The outbreak of fighting between Junta and Government forces on May 6th altered the political and military landscape of Guinea-Bissau. Malam Sanha has been sworn in as President replacing ousted President Joao Vieira and all ECOMOG troops have now withdrawn from the country. At least 100 civilian and military deaths due to the fighting were reported (IRIN-WA - 08/06/99; OCHA -17/05/99)
IDPs
Large population displacements, due to fighting between Government and Junta forces, have occurred in the country in the past twelve months. Most of the residents who fled the capital last year have now returned home (OCHA - 16/04/99). The coup has not resulted in an acute humanitarian situation; there are no reports of large numbers of new IDPs or people fleeing the country. Indeed, UNHCR has stated that the security condition is sufficiently stable to proceed with the voluntary repatriation of refugees back into the country. Several thousand refugees fled the country last year and UNHCR is still assisting around 900 in Senegal, 720 in the Gambia, 600 in Cape Verde and 1,800 in Guinea-Conakry (OCHA -15/06/99; UNHCR - 07/05/99).
WFP is providing a general food distributions to approximately 220,000 people within Guinea-Bissau (this represents a decrease since the last RNIS report). The agency is in the process of gradually shifting from general ration distribution programmes to IDPs and other war-affected groups, to food for work, and school and hospital feeding programmes. The food reserve/pipeline situation is reported to be satisfactory for the next five months (OCHA -15/06/99, WFP - 22/04/99).
More generally, a recent FAO report found that cereal production in Guinea Bissau is anticipated to be well below average due to the civil strife which hampered agricultural activities. It is estimated that the 1998 harvest will be reduced by 31% compared to 1997 (WFP - 22/04/99).
A nation-wide vaccination campaign against meningitis which was conducted in response to an epidemic which began in January had successfully covered more than one million persons, or 95% of the total population, by the end of the May (OCHA - 31/05/99).
Refugees in Guinea-Bissau
Latest reports estimate that Guinea-Bissau is providing asylum to 6,600 refugees. This figure includes 5,400 Senegalese dispersed in the northern frontier areas and approximately 750 grouped at Jolmette camp, some 200km east of Bissau. Other refugees from Liberia and Sierra Leone are in the urban areas of Bissau. There is no new information on the nutritional situation of these refugees (IRIN-WA -16/04/99).
Overall, although the RNIS has not received the results of any nutritional surveys amongst the IDPs in Guinea-Bissau it is probable that their nutritional situation is probably improving and is not considered to be critical (category IIc).
Priorities and recommendations:
· Agricultural inputs are required to enable the returnees to start farming again.· Assistance is required to help the refugees from Guinea-Bissau in neighbouring countries to repatriate.
