellose). Afin d’apporter une aide urgente et rapide aux déplacements massifs et soudain des populations, Médecins du Monde place des cliniques mobiles le long des routes.

Médecins du Monde a rendu public en mars 2001 un rapport dénonçant les violations des droits de l’Homme subies par les réfugiés et préconisant l’adoption des mesures indispensables à leur protection, dans un contexte de conflit armé." (MDM 2001, MDM en Guinée, Répondre aux besoins essentiels des populations)

56 Activities of Action Contre la Faim (ACF) in 2001

• ACF has insititued nutrition and water and sanitation programmes in response to the emergency

"Présente en Guinée depuis 1995, Action contre la Faim a réorienté ses programmes pour faire face à l'urgence. Pour l'heure, les équipes interviennent notamment dans le camp de Nyaedou, un des rares n'ayant pas été saccagé et brûlé sur l'axe Kissidougou-Guéckégou, et celui de Massakoundou, non loin de Kissidougou. Ces deux sites ont vu affluer de nombreux réfugiés provenant d'autres camps détruits, ainsi que de la ville de Guéckédou, qui s'est quasiment vidée de ses habitants. Action contre la Faim y mène des programmes de renutrition, d'assainissement et d'approvisionnement en eau, en collaboration avec d'autres organisations humanitaires. José de Bethancourt, volontaire d'Action contre la Faim, témoigne : 'A Massakoundou, nous avons pu réouvrir le centre de re-nutrition qui avait été pillé pendant les attaques. Notre priorité : distribuer des rations alimentaires composées de maïs, de sucre et d'huile, aux personnes souffrant de malnutrition, notamment les enfants, et les femmes enceintes ou allaitantes.'

Action contre la Faim participe également à la re-localisation, menée par le HCR, des réfugiés dans des zones plus sûres (Dabola, Albadaria et Tekoulou), en prenant en charge la construction d'infrastructures sanitaires et la mise en place de systèmes d'alimentation en eau dans les nouveaux camps.

Les équipes d'Action contre la Faim, extrêmement préoccupées par le sort des populations restées dans le " Bec de Canard ", se tiennent prêtes à intervenir dans cette zone dès qu'elle sera à nouveau accessible." (ACF 5 January 2001, Sud-est de la Guinée)

"International organisation Action Against Hunger launches emergency programme in aid of displaced populations and refugees. [...] Working in Guinea Conakry since 1995, Action Against Hunger has reoriented its programmes in order to respond to the emergency. Our teams are carrying out nutrition and water and sanitation programmes in collaboration with other humanitarian organisations in the Nyaedou camp, one of the few not to have been looted and burned on the Kissidougou-Guéckédou road and the Massakoundou camp, near Kissidougou... [...] Action Against Hunger's teams are extremely concerned for the populations in the Bec du Canard area and are preparing to intervene in the zone as soon as possible." (ACF 5 January 2001, Hot Spots)

Activities of Catholic Relief Services (CRS)/Caritas in 2001

• CRS in collaboration with the Catholic Organization for Human Protection (OCPH) launches agricultural rehabilitation project

57 • Objective of agriculture project is to restore food production to displaced and returning displaced populations • CRS provided food distributions to populations in and around the Parrot's Beak region in height of fighting in end 2000/early 2001

CRS begins implementation of agricultural rehabilitation project:

"In July 2001, Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and its local Guinean Church counterpart, OCPH, began implementing an ambitious agricultural rehabilitation project aimed at improving the food security of thousands of persons displaced by rebel-attacks in southeastern Guinea.

The main objective is to restore the food production of some 2,500 displaced and returning displaced households by providing them with seed rice packages in time for the 2001-planting season. Each seed package is sufficient to cultivate approximately one- half hectare of rice.

Reports and site visits confirm that the CRS/OCPH seed rice distribution was highly appreciated by the returning and displaced in Kissidougou and Gueckedou prefectures. In all, 2,873 households were served with 40 kg/each of seed rice. OCPH staff estimate that this will permit an additional 1,365 hectares of lowland to be planted, yielding 2,800 metric tons of paddy rice. After cleaning, about 1,500 metric tons of rice would remain for consumption.

The operation was funded with $75,000 of CRS private monies. In addition, USAID's Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) has recently approved a $200,000 grant to a CRS/OCPH agricultural recovery project submitted in late May. This will allow for the procurement and distribution of hoes and machetes to at least 5,000 returning and displaced households in the project area. Need assessments have confirmed that tool losses that occurred during the rebels' attacks weakened the farmers' working capacity." (CRS 4 September 2001)

"CRS has allocated $154,000 in private funds for an agriculture project that will supply 2,500 displaced families in the southeastern part of the country with rice seed for the 2001 planting season. The project is being implemented by Caritas Guinea in four parishes: Kissidougou, Brouadou, Bardou and Gueckedou. CRS selected and trained an emergency seed distribution team at the parish of Kissidougou, and they in turn have trained staff at the other three parishes.

CRS and Caritas Guinea have also collaborated on a food distribution to internally displaced people in the Kankan region of Guinea. Over 42,000 people have recieved a one-month supply of food consisting of, among other things, cereal and vegetable oil to help them survive. A second distribution will take place in September." (CRS 26 October 2001)

58 CRS provides emergency aid to refugees and IDPs in response to September 2000 crisis:

"Catholic Relief Services and local partner, Caritas Guinea, are continuing to assist as many refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) as possible through Operation Glass of Water. To date, the project has provided over 19,000 rations of rice to refugees and IDPs in the Parrot's Beak region of Guinea. Caritas funds are used to purchase rice from local farmers who are unable to market their food in other areas due to the fighting. So far, distributions have taken place in Kamayan, Mongo, Kondo-Lengo-Bendou I, Kesanaye, Fangamadou, Mongue, Bessadou, and Temessadou.

In addition, Caritas Guinea will take over food distributions to over 43,000 displaced people in the Kankan and Kindia areas – areas previously served by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP). To further assist those in need, Catholic Relief Services staff members are conducting needs assessments and identifying additional equipment and a nine-month food ration to an estimated 12,000-14,000 Liberian and Sierra Leonean refugees in the Kouankan Camp in April [2001]. An additional food distribution, which will benefit approximately 50,000 refugees, is expected to begin in Parrot's Beak in May. [...] Catholic Relief Services and the Caritas network have been supporting Caritas Guinea, an organization known as the Catholic Organization for Human Promotion (OCPH by its French acronym). OCPH is targeting more than 110,000 refugees and internally displaced Guineans with food distributions over the coming months. As well, OCPH is running the St. Marie transit camp in Conakry, a task that involves both transporting and registering new arrivals as well as providing twice daily meals of UN-provided food to at-risk refugees in camps." (CRS 2 May 2001)

"Caritas Guinée (OCPH), partenaire du Secours Catholique / Caritas France renforce son action en faveur des 460 000 réfugiés et déplacés dispersés sur le territoire guinéen (400 000 réfugiés de Sierra Léone et du Libéria, 60 000 déplacés guinéens).

Le Secours Catholique / Caritas France débloque 350 000 francs pour l'achat de nourriture et médicaments ainsi que de matériel d'aide d'urgence. Ce financement s'inscrit dans un large programme du réseau Caritas d'un montant de 15 millions de francs. Un logisticien du Secours Catholique a rejoint les équipes de Caritas Guinée afin de les aider à mettre en place cette opération.

Caritas Guinée assure la gestion du seul camp de transit implanté à Conakry (enregistrement des nouveaux arrivants, sécurité du camp, distribution de nourriture). Ce lieu, où se présentent quotidiennement des centaines de nouveaux arrivants accueille aujourd'hui 4000 personnes. Il a pour objectif de faciliter l'aide au retour des réfugiés qui souhaitent rentrer en Sierra Léone.

Dans les villes de Kankan et Kissidougou (sud-est), les équipes de Caritas organisent la distribution de vivres pour les personnes déplacées et réfugiées. Celles-ci fuient les combats, qui se sont intensifiés ces derniers jours, entre les rebelles et l'armée guinéenne.

59 Caritas Guinée, implantée depuis 15 ans dans le pays, porte une attention particulière aux populations déplacées et à la population locale. Cette démarche s'inscrit dans un souci de complémentarité avec les autres organisations présentes, qui prennent en charge les réfugiés. Elle permet de ne pas accroître les tensions et les rancoeurs entre les personnes, originaires du pays et les réfugiés des pays voisins." (Caritas France – Secours Catholique 17 January 2001)

Activities of International Recue Committee (IRC) in 2001

• IRC is currently focusing its efforts on services in Conakry, Dabola, Kissidougou and Nzerekore • In response to the September 2000 emergency, IRC shifted its activities to emergency programming • IRC has been working with UNHCR to build new camps and assist with shelter, water/sanitation and hot meal distributio • Prior to the emergency, IRC was implementing an education programme benefiting some 65,000 students; IRC is now in process of rebuilding enrollment • IRC also active in health education, protection from sexual and gender based violence and support to unaccompanied minors

"The IRC has been working in Guinea since 1991, under the umbrella of the UNHCR. What was initially designed as a formal education system for 12,000 refugee children was matured by 2000 into a program for over 65,000 students, with the inclusion of a wide range of supporting activities. Since the majority of the refugee population is women and children, most of the IRC's programs have been geared toward the education, vocational training, and health of this segment of the population. We have worked in various areas of Guinea (N'Zerekore, Macenta, Gueckedou, Kissidougou, Nyeadou, Forecariah, and Conakry), all of which are located along the Sierra Leone and Liberia borders. Currently, the IRC is focusing its efforts on services in Conakry, Dabola, Kissidougou, and Nzerekore. PROGRAMS

EMERGENCY CAMP CONSTRUCTION: The IRC has been working with UNHCR to build new camps located further from the "Parrots Beak" region of Gueckedou, Guinea. As refugees are being relocated to these newly established areas, the IRC will continue to assist with shelter, water/sanitation activities, and hot meal distribution programs to help make the transition a safer and healthier one. Other sector activities will be expanded to accommodate those being relocated. To date, the IRC has constructed refugee camp facilities for an estimated 70,000 refugees.

FORMAL EDUCATION: At its peak, the IRC's education system included 161 primary and secondary schools and more than 1,700 IRC-trained teachers. At the beginning of the year 2000, 65,000 students were enrolled. The education program encompasses a broad range of activities including a traditional school curriculum, ongoing teacher-training sessions, vocational training in areas such as sewing, drafting and word processing,

60 construction of schools, wells and latrines, and a school-feeding program. As a direct result of the deteriorating security beginning in September of 2000, the education programs experienced continued disruption and dramatic decreases in enrollment. While IRC's primary and secondary education programs are continuing, the education team is now in the process of rebuilding their enrollment as well as incorporating emergency education projects into their program design.

HEALTH EDUCATION/PUBLIC HEALTH ACTIVITIES: These programs involve educating students about disease prevention and health promotion, training students to pass on what they learn to community members, and guiding students to serve as catalysts for communities to identify and develop solutions to health problems.

SEXUAL AND GENDER BASED VIOLENCE: Since September 1998, IRC's sexual and gender-based violence prevention program has been providing community education, counselor training, and support to women's organizations and camp governing committees. The IRC is expanding the program to engage the health, legal and justice sectors in the protection of women against sexual and gender-based violence. Recent events have led to increased incidences of sexual and gender based violence and are a subject of intense importance for IRC's SGBV staff.

UNACCOMPANIED MINORS: The IRC works to reunify families and relatives who have been separated by war. This is carried out through an intensive tracing and documentation program of unaccompanied children and orphans. The IRC searches villages, posts photos of the children, and makes radio announcements to help locate relatives. The children's names and photographs are also entered into a database for tracking purposes. It is expected that the recent population shifts and resulting confusion will have a large effect on the situation of unaccompanied minors. Given this suspected outcome, IRC staff has persisted in keeping this project going throughout periods of insecurity." (IRC 2001, Guinea)

"Meanwhile Albadaria, north of Kissidougou, is receiving thousands of displaced refugees weekly. The IRC is there, providing hot meals and helping identify vulnerable cases for health treatment or special assistance. In addition, the IRC is working to relocate refugees and displaced Guineans to Albadaria from the more insecure Nyadedou camp, farther south. In both camps the IRC is providing assistance to separated children. At this time, 59 unaccompanied minors have been identified and the IRC is working to find their relatives and family members." (IRC 27 February 2001)

"Since 1991, the International Rescue Committee had been operating schools for Sierra Leonean and Liberian refugees in the southeastern region. When the fighting erupted in September [2000], the IRC was running 135 schools for more than 70,000 students. The IRC also had extensive programs aimed at protecting unaccompanied children and tracing and reunifying separated families. In addition, the IRC maintained comprehensive community health programs and sexual violence prevention programs.

61 The instability forced the IRC to suspend its Gueckedou-based programs and leave the region. But when violence quelled two months later, the IRC began establishing a new logistics and staffing base in Kissidougou. Those plans have now been put on hold. Preparations for reopening IRC schools will likely be superseded by emergency camp construction, health, water, sanitation, and child tracing and reunification.

The IRC's office in Conakry has remained open and programs around the capital have continued. Programs in the Forecariah zone, however, remain closed due to continuing insecurity." (IRC 15 December 2000)

Action by Churches Together (ACT) programme

"A joint ACT – LWF/NCA Assessment Team went to the Guinea at the beginning of March [2001] and their report confirmed the figures of the trapped refugees and IDPs as well as the urgent need for humanitarian assistance. ACT members the Lutheran Federation, World Service, Liberia (LWF/WS) and Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) wishes to respond to the emergency situation by providing humanitarian assistance to 70,000 Sierra Leonaean and Liberian refugees, facilitate their relocation, resettlement and eventual repatriation as well as the resettlement of 30,000 Guinean IDPs in the Southern forest region of Guinea." (ACT 26 March 2001)

Tear Fund programme for 2001

"Tearfund's West and Central Africa Team is currently liaising with SECADOS (the development arm of the Evangelical Protestant Church of Guinea) with a view to supporting its relief and rehabilitation efforts. Two relief workers are standing by for possible secondment to the partner.

Up to the start of the current escalation in the conflict, SECADOS was helping the UNHCR meet the needs of refugees through food distribution and agriculture programmes.

Richard Platt, a relief consultant is currently in Guinea conducting a needs assessment exercise. This exercise will establish how Tearfund can most effectively respond to the acute need in the country. Richard is accompanied by Danladi Musa, Tearfund's Regional Advisor for Coastal West Africa." (Tear Fund 11 January 2001)

62 ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS

ACF Action contre la Faim AFP Agence France Presse BBC British Broadcasting Corporation CRS Catholic Relief Services ECOMOG Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group ECOWAS Economic Community of West African States GNP Gross National Product GoG Government of the Republic of Guinea ICRC International Committee of the Red Cross IDP Internally displaced person IFRC International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies IGO Inter-governmental organisation IMF International Monetary Fund IOM International Organisation for Migration IRC International Rescue Committee IRIN Integrated Regional Information Network MDM Médecins du Monde MSF Médecins sans Frontieres MTs Metric tonnes NGO Non-governmental organisation OAU Organisation of African Unity OCHA Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (United Nations) RCSG Red Cross Society of Guinea RUF Revolutionary United Front SECADOS Evangelical Protestant Church of Guinea (Development Branch) UN United Nations UNAMSIL United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone UNHCR United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees UNICEF United Nations Children's Fund US United States USCR United States Committee for Refugees WHO World Health Organisation

63 LIST OF SOURCES USED (alphabetical order)

Action by Churches Together (ACT), 26 March 2001, ACT Appeal Guinea: Emergency Relief for Refugees - AFGN11 Internet : http://wwww.reliefweb.int/w/Rwb.nsf/6686f45896f15dbc852567ae00530132/9e1864c95 eef4f82c1256a1c004d7538?OpenDocument , accessed 14 May 2001

Action contre la Faim (ACF), 2001, Guinea mission Internet : http://www.aah-uk.org/eng/missions/misgui.htm , accessed 7 February 2001

Action contre la Faim (ACF), 2001, Mission Guinée (Gérée par Accion contra el Hambre) Internet : http://www.acf-fr.org/missions_francais/misgui.html , accessed 8 November 2001

Action contre la Faim (ACF), 5 January 2001, News, Hot Spots 05/01/2001 Internet : http://www.acf-fr.org/eng/pchaud.htm , accessed 7 February 2001

Action contre la Faim (ACF), 5 January 2001, Sud-est de la Guinée: Action contre la Faim intervient en urgence auprès des populations déplacées et réfugiées Internet : http://wwww.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/6686f45896f15dbc852567ae00530132/91f85cbec0 710501c12569cb005247fd?OpenDocument , accessed 7 February 2001

Agence France-Presse (AFP), 11 April 2001, West African leaders go into crisis talks on conflict Internet : http://wwww.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/f303799b16d2074285256830007fb33f/9127ce1028 338d89c1256a2b00452b04?OpenDocument , accessed 10 May 2001

Agence France-Presse (AFP), 16 January 2001, Heavy fighting in Guinea claims 93 lives, displaced thousands Internet : http://www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/480fa8736b88bbc3c12564f6004c8ad5/79c3c9a3cd80 000cc12569d600485d9b?OpenDocument , accessed 1 February 2001

Agence France-Presse (AFP), 18 December 2000, Confusion over whereabouts of Guinean refugees Internet : http://wwww.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/6686f45896f15dbc852567ae00530132/9310ef7a9b 1177a1852569b900707078?OpenDocument , accessed 7 February 2001

64 Agence France-Presse (AFP), 22 January 2001, Abducted UNHCR radio operator freed after 47 days in Guinea Internet : http://www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/UNID/14DF3E2AF25E790F852569DC007AC7AF? OpenDocument , accessed 1 February 2001

Agence France-Presse (AFP), 23 January 2001, New clashes break out in southern Guinea Internet : http://www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/480fa8736b88bbc3c12564f6004c8ad5/25bc4b1b636a 0377c12569de0046e42e?OpenDocument , accessed 7 February 2001

Agence France-Presse (AFP), 26 March 2001, Mali-Nigeria mediation in Guinea- Liberia conflict begins Internet : http://wwww.reliefweb.int/w/Rwb.nsf/6686f45896f15dbc852567ae00530132/14644b6a3 9f80327c1256a1b0056705c?OpenDocument , accessed 10 May 2001

Agence France-Presse (AFP), 4 May 2001, UN rebuilds health centres in Guinea, close to war zone Internet : http://www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/6686f45896f15dbc852567ae00530132/6308e9c9bef1 c5ccc1256a450053fd1d?OpenDocument , accessed 10 May 2001

Agence France-Presse (AFP), 5 October 2000, Mistrust between residents, refugees turns deadly in Guinea Internet : http://wwww.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/f303799b16d2074285256830007fb33f/c858f4efe54 5a92ec1256973004d3aaa?OpenDocument , accessed 7 February 2001

Agence France-Presse (AFP), 6 February 2001, Regional peackeeping force for Guinea in jeopardy: official Internet : http://www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/6686f45896f15dbc852567ae00530132/8152ade32b7 e4c18c12569ec00369b7a?OpenDocument , accessed 12 February 2001

Amnesty International (AI), 24 October 2001, Guinea and Sierra Leone: No place of refuge Internet : http://web.amnesty.org/ai.nsf/Index/AFR050062001?OpenDocument&of=COUNTRIES\ GUINEA , accessed 14 November 2001

Amnesty International (AI), 25 June 2001, Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone: A human rights crisis for refugees and the internally displaced

65 Internet : http://web.amnesty.org/ai.nsf/Index/AFR050052001?OpenDocument&of=COUNTRIES\ GUINEA , accessed 14 November 2001

Amnesty International (AI), 25 June 2001, Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone: A human rights crisis for refugees and the internally displaced Internet : http://web.amnesty.org/ai.nsf/Index/AFR050052001?OpenDocument&of=COUNTRIES\ LIBERIA , accessed 12 October 2001

Amnesty International (AI), 4 May 2001, Guinea and Sierra Leone border: Fighting continues to endanger civilian lives Internet : http://www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/6686f45896f15dbc852567ae00530132/c13bf2618b46 a08885256a42004e271c?OpenDocument , accessed 3 May 2001

Bishop, Timothy, 30 January 2001, Telephone conversation between IRC Coordinator for West Africa and NRC Geneva

Caritas France, 17 January 2001, Guinée (Conakry): Le Secours Catholique lance une action d'urgence en faveur des refugiés et déplacés Internet : http://www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/6686f45896f15dbc852567ae00530132/aba3fd27ab0b 057ec12569d800585e6b?OpenDocument , accessed 7 February 2001

Catholic Relief Services, 2 May 2001, Guinea Emergency Update: Spring 2001 Internet : http://www.reliefweb.int/w/Rwb.nsf/6686f45896f15dbc852567ae00530132/6d296a70903 ea8a485256a400067edd0?OpenDocument , accessed 14 May 2001

Catholic Relief Services, 26 February 2001, 250,000 refugees in Guinea in need of immediate food aid Internet : http://www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/f303799b16d2074285256830007fb33f/3aa494bf91da 00d8852569ff006b5301?OpenDocument , accessed 10 May 2001

Catholic Relief Services, 26 October 2001, Refugees in Guinea updated Fall 2001 Internet : http://www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/6686f45896f15dbc852567ae00530132/21ad05075d8 3152b85256af1005169bc?OpenDocument , accessed 14 November 2001

Catholic Relief Services, 4 September 2001, CRS helps local Guinean communities to re-start agriculture Internet : http://wwww.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/6686f45896f15dbc852567ae00530132/be28e16743 e8195fc1256abd003b7375?OpenDocument , accessed 8 November 2001

66 Catholic Relief Services, 5 January 2001, Fund for Emergency Medical Care Sent to Displaced Population in Guinea Internet : http://www.oneworld.org/anydoc2.cgi?doc_url=http://www.catholicrelief.org/news/1_05 _01.cfm , accessed 7 February 2001

Childreach, 30 June 2001, Update from Guinea: peace prevails Internet : http://www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/f303799b16d2074285256830007fb33f/f660d5856a08 770c85256a8e00618bb7?OpenDocument , accessed 8 November 2001

European Commission - Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO), 8 May 2001, Commission give 4.5 million Euro in humanitarian aid to Guinea Internet : http://www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/6686f45896f15dbc852567ae00530132/2bbc561bd80f 8789c1256a4600500863?OpenDocument , accessed 10 May 2001

Forum on Early Warning and Early Response (FEWER), 19 September 2000, Policy Brief: Guinea-Conakry - Causes and responses to possible conflict Internet : http://wwww.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/f303799b16d2074285256830007fb33f/528ad5249a 1b86938525695f00756181?OpenDocument , accessed 7 February 2001

Human Rights Watch (HRW), 13 September 2000, Testimonies from Sierra Leonean Refugees in Conakry, Guinea Internet : http://wwww.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/f303799b16d2074285256830007fb33f/f9207025e6 53c7aa8525695900523002?OpenDocument , accessed 7 February 2001

Human Rights Watch (HRW), 3 October 2000, The refugee crisis in Guinea: another Macedonia? Internet : http://wwww.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/f303799b16d2074285256830007fb33f/cdcad23796 0f7f468525696f00684a4e?OpenDocument , accessed 7 February 2001

Human Rights Watch (HRW), July 2001, Refugees still at risk: Continuing refugee protection concerns in Guinea

Integrated Regional Information Network for West Africa (IRIN-WA), 10 October 2001, Guinea-Sierra Leone: EC allocates Euro 5.1 million in humanitarian aid Internet : http://www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/6686f45896f15dbc852567ae00530132/43e75d72128 6fbc685256ae100574dea?OpenDocument , accessed 14 November 2001

67 Integrated Regional Information Network for West Africa (IRIN-WA), 13 April 2001, IRIN-WA Weekly Roundup 67 covering the period 7-13 Apr 2001 Internet : http://wwww.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/f303799b16d2074285256830007fb33f/eb063fc89b c9526885256a300074ca1f?OpenDocument , accessed 10 May 2001

Integrated Regional Information Network for West Africa (IRIN-WA), 14 September 2000, Guinea: Fighting displaces Guineans; aid vehicles attacked Internet : http://wwww.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/f303799b16d2074285256830007fb33f/3ffbf8a8b3a 3d2d38525695a006bde1e?OpenDocument , accessed 8 February 2001

Integrated Regional Information Network for West Africa (IRIN-WA), 3 January 2001, Burkino Faso: President denies involvement in wars Internet : http://wwww.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/6686f45896f15dbc852567ae00530132/31ac93293f 122448852569c900706774?OpenDocument , accessed 7 February 2001

Integrated Regional Information Network for West Africa (IRIN-WA), 8 December 2000, Guinea: IRIN Background report on events in the Guekedou area Internet : http://wwww.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/6686f45896f15dbc852567ae00530132/2174581a3b 0ebefac12569b200489bc7?OpenDocument , accessed 7 February 2001

Integrated Regional Information Network for West Africa (IRIN-WA), 8 October 2001, West Africa: About 350,000 affected by floods in Chad and Guinea Internet : http://wwww.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/6686f45896f15dbc852567ae00530132/981f08ea38 ea48ff85256adf00680bff?OpenDocument , accessed 8 November 2001

Integrated Regional Information Network for West Africa (IRIN-WA), 9 April 2001, West Africa: Racing against time, rain and insecurity in Guinea Internet : http://wwww.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/6686f45896f15dbc852567ae00530132/9b66a20852 fe9ef785256a29006fc5c4?OpenDocument , accessed 14 May 2001

International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), 12 April 2001, Republic of Guinea: End of emergency assistance for internally displaced Internet : http://wwww.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/6686f45896f15dbc852567ae00530132/f2341a1f66 2fff36c1256a2c00437cca?OpenDocument , accessed 14 May 2001

International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), 15 December 2000, Update on ICRC activities in West Africa: Sierra Leone - Guinea - Liberia

68 Internet : http://www.icrc.org/icrceng.nsf/Index/62E58FC7BE68051CC12569B6004A9E5C?Open document , accessed 7 February 2001

International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), 21 September 2000, Republic of Guinea: Thousands flee clashes Internet : http://www.icrc.org/icrceng.nsf/Index/1466E42891DA065941256961004B493E?Opendo cument , accessed 7 February 2001

International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), 30 March 2001, Republic of Guinea: Clean-up begins in devastated town Internet : http://www.icrc.org/icrceng.nsf/Index/F7C1ACD8D0B32445C1256A1F002F6909?Open document , accessed 8 November 2001

International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), 4 October 2001, Republic of Guinea: Red Cross/Red Crescent assists nearly 10,000 flood victims Internet : http://www.icrc.org/icrceng.nsf/Index/91E4462BA70EC4DEC1256ADB00518787?Open document , accessed 14 November 2001

International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), 8 February 2001, Guinea: ICRC aids thousands of displaced Internet : http://www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/6686f45896f15dbc852567ae00530132/1b755e155a5 7d0b7852569ed00797652?OpenDocument , accessed 1 February 2001

International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), 8 March 2001, Republic of Guinea: ICRC assists internally displaced Internet : http://wwww.reliefweb.int/w/Rwb.nsf/f303799b16d2074285256830007fb33f/c9c4ebb2c 24f4e3085256a090060d737?OpenDocument , accessed 3 May 2001

International Rescue Committee (IRC), 15 December 2000, Renewed clashes in Guinea displace tens of thousands Internet : http://wwww.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/6686f45896f15dbc852567ae00530132/dda228e508 961131c12569b9005cf81c?OpenDocument , accessed 7 February 2001

International Rescue Committee (IRC), 2001, Guinea Internet : http://www.intrescom.org/westafrica/images/Guinea6_140.jpg , accessed 1 November 2001

International Rescue Committee (IRC), 27 February 2001, IRC provides emergency aid for newly displaced in Guinea

69 Internet : http://www.reliefweb.int/w/Rwb.nsf/f303799b16d2074285256830007fb33f/232bea28f1f 4eab885256a2400707b7c?OpenDocument , accessed 14 May 2001

Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), 18 December 2000, Vaccines urgently needed to treat yellow fever epidemic Internet : http://www.msf.org/projects/africa/guinea/reports/2000/12/pr- yellowfever/index.htm , accessed 7 February 2001

Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), 19 January 2001, MSF urges for immediate relocation of Sierra Leonean and Liberian refugees in Guinea Internet : http://www.msf.org/projects/africa/guinea/reports/2001/01/pr-beak/index.htm , accessed 7 February 2001

Médecins du Monde (MDM), 11 January 2001, Médecins du Monde en Guinée Internet : http://wwww.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/6686f45896f15dbc852567ae00530132/325fe864a1 44950d852569d2005efde5?OpenDocument , accessed 7 February 2001

Médecins du Monde (MDM), 2001, Repondre aux besoins essentiels des populations Internet : http://www.medecinsdumonde.org/2missions/etranger/pays.cfm?code=9 , accessed 15 November 2001

Pan African News Agency, 2 April 2001, Guinea sends relief to displaced population Internet : http://wwww.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/6686f45896f15dbc852567ae00530132/fbbe3dc6b4 c7d4b6c1256a230050ce1a?OpenDocument , accessed 10 May 2001

Pan African News Agency, 24 January 2001, Des informations font état d'une nouvelle attaque à Gueckedou Internet : http://www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/480fa8736b88bbc3c12564f6004c8ad5/b2c23672793f 1fdc852569de006d0b7d?OpenDocument , accessed 7 February 2001

Pan African News Agency, 31 January 2001, UNDP to Assist Displaced Guineans in Kankan Internet : http://www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/6686f45896f15dbc852567ae00530132/1f80f0a46c69 80f8852569e7007ab7df?OpenDocument , accessed 8 February 2001

Premiere Urgence, 2001, Guinea Conakry Internet : http://www.premiere-urgence.org/OurProgrammes/guineacurrent.htm , accessed 1 November 2001

Tear Fund, 11 January 2001, Conflict in Coastal West Africa

70 Internet : http://www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/6686f45896f15dbc852567ae00530132/8cc7d60555d 9c267852569d20071ba93?OpenDocument , accessed 7 February 2001

UK Department for International Development (DFID), 23 February 2001, Britain increases humanitarian assistance to Guinea and Sierra Leone Internet : http://wwww.reliefweb.int/w/Rwb.nsf/f303799b16d2074285256830007fb33f/d5d90842c e788756852569ff007847e6?OpenDocument , accessed 10 May 2001

UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA), 5 November 2001, Humanitarian situation report UN OCHA-Guinea October 2001 Internet : http://www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/6686f45896f15dbc852567ae00530132/3f6967a40a43 eb71c1256afc0056bc8c?OpenDocument , accessed 8 November 2001

UN Secretary-General, 12 September 2000, Secretary-General expresses concern at tension, clashes on Guinea-Liberia, Guinea-Sierra Leone Borders Internet : http://wwww.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/f303799b16d2074285256830007fb33f/05749618e1 3c74428525695800750efc?OpenDocument , accessed 7 February 2001

UN Secretary-General, 2 March 2001, United Nations to send Inter-Agency Mision to West Africa Internet : http://wwww.reliefweb.int/w/Rwb.nsf/f303799b16d2074285256830007fb33f/4ac09c4e8a 4cd58685256a0300757ff6?OpenDocument , accessed 14 May 2001

United Nations, 23 March 2001, Consolidated Inter-Agency Appeal for West Africa 2001 Internet : http://www.reliefweb.int/appeals/2001/waf01ap.pdf , accessed 10 May 2001

United Nations, November 2000, Consolidated Inter-Agency Appeals Process Strategy Paper for West Africa Internet : http://www.reliefweb.int/appeals/2001/waf01.pdf , accessed 1 February 2001

United Nations, November 2001, Consolidated Inter-Agency Appeal 2002 for West Africa: Guinea Section

United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), 16 February 2001, UNICEF Humanitarian Action: Guinea Donor Update 16 Feb 2001 Internet : http://wwww.reliefweb.int/w/Rwb.nsf/f303799b16d2074285256830007fb33f/75d9af244 002e081852569f5005b3eee?OpenDocument , accessed 10 May 2001

71 United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), 22 October 2001, UNICEF Guinea situation report 22 September-22 October 2001 Internet : http://www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/6686f45896f15dbc852567ae00530132/e373901dd03 d099085256afb005675b6?OpenDocument , accessed 1 November 2001

United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), 27 July 2001, UNICEF Humanitarian Action: Guinea Donor Update 27 July 2001 Internet : http://wwww.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/6686f45896f15dbc852567ae00530132/870a4946cf c25dff85256a960056550e?OpenDocument , accessed 14 November 2001

United Nations Department of Public Information (UN DPI), 18 April 2001, Annan urges Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia to engage in dialogue to end conflict Internet : http://wwww.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/6686f45896f15dbc852567ae00530132/15d3657909 17803985256a320070ef4c?OpenDocument , accessed 10 May 2001

United Nations Department of Public Information (UN DPI), 29 October 2001, UN says Guinea's humanitarian needs remain unmet following recent floods Internet : http://www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/6686f45896f15dbc852567ae00530132/ec8da0fb6d63 f2d085256af4006feaf6?OpenDocument , accessed 8 November 2001

United Nations Department of Public Information (UN DPI), 30 January 2001, Guinea: UN refugee agency is again forced to pull staff from conflict areas Internet : http://www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/6686f45896f15dbc852567ae00530132/039876bc74c 3adc1852569e400705cc6?OpenDocument , accessed 7 February 2001

United Nations Department of Public Information (UN DPI), 4 May 2001, Tighter UN Security Council sanctions against Liberia set to take effect Monday Internet : http://wwww.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/6686f45896f15dbc852567ae00530132/000ed0e25e 3e1bdf85256a420069f8a3?OpenDocument , accessed 15 May 2001

United Nations Department of Public Information (UN DPI), 7 May 2001, Subregional approach needed to end violence in West Africa: UN report Internet : http://www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/6686f45896f15dbc852567ae00530132/82649c08915 e128085256a450075260f?OpenDocument , accessed 14 May 2001

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), 15 January 2001, Renewed Fighting Disrupts Aid Operation

72 United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), 17 September 2000, UNHCR worker killed, one mission in Guinea attack

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United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), 2001, UNHCR Operations Strategy for the Sierra Leonean and Liberian Refugees in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), 26 February 2001, First convoy reaches Guinea's "Parrot's Beak" region

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), 6 April 2001, UNHCR Briefing Notes: Guinea

United Nations Security Council (UN SC), 15 December 2000, Report of the Panel of Experts appointed pursuant to Security Council resolution 1306 (2000), para 19, in relation to Sierra Leone (S/2000/1195) Internet : http://wwww.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/vID/37871333B6418C26C12569CA00478F5F?Op enDocument , accessed 22 January 2001

United Nations Security Council (UN SC), 15 December 2000, Report of the Panel of Experts appointed pursuant to Security Council resolution 1306 (2000), para. 19, in relation to Sierra Leone (S/2000/1195) Internet : http://wwww.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/f303799b16d2074285256830007fb33f/37871333b6 418c26c12569ca00478f5f?OpenDocument , accessed 7 February 2001

United Nations Security Council (UN SC), 21 December 2000, Security Council condemns incursions into Guinea by Liberia and Sierra Leone Rebels Internet : http://wwww.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/6686f45896f15dbc852567ae00530132/37efd67625 3aef4c852569bc007578c4?OpenDocument , accessed 7 February 2001

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73 Internet : http://wwww.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/6686f45896f15dbc852567ae00530132/cc960ceb32 bfe98c85256ada00762110?OpenDocument , accessed 14 November 2001

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U.S. Committee for Refugees (USCR), 19 June 2001, USCR Country Report Guinea: Statistics on refugees and other uprooted people, June 2001 Internet : http://www.refugees.org/world/countryrpt/africa/guinea.htm , accessed 14 November 2001

U.S. Committee for Refugees (USCR), 19 October 2000, Threat of Widening War in West Africa; 400,000 Refugees in Guinea are Vulnerable Internet : http://www.refugees.org/news/press_releases/2000/101900.htm , accessed 8 February 2001

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U.S. Committee for Refugees (USCR), 2000, World Refugee Survey 2000 Internet : http://www.refugees.org/world/worldmain.htm , accessed 13 June 2000

U.S. Committee for Refugees (USCR), 22 December 2000, USCR Calls on the International Community to Protect Sierra Leonean and Liberian Refugees' Right to Asylum in Guinea Internet : http://www.refugees.org/news/press_releases/2000/122200.htm , accessed 7 February 2001

U.S. Committee for Refugees (USCR), August 2001, 2001 Mid-Year Country Report: Guinea Internet : http://www.refugees.org/world/countryrpt/africa/Mid_countryrpt01/guinea.htm accessed 1 November 2001

74 U.S. Department of State (U.S. DOS), 15 September 2000, U.S. Condemns Attack on Guinea Border Villages Internet : http://wwww.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/f303799b16d2074285256830007fb33f/b641d449c7 0482ee8525695e00562557?OpenDocument , , accessed 7 February 2001

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