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World: WHO thanks health workers on World Humanitarian Day 2015

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Source: World Health Organization
Country: Nigeria, Pakistan, Sierra Leone, World, Yemen

On this 12th World Humanitarian Day, 19 August, WHO is drawing the world’s attention to the contributions and sacrifices of health workers who respond to humanitarian crises.

More than a decade since the first World Humanitarian Day, the demands on emergency responders are unprecedented, with 82.5 million people in 37 countries needing humanitarian assistance. The costs, too, are unprecedented, reaching an estimated US$20 billion.

WHO is leading the health response to 5 major humanitarian crises, where more than 60 million people, from West Africa to Yemen, urgently require a wide range of health-care services.

At the heart of humanitarian action are the doctors, nurses, paramedics and other health workers who selflessly serve their communities, often with little access to resources and frequently at great personal risk. Frontline health workers have provided health care to millions of people under the demanding conditions of outbreaks like Ebola, natural disasters, and armed conflict. In West Africa, 875 health workers were infected with Ebola and more than half of them died.

These efforts are made all the more heroic by the increasing frequency of attacks on health care workers and facilities. In 2014, WHO received 372 reports of such attacks in 32 countries, resulting in nearly 1000 injuries and more than 600 deaths. As the world edges closer to the goal of eradicating polio, at least 37 health workers and accompanying personnel have been deliberately targeted and killed since 2012 in Pakistan and Nigeria. Armed conflicts and protracted emergencies frequently leave health facilities damaged, further depriving affected populations of life-saving care. Repairing the health system can take years.

Attacks against health care workers and facilities are flagrant violations of international humanitarian law, including the Geneva Conventions and their protocols. These agreements must be honoured. Health workers have an obligation to treat the sick and injured without discrimination. All parties to conflict must respect that obligation.

As part of our global strategy on human resources for health, WHO is prioritizing the well-being, safety and sanctity of health care workers, and takes a strong position on their protection.

Heath workers struggle every day to uphold the human right to health. On World Humanitarian Day, WHO is launching a campaign to pay tribute to these inspiring health heroes. Between World Humanitarian Day and the World Humanitarian Summit in May 2016, the Organization will be profiling their stories worldwide.


World: World Humanitarian Day August 19

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Source: US Agency for International Development
Country: Nepal, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, World, Yemen

Today marks World Humanitarian Day, a day to celebrate and pay tribute to aid workers who help the millions of people aected by humanitarian crises around the world. Designated by the United Nations General Assembly to remember the 22 UN and relief agency staff who lost their lives in a bombing in Baghdad 12 years ago, August 19 has become an occasion to honor the sacrifice of the brave men and women who have died serving others and commemorate the service of aid workers worldwide.

Saving lives is becoming more diicult in a world where crises are increasing in complexity and magnitude. The humanitarian system faces unprecedented strain, with four “Level 3” emergencies—the UN’s highest classification for a humanitarian crisis—in Syria, Iraq, South Sudan and Yemen. Violence and insecurity in these countries is causing massive internal and cross-border displacement, and aid workers are saving lives at great risk to their own. In just over a decade, the number of people in need of humanitarian aid has more than doubled.

In many parts of the world, protracted crises are the new normal. In Syria—the worst humanitarian emergency of our era—the crisis is in its fih year with no end in sight. There, as in Iraq, ongoing violence is destroying communities and driving additional needs as more families than ever before continue to flee for safety. In addition, fighting rages on in South Sudan and Yemen where people are at risk of famine. Experts project up to 2.8 million South Sudanese could experience extreme, life-threatening hunger while ongoing violence in Yemen has le four out of every five Yemenis—or 21 million people—in need of urgent humanitarian aid.

USAID disaster experts are working with dedicated humanitarian partners around the world to overcome significant obstacles and navigate fluid frontlines to deliver much-needed food, clean water, medical care and critical relief supplies. USAID also remains committed to providing humanitarian assistance wherever our help is needed.

This year alone, USAID has had Disaster Assistance Response Teams (DARTs) responding to five major crises simultaneously—a record number for USAID. In West Africa, the DART is leading the U.S. response in the fight against the worst Ebola outbreak in history. Our work helped to stem the spread of the disease and avert a worst-case scenario by overseeing critical interventions across the region. Most recently, a DART deployed to Nepal following the massive magnitude 7.8 earthquake, and its urban search-and-rescue members helped pull people from the rubble and performed critical medical triage.

Crisis can bring out the best and worst in humanity, and helping people in need is a core value of the American people. This World Humanitarian Day, join us and our partners in sharing stories that illustrate this compassionate humanitarian spirit. Show your support by following and using #ShareHumanity on Twitter or visit www.worldhumanitarianday.org. To learn more about USAID’s humanitarian work follow @theOFDA on Twitter.

Sierra Leone: Interagency Collaboration on Ebola - Situation Report No. 03 (18 August 2015)

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Source: World Health Organization, UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Country: Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone

Highlights

  • For the week ending 16 August, three new cases were reported in Guinea. No new cases were reported in Liberia or Sierra Leone.

  • An Ebola survivor’s clinic has opened in Monrovia, Liberia. The clinic provides treatment, support and training for Ebola survivors, and allows the collection of valuable research data to help better understand Ebola virus disease.

  • WFP plans to progressively reduce the provision of logistical services from October onwards in consultation with national governments and health partners.

  • On 12-13 August, the Mano River Union (MRU) Secretariat convened a meeting in Monrovia,
    Liberia to discuss the US$ 7.65 million African Development Bank (AfDB)-funded Ebola Crisis Response project coordinated by the MRU, part of a wider US$ 223 million AfDB provided to the three most affected countries for Ebola response.

World: Journée mondiale de l’aide humanitaire: L’Afrique de l’Ouest et du Centre célèbre ses héros humanitaires

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Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Country: Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, World

(Dakar, 19 août 2015) – À l’occasion de la Journée mondiale de l’aide humanitaire, les partenaires humanitaires du Sénégal et de l’Afrique de l’Ouest et du Centre joignent leur voix à tous ceux et celles qui appellent à un monde plus humain et rendent hommages aux héros humanitaires.

A travers le monde, les besoins humanitaires sont en augmentation constante. Aujourd’hui, les partenaires humanitaires ambitionnent de fournir une assistance à près de 80 millions de personnes qui, dans 37 pays, luttent au quotidien pour survivre à l'impact des catastrophes naturelles, des conflits, de la faim ou de maladies. C’est presque le double d’il y a dix ans.

L’Afrique de l’Ouest et du Centre n’est pas épargnée, avec les crises au Mali, en République centrafricaine et dans le nord-est du Nigéria, la vulnérabilité aiguë qui prévaut au Sahel et l’épidémie d’Ébola qui a couté la vie a plus de 11 000 personnes et décimé les services de base de trois pays de la région. Au total, plus de 30 millions de personnes requièrent une assistance humanitaire. « Aujourd’hui plus que jamais, nous avons besoins d’action humanitaire », déclare Allegra Baiocchi, la Cheffe du Bureau régional de l’ONU pour la Coordination des Affaires Humanitaires en Afrique de l'Ouest et du Centre. « L’esprit d’entraide est la force de cette région. Il s’exprime à travers le travail des acteurs de terrain qui dédient leurs vie à aider les autres, mais aussi par la générosité immense des communautés qui portent secours à leurs proches, comme les populations hôtes qui accueillent les personnes déplacées victimes de l’insécurité dans la région.»

Plus d’une centaine d’organisations humanitaires sont à pied d’œuvre dans la région, souvent dans des circonstances dangereuses et difficiles. En quinze ans, 383 travailleurs humanitaires ont été tués, blessés ou enlevés en Afrique de l’Ouest et du Centre. « L’an dernier, la région a payé un terrible tribut dans la bataille contre la maladie à virus Ebola », ajoute Allegra Baiocchi. « Cette journée est l’occasion de rendre hommage à ceux qui ont payé de leur vie pour enrayer une menace sans précédent. » En l’espace de quelques mois, plus de 500 membres du personnel sanitaire sont décédés des suites du virus tandis qu’ils venaient en secours aux malades en Guinée, au Libéria et en Sierra Leone. Quelques 800 autres ont été contaminés.

L’édition 2015 de cette journée internationale a pour thème d’« Inspirer l’humanité !» en sensibilisant le public à l’engagement de chacun dans l’avènement d’un monde plus humain. A travers une campagne digitale mondiale, des célébrités et le public ont prêté leurs fils d’actualité sur les réseaux sociaux pour relayer les récits du terrain. Avec le hashtag #ShareHumanity, la campagne a déjà atteint plus d’un demi-milliard de personnes. Des personnalités du monde entier s’y sont ralliées, et notamment la chanteuse franco-malienne Inna Modja.

La campagne marque aussi le début du décompte d’ici au Sommet Humanitaire Mondial qui aura lieu à Istanbul en mai 2016. Lancé par le Secrétaire général de l'ONU, Ban Ki-moon, ce premier sommet du genre sera l’occasion pour les chefs d'État, les acteurs privés, la société civile et les communautés affectées de se réunir pour chercher des solutions aux énormes défis humanitaires d'aujourd'hui et de demain.

A Dakar, les équipes d’une quinzaine d’organisations non-gouvernementales et de des Nations Unies actives au Sénégal et dans la sous-région iront à la rencontre du public lors d’une foire humanitaire organisée dans les jardins de la Mairie de Dakar l’après-midi du 19 août. Des éléments multimédia présentés au public donneront voix aux communautés affectées par les crises et à ceux qui les assistent.

Notes de contexte :

  • Le 19 août a été choisi par l'Assemblée générale des Nations Unies en tant que Journée Mondiale de l’Aide Humanitaire en référence à l’attentat, le 19 août 2003, du Siège des Nations Unies à Bagdad, qui a causé la mort de 22 personnes. La célébration de la Journée mondiale de l’aide humanitaire est l’occasion de rendre hommage à ceux et celles qui font face au danger et à l'adversité pour aider les autres et à l’esprit humanitaire qui inspire leurs actions.

  • A travers le monde, près de 60 millions de personnes sont aujourd’hui déplacées de force, dont 3,7 millions au Sahel. Nous sommes confrontés à une crise migratoire forcée, à une échelle sans précédent depuis la deuxième guerre mondiale. En moyenne, une personne qui a fui sa maison restera déplacée pendant 17 ans.

  • Plus de 840 millions de personnes – soit plus d’une personne sur huit à travers le monde – sont chroniquement sous-alimentées. En cette période de soudure, dans la seule région du Sahel, on estime que plus de 25 millions de personnes sont en insécurité alimentaire et 4.5 millions ont besoin d’assistance alimentaire. Les niveaux de la malnutrition aiguë sont encore très élevés dans la région du Sahel et il est estimé que dans cette région en 2015, 5,8 millions d’enfants âgés de moins de cinq ans souffriront de malnutrition aiguë globale dont 1,4 million de malnutrition aiguë sévère.

  • Les catastrophes naturelles sont plus fréquentes et plus intenses. On estime que d’ici à 2050, jusqu’à un milliard de personnes à travers le monde pourraient être déplacées des conséquences du changement climatique.

  • En 2014 dans le monde, dix travailleurs humanitaires ont perdu la vie chaque mois. Au total, 329 travailleurs humanitaires ont été victimes d'attaques violentes dans 27 pays. Malgré une diminution de 30 pour cent par rapport à l’an dernier, le nombre d'incidents reste alarmant. La plupart des attaques perpétrées contre les travailleurs humanitaires en 2014 ont eu lieu en Afghanistan, en Syrie, au Soudan du Sud, en République centrafricaine et au Pakistan.

  • En l’Afrique de l’Ouest, c’est la République Démocratique du Congo qui détient le triste record avec 134 humanitaires victimes d’attaques entre 2000 - 2015. Suivent ensuite la République Centrafricaine, le Nigéria, le Tchad et le Mali.

  • Les partenaires présents à la foire humanitaire de Dakar incluent ACTED, Caritas, le service de la Commission européenne à l'aide humanitaire et à la protection civile (ECHO), l’Organisation des Nations Unies pour l'alimentation et l'agriculture (FAO), OCHA, l’Organisation Internationale pour les Migrations (OIM), le Programme Alimentaire Mondial (PAM), Plan International, Save the Children, le Haut-Commissariat aux Réfugiés (UNHCR), l’UNICEF et World Vision International.

Pour découvrir les personnalités engagées dans la campagne, les récits humanitaires inédits, visitez : www.worldhumanitarianday.org. Pour les demandes d’interviews: Ivo Brandau, Chargé de l’information publique, OCHA ROWCA: +221 33 869 85 44, +221 77 450 62 32 brandaui@un.org Bérénice Van Den Driessche, Chargée de l’information publique, OCHA ROWCA: +221 33 869 85 22, +221 77 333 91 95 ou vandendriessche@un.org

Sierra Leone: WHO Ebola Situation Report - 19 August 2015

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Source: World Health Organization
Country: Guinea, Italy, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Spain, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America

SUMMARY

  • There were 3 confirmed cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD) reported in the week to 16 August, all of which were reported from Guinea. For the first time since the beginning of the outbreak in Sierra Leone, a full epidemiological week has passed with no confirmed cases reported from the country. Overall case incidence has held at 3 confirmed cases per week for 3 consecutive weeks. In addition, the number of contacts under observation has halved from over 1600 on 9 August to approximately 800 throughout 3 Guinean prefectures and 3 districts in Sierra Leone on 16 August. Almost 600 contacts in Tonkolili, Sierra Leone, completed the 21-day follow-up period on 14 August, accounting for most of the decline in the number of contacts under followup. However, there is still a significant risk of further transmission. In addition to the large number of contacts who remain under observation in Guinea and Sierra Leone, 45 contacts have been lost to follow-up in the Guinean capital Conakry over the past 6 weeks. Several high-risk contacts have also been lost to follow-up in the Sierra Leonean capital, Freetown. Rapid-response teams remain alert and ready to respond to further cases.

  • All of the 3 confirmed cases reported from Guinea in the week to 16 August are registered contacts, and are now receiving treatment in Ebola treatment centres. Two cases were reported from the Matam area of the capital, Conakry. Both cases were relatives and registered contacts of the single case reported from the Ratoma area of the city in the previous week (week ending 9 August). The remaining case was reported from the sub-prefecture of Moussayah in Forecariah. The case is a relative and registered contact of the case reported from the same sub-prefecture during the previous week. The origin of the previous week’s case remains under investigation. 796 contacts remain under follow-up in 3 western prefectures in Guinea (Conakry, Coyah, and Forecariah), compared with 927 contacts in 4 prefectures the previous week. All contacts previously under observation in the prefecture of Kindia have now completed the 21-day follow-up period.

  • No new cases were reported from Liberia in the week to 16 August. All contacts in Liberia have now completed their 21-day follow-up period. The last 2 patients with EVD in Liberia were discharged after completing treatment and testing negative for EVD for a second time on 23 July.  No cases were reported from Sierra Leone in the week to 16 August: the first week without a reported case since the onset of the outbreak in the country. A total of 72 contacts remain under follow-up across 3 districts (Tonkolili, Western Area Urban, and Western Area Rural), all of whom are associated with the Western Area Urban (Freetown) chain of transmission. All contacts associated with the recent cluster of cases in Tonkolili will complete the 21-day follow-up period on 23 August.

  • For the third consecutive week no health worker infections were reported from any of the affected countries. There have been a total of 880 confirmed health worker infections reported from Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone since the start of the outbreak, with 512 reported deaths.

Sierra Leone: Engaging communities on Ebola is about being able to re-mix the message

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Source: International Federation of Red Cross And Red Crescent Societies
Country: Sierra Leone

By Lisa Pattison, IFRC

“ABC: avoid body contact”, “No touch” and “Ebola is real” became mantras to chant and print across Sierra Leone as the country continues to battle the unprecedented Ebola outbreak. Catchy and simple, communities have latched onto these snappy sayings and, for the most part, live by them. Education through social mobilization led to behaviour change. Case rates tumbled.

Over 3,000 Red Cross volunteers engaged in the Ebola emergency response have been central to binding communities to the words that will protect them from Ebola. The Sierra Leone Red Cross Society and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) have carried out psychosocial support, contact tracing, safe and dignified burials, case management and social mobilization in Ebola affected communities. All five interventions have contributed to reigning in the outbreak. But it is dangerous to think that Ebola is over. Complacency is as dangerous as the Ebola virus itself.

Pushing for zero cases

Life is returning to normal throughout Sierra Leone after emergency restrictions – prohibiting public gatherings, restricting hours of commercial activity and limiting travel in an effort to stem transmission – were lifted over a month ago. Now, market places are hives of activity. The narrow streets are packed with petty traders as pedestrians fight for their share of the pavement. “I am happy that I can sell my vegetables like before. With the restrictions my income was smaller and it was difficult to support my family,” says Aminata Kamara a vegetable trader in Freetown. But as a sense of normality settles, how is it possible to ensure people remain vigilant about Ebola and continue to adopt safe and dignified burial practices?

The messages and advice for preventing Ebola stay the same, but the way they are said needs to be constantly reinvented and repackaged so that they do not fall on deaf ears.

Two districts, Port Loko and Kambia, continue to record cases of Ebola and have come under the spotlight for targeted intervention. Under the Northern Push operation, there is an intensification of social mobilization and engagement of leaders at the chiefdom level to ensure that Ebola-related bylaws, such as a mandate to remain inside quarantine zones, are enforced.

The Red Cross is playing a key role in deploying an extra 700 volunteers across the two districts to go door-to-door, raising awareness about Ebola and its prevention among rural and urban households. Red Cross volunteers, as trusted and recognized voices within their communities, are uniquely positioned to be able to keep people on guard against Ebola, even as life around them apparently returns to normal. Until zero cases are reached, and even after, there is no room for complacency.

Remixing the Ebola message

Creativity and engagement are also key to keeping communities interested and involved in fighting Ebola. One initiative that the Red Cross has developed is Radio in a Box which sees mobile radio and drama groups touring the two districts. “The Radio in a Box initiative is literally taking a radio station to the communities. It is a box which contains a laptop, speakers, synthesizers and so on. So people who couldn’t normally get to a radio station have the opportunity to have their say,” explains Edward Renner, senior broadcast officer at the Sierra Leone Red Cross Society. The interactive plays and radio programme are broadcast on local radio, ensuring that neighbouring communities hear the opinions and solutions coming from their close neighbours.

Actors perform in front of the gathered community, complaining about the persistence of Ebola and showing their annoyance at the restrictions placed upon them. One actor grumbles: Why is there still Ebola in his community when the majority of the country has managed to rid itself of it? Instead of another actor listing the reasons, community members are encouraged to come forward and explain their thoughts. One spectator cites attending unsafe burials, while another young woman suggests not respecting a quarantine zone is the reason for the continued presence of Ebola. Through this engagement, the community acknowledges that it is their behaviour which is not conducive to eradicating Ebola.

The actors then ask the community what each individual can do to solve the problem. Once again community members step forward and make suggestions. Interactive drama is entertaining and it helps communities understand that they have the capacity to change their behaviour and stop Ebola. It becomes clear that Ebola is not an external curse or a problem and that it can be solved.

There are signs that the campaign is working in Kambia, which borders Guinea’s Ebola hotspot of Forecariah. The community has achieved more than 30 days without a new case of Ebola. Drama, music and other creative responses are proving essential in keeping the population vigilant. IFRC beneficiary communications delegate Alif Nurlambang explains, “Engaging communities is not about sounding like a broken record, but about being able to remix the message.”

Sierra Leone: UNICEF Sierra Leone Ebola Situation Report, 12 August 2015

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Source: UN Children's Fund
Country: Sierra Leone

Highlights

· In the week to 9 August 2015, there was one confirmed Ebola case, the same as the previous week. The case was reported from Hagan Street area of Freetown in Western Area Urban district.

· UNICEF coordinated 26 street theatre performances in Massassebeh and Masanga communities in Tonkolili district. This initiative is helping to reduce the stress levels of people in quarantined houses and is also an innovative way of message delivery. Similar performances are also being done in Port Loko, Kambia and Western Area Urban districts.

· UNICEF and Welthungerhilfe supported the Collective Community Action Project which was launched last week. A team of 392 community mobilizers across all Wharfs in Western Area will promote hand washing and conduct community engagement for early case identification and treatment.

· In Tonkolili, UNICEF partners Sierra Leone Water Company and PACT provided 149,000 litres of potable water to 52 quarantined households (over 500 people) and pumped 280,000 litres of water to the quarantined Masanga hospital, benefiting 138 people as well as supporting clinical service provision. They also supported the Tonkolili district council to decontaminate, collect and dispose of solid waste from all the quarantined households in Massessebeh village and Masanga hospital, and provided fuel to enable power generation for water pumping and lighting at the hospital.

· In Porto Loko, UNICEF provided 37,500 litres of water to 56 households (336 people) in underserved areas.

· 148 children of school going age in need of learning and recreational kits were identified in quarantined households during the education needs assessment conducted by UNICEF in Tonkolili last week. 52 households will also be provided with solar powered radios.

· UNICEF partner Plan Sierra Leone provided an integrated package of psychosocial support services for all the children released from quarantine in Port Loko. Connect Sierra Leone, with UNICEF support, conducted follow up visits to the children and their families for psychological first aid.

Sierra Leone: Ebola Virus Disease - Situation Report (Sit-Rep) – 19 August, 2015

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Source: Government of Sierra Leone
Country: Sierra Leone


Sierra Leone: Ebola Outbreak Updates – August 19, 2015

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Source: Government of Sierra Leone
Country: Sierra Leone

 DISCHARGED CASES

  • Total Survived and Discharged Cases = 4,045   

 NEW CASES

  • New Confirmed cases = 0 as follows:   

Kailahun = 0, Kenema = 0, Kono = 0 Bombali = 0, Kambia = 0, Koinadugu = 0, Port Loko =0, Tonkolili = 0 Bo = 0, Bonthe = 0, Moyamba = 0 Pujehun = 0 Western Area Urban = 0, Western Area Rural = 0, Missing = 0

Sierra Leone: Sierra Leone: Port Loko District Operational Presence (12 Aug 2015)

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Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Country: Sierra Leone

This map is only a reflection of the operational presence and it is not an indication of whether gaps are being addressed.

Nigeria: West and Central Africa Region Weekly Humanitarian Snapshot 11-17 August 2015

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Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Country: Burkina Faso, Chad, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone

CHAD

FIVE PEOPLE KILLED IN AN ATTACK IN THE LAKE REGION

On 12 August, suspected Boko Haram militants attacked the village of Koyorame in the Lake region. Five people were killed, including two refugees. Due to insecurity, new displacements are still being reported in the area. In the past week, hundreds of people have settled in Walerom after having walked for two weeks, fleeing the attack of their village in Nigeria. As of 14 August, there are 11 new IDP sites in the Lake region, hosting over 40,000 people.

MALI NEW FIGHTING IN THE NORTH

The June peace deal between armed groups in northern Mali was breached in the past week when fighting broke out, killing an unconfirmed number of people.
Reports indicate that fighting took place sporadically over the weekend 120 km south of Kidal nearby a known trafficking route.

NIGERIA

150 PEOPLE KILLED IN ATTACK

Reports indicate that up to 150 people drowned in a river or were shot dead fleeing Boko Haram gunmen who raided a remote village in Nigeria's northeastern Yobe state last Thursday. Protection of civilians and access remain key challenges. And to improve humanitarian access in the north UNHAS flights have been introduced.

CONTINUING DISPLACEMENT DUE TO ESCALATING VIOLENCE

On 14 August, UNHCR expressed its concern about the escalating violence in and around Nigeria and its impact on the situation of Nigerian refugees in surrounding host countries, referring to the thousands of people who have been deported or returned to Nigeria from Cameroon and Chad in July and August. The agency reminds governments of their duty to protect asylum-seekers fleeing human rights violations, and to respect the principle of non-refoulement (non-return).

FLOODS/ REGIONAL

BURKINA FASO

Since the start of the rainy season in June, floods and strong winds have been causing severe damage in seven of Burkina Faso’s 13 regions. As of 12 August, eight people have been killed, 54 wounded and 24,354 people affected by flooding and strong winds. Of the affected 2,428 are displaced and being sheltered in schools.

NIGER

At least four people have died and more than 20,000 have been affected by floods in Niger caused by weeks of heavy rain. In Niamey local authorities have warned residents living near the Niger River to leave their homes because of the high risk of floods.

EVD REGIONAL

ONE CASE IN GUINEA, NO NEW CASES IN LIBERIA & SIERRA LEONE

Ebola remains active in Guinea, with one confirmed case over the week and over 500 contacts being tracked. Sierra Leone has reported zero new infections for a string of 10 days. It is the first time since the beginning of the Ebola outbreak in March 2014 that no new cases have been reported for a week. Around 81 contacts remain under quarantine. Meanwhile Liberia is inching toward arriving at becoming once again WHO certified as Ebola-free after having no new cases for more than 35 days.

Nigeria: Région de l'Afrique de l'ouest et du centre - Aperçu humanitaire hebdomadaire (11 – 17 août 2015)

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Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Country: Burkina Faso, Chad, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone

TCHAD

CINQ MORTS DANS UNE ATTAQUE

Le 12 août, des militants présumés de Boko Haram ont attaqué le village de Koyorame dans la région du lac Tchad. Cinq personnes ont été tuées, dont deux réfugiés. En raison de l'insécurité, de nouveaux déplacements sont encore signalés dans la région. Au cours de la dernière semaine, des centaines de personnes se sont installées à Walerom après avoir marché pendant deux semaines, fuyant l'attaque de leur village au Nigeria. En date du 14 Août, il y a 11 nouveaux sites de personnes déplacées dans la région du lac, hébergeant plus de 40.000 personnes.

MALI

NOUVEAUX AFFRONTEMENTS DANS LE NORD

L’accord de paix signé au mois de juin entre des groupes armés dans le nord du Mali a été interrompu la semaine dernière lorsque les combats ont éclaté, tuant un nombre indéterminé de personnes. Les rapports indiquent que les combats ont eu lieu de façon sporadique au cours du week-end 120 km au sud de Kidal.

NIGERIA

150 TUÉS DANS UNE ATTAQUE

Des sources médiatiques indiquent qu’au moins 150 personnes se sont noyées dans une rivière ou ont été abattus fuyant des hommes armés de Boko Haram qui ont attaqué un village qui situé dans l'état de Yobe au nord du Nigeria jeudi dernier. La protection des civils et l'accès restent les principaux défis. Des vols UNHAS ont débuté afin d’améliorer l'accès humanitaire dans le nord du pays.

LES DÉPLACEMENTS SE POURSUIVENT

Le 14 Août, le HCR a exprimé son inquiétude à propos de l'escalade de la violence dans et autour du Nigeria et son impact sur la situation des réfugiés nigérians dans les pays d'accueil environnants, se référant à des milliers de personnes qui ont été expulsés ou sont retournés au Nigeria du Cameroun et du Tchad en juillet et en août. L'agence rappelle également aux gouvernements qu’il est de leur devoir de protéger les demandeurs d'asile fuyant les violations des droits de l'homme, et de respecter le principe de non-refoulement.

INONDATIONS / REGIONAL

BURKINA FASO

Depuis le début de la saison des pluies en juin, les inondations et les vents violents ont causé de graves dommages dans sept des 13 régions du Burkina Faso. En date du 12 août, huit personnes ont été tuées, 54 blessés et 24 354 personnes touchées. Des personnes touchées 2 428 sont déplacées et on trouvé abri dans des écoles.

NIGER

Au moins quatre personnes sont mortes et plus de 20 000 personnes ont été touchées par les inondations au Niger suite à des semaines de fortes pluies. A Niamey les autorités locales ont conseillé aux habitants vivant à proximité du fleuve Niger de quitter leurs foyers en raison du risque élevé d'inondations.

EVD REGIONAL UN CAS EN GUINÉE, PAS DE NOUVEAU CAS AU LIBERIA ET EN SIERRA LEONE

Ebola reste actif en Guinée, avec un cas confirmé au cours de la semaine et plus de 500 contacts en cours de suivi. La Sierra Leone n’a signalé aucune nouvelle infection depuis dix jours. Il s’agit de la première fois depuis le début de l'épidémie d'Ebola en mars 2014 qu’aucun nouveau cas en une semaine n’a été signalé. Environ 81 contacts sont en quarantaine. Le Libéria n’ayant eu aucun nouveau cas depuis plus de 35 jours sera certifié libre d’Ebola par l’OMS si aucun nouveau cas n’est déclaré.

Sierra Leone: Ebola Virus Disease - Situation Report (Sit-Rep) – 20 August, 2015

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Source: Government of Sierra Leone
Country: Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone: Ebola Outbreak Updates – August 20, 2015

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Source: Government of Sierra Leone
Country: Sierra Leone

 DISCHARGED CASES

  • Total Survived and Discharged Cases = 4,046

 NEW CASES

  • New Confirmed cases = 0 as follows:
    Kailahun = 0, Kenema = 0, Kono = 0 Bombali = 0, Kambia = 0, Koinadugu = 0, Port Loko =0, Tonkolili = 0 Bo = 0, Bonthe = 0, Moyamba = 0 Pujehun = 0 Western Area Urban = 0, Western Area Rural = 0, Missing = 0

Sierra Leone: Health Ministry mid-year review kicks off

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Source: Government of Sierra Leone
Country: Sierra Leone

Freetown, Aug. 19, 2015 (MOHS) – Deputy Minister of Health and Sanitation, Madina Rahman has described the Ebola outbreak as a devastating battle that over stretches our country’s fragile health systems and decimated our human resource for health capacity.

Addressing the opening ceremony of the Ministry’s four-days Mid-Year Performance Level 2015 Review towards building a resilient health care delivery system in the country held at the Shangri La Complex in Freetown, Madam Rahman lamented the loss of lives of doctors, nurses, specialists and other health workers, adding that the epidemic had direct and disproportional efforts on the health sector, eroded recent progress towards the Millennium Development Goals.

Moving towards the full implementation of activities on the Post Ebola Recovery Plan recently launched by President Koroma, Madam Rahman expressed the need for stock take of what has been done in order to establish baselines from the Ministry’s achievements at the end of six to nine months, pointing out that it was on the circumstance and against that backdrop that the meeting was organized. The meeting, she told her audience will review the performance of Directors, Programme and District Management Teams for the first half of 2015 with a view to establishing the status of implementation of Ebola response and early recovery activities, identify bottlenecks and implementation challenges as the Ministry seeks to get to zero Ebola infection and restore essential health services.

Commenting on the gains and success story of the Ministry, Madam Rahman said despite the challenges faced in hitting some of the MDG indicators around maternal and child health, significant progress has been made over the years following key strategies in response to our appalling health systems, notably the Free Health Care Initiative and complementing interventions. Both the basic package of essential health services and the free health care, the Deputy Minister said contributed to the substantial progress made towards a number of the MDG targets in the health sector including the reduction in child and maternal mortality. The improved coverage with a range of critical interventions such as Family Planning, skilled Birth Attendants and immunization, the Deputy Minister said equally contributed greatly to the progress made. Evidenced on the progress made she furthered, is based on the results of the two preceding Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS 2008-2013) with notable coverage gains in access to essential services.

She acknowledged the good work of all health workers, health development partners and all those who in diverse ways assisted in winning the menace, and for their determination to drive the recovery process forward.

“All we need as a country and people, to support the leadership the ministry at both national and districts level is to demonstrate the desired seriousness and transformational leadership to bring a lasting change in our health system and the health outcomes of the citizenry”, opined the Deputy Minister.

The Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Brima Kargbo commended his staff for the steadfastness and commitment towards having a resilient health system noting the inadequate human resource capacity and the effort to restore the basic health services in the various health facilities in the country.

He said the destiny of the Ministry lies on the District Health Management Teams, describing them as the catalyst for the successful implementation of the recovery plan.

Dr. Kargbo reminded them that the lessons learnt must be executed professionally, and admonished them to protect themselves and the patient, and to treat all patients as suspects.

He reiterated the need to put into practice the Infection, Prevention and Control measures and to note their responsibility towards the more than 4,000 survivors that needed their assistance.

The Chief Medical Officer spoke on the Ministry’s Post Ebola Strategy, the health worker and patient safety and community engagement and ownership, surveillance and health information system and other pillars that would make the Ministry a more viable institution.

The Permanent Secretary Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Mr. David Banya lauded the political leadership of the Ministry, Dr. Abu Bakarr Fofanah for his determination, vision and commitment in striving for excellence.

He told his audience that the Ministry is poised to enter into 2016 with added determination to translate into reality the vision of government to provide prompt, effective and efficient health care delivery service to all Sierra Leoneans and others living in the country.

Mr. Banya dilated on other key issues which include the Ministry’s Budget Allocation for the remaining months of 2015, the Budget Call Circular for Fiscal Year 2016-2018, Man Power Planning and the Post Ebola priorities.

Other speakers include the WHO Representative, Dr. Anders Nordstrom and representative of the Director General Human Resource Management Office (HRMO) Mr. Osman Conteh.

JAK/KK/MOHS/SLENA


Sierra Leone: Keeping families connected during Ebola quarantine

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Source: UN Children's Fund
Country: Sierra Leone

BY INDRIAS G. KASSAYE ON 20 AUG 2015

Grandma Gbla only allowed her 15-year-old granddaughter Adamseh to be taken from Ebola quarantine to hospital to give birth when she received promises that Adamseh would be well taken care of and that the two could keep in touch.

The family, and indeed the entire 500-strong village of Massesebe in Sierra Leone’s Tonkolili district, had just been put under 21-day quarantine following the death of an Ebola-infected man who had travelled back to the village from Sierra Leone’s capital Freetown. Sadly the case was not reported and his death was followed by a traditional burial without the appropriate safety procedures. The risk that this might result in further outbreaks necessitated the immediate isolation of the direct contacts.

But when quarantine hit, Adamseh was nine months pregnant. Given her young age, members of the Ebola response team decided it was best to take her to a health facility that could manage her quarantine status. So, following a discussion with her grandmother, with whom Adamseh was living, she was taken to the Lion Heart Hospital. She gave birth to a healthy baby boy.

Keeping the promise made to Grandma Gbla, UNICEF child protection officer Amie Tholley, visits Adamseh regularly, bringing back word of her condition. And, despite being in quarantine, Grandma Gbla has already had her first glimpse of her new grandson through a video message that Tholley recorded and brought back to show family and neighbours.

“I am doing fine, and this is my baby boy, though I haven’t given him a name yet,” said Adamseh in the video message to her quarantined family. “They helped me with the delivery and are taking good care of me here, so don’t worry. I will see you soon.”

UNICEF, CDC and other partners in the Ebola response are using photographs and video messages to allay doubts and fears. In other cases, video messages have been given by those in Ebola Treatment Units and high-risk contacts in isolation. It helps build confidence among communities that health services can be counted on.

Additional support is provided to minimize stress caused by the quarantine. This includes toys, books and games for children no longer free to roam in the neighbourhood, as well as radios and games for adults whose minds are on their farms. Counselling and psychological first-aid is also provided by trained counsellors.

“Quarantine is a very stressful period for families, especially for girls like Adamseh who are minors. Their families were really concerned because she was pregnant and in quarantine,” said Tholley.

“The reaction to the family liaison work that we do has been good. For example take Adamseh – she was really happy she was taken to Lion Heart to give birth and how she is being treated at the hospital, and that she delivered there,” said Tholley. “When we came back and showed the pictures and the video message she sent to the grandmothers, they were really happy and they thanked UNICEF and other partners for all that they are doing for them during this time of quarantine.”

UNICEF is providing Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, social mobilization, and psycho-social and child protection support to the emergency response in Tonkolili District, the latest Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone.

Meanwhile, in the village of Massesebe, the District Emergency Response Centre (DERC) in partnership with UNICEF, WHO, and many other partners, decontaminated and cordoned off the compound where the man had died and added a tented extension to the house to provide more space. Pit latrines were dug, adequate sanitation facilities and hygiene products were provided including a water tank adjacent to the compound, and arrangements were made to feed the people. The entire village was put behind orange quarantine tape, and the 21-day observation period, with thrice daily monitoring of everybody’s temperature for signs of fever, began. Massangha Hospital was also quarantined.

Ambulances were put on standby, and water trucks commissioned to deliver water. Ebola survivors, previously organized in an association, were brought in and trained to deliver water to each of the 49 households in the community.

On 14 August 2015, quarantine ended and the family were reunited.

As of 13 August 2015, there have been 8,697 confirmed cases of Ebola, with 3,586 confirmed deaths from the virus in Sierra Leone.

UNICEF’s USD 178 million appeal to respond to the Ebola crisis in Sierra Leone, remains under-funded, with 121.7 million received to date, leaving a funding gap of USD 56.3 million.

Indrias G. Kassaye is a Communications Specialist working with UNICEF Sierra Leone

World: Global Weather Hazards Summary August 21 - 27, 2015

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Source: Famine Early Warning System Network, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Country: Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Honduras, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Tajikistan, Togo, World

Poorly distributed rainfall in West and East Africa likely to exacerbate conditions

Africa Weather Hazards

  1. Widespread, heavy rain during the past few weeks has caused flooding over local areas of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. Heavy rain is forecast to continue during the next week, maintaining elevated risks for flooding over many areas.

  2. The early end of rainfall in southern Ghana, Togo, and Benin has increased moisture deficits and negatively impacted crops. Limited rain is forecast along the Gulf of Guinea during the next week, which is likely to sustain moisture deficits.

  3. Significant rainfall is forecast to continue over eastern Chad and western Sudan during the next week, heightening risks for flooding and potential waterborne disease outbreaks.

  4. A delayed onset and general lack of rainfall has resulted in abnormal dryness across parts of central and eastern Sudan, northern Ethiopia, and southern Eritrea. An increase in rainfall is expected along the Sudan-Eritrea-Ethiopia borders during the next week, which should help reduce deficits.

  5. Despite some increase in rainfall over the past few weeks, the much delayed start to the rainfall season has resulted in drought, which has severely impacted ground conditions and led to livestock deaths across parts of north-central and eastern Ethiopia.

World: Weekly Epidemiological Record (WER), 21 August 2015, vol. 90, 34 (pp. 421-432) [EN/FR]

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Source: World Health Organization
Country: Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, World

Contents

421 Addendum to report of the Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety (GACVS), 10–11 June 2015

423 Progress towards poliomyelitis eradication in Nigeria, January 2014–July 2015 430 Monthly report on dracunculiasis cases, January-June 2015

Sommaire

421 Addendum au rapport du Comité consultatif mondial de la sécurité vaccinale (GACVS), 10-11 juin 2015

423 Progrès accomplis vers l’éradication de la poliomyélite au Nigéria, janvier 2014- juillet 2015 430 Rapport mensuel des cas de dracunculose, janvier-juin 2015

Sierra Leone: Ebola Virus Disease - Situation Report (Sit-Rep) – 21 August, 2015

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Source: Government of Sierra Leone
Country: Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone: Clarifications on the Amended Safe and Dignified Burial Policy

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Source: Government of Sierra Leone
Country: Sierra Leone

Press Statement

The NERC wishes to make the following clarifications on the amended Safe and Dignified Burial Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) announced by the Chief Executive Officer of the NERC Major (Rtd) Alfred Palo Conteh during his weekly Press Conference on Wednesday August 19, 2015.

  • Families in Western Area Urban (Urban) will be offered Safe and Dignified Burial within 24 hours from a list of 17 designated cemeteries, (16 sites in WA Urban plus the existing designated Ebola burial site at Waterloo).The cemetery site will be agreed and confirmed with the bereaved family at the time of calling 117. Negotiations for Cemeteries of choice are not permitted for Ebola positive corpses. All Ebola positive corpses will be buried at the designated Ebola burial site at Waterloo

  • Funeral homes in Western Area and Connaught Mortuary have been given a deadline of Monday 31 August to clear all corpses from their respective facilities. These establishments were prohibited from receiving new corpses from Thursday 20 August and their closure will be monitored until the Safe and Dignified Burials policy is discontinued

  • Families in all other Districts will be offered Safe and Dignified Burial within 24 hours at cemeteries of their choice within those Districts. Burials will only be permitted at sites designated as cemeteries.

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