SUMMARY

• No confirmed cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD) were reported in the week to 13 December. All contacts associated with the cluster of 3 confirmed cases of EVD reported from Liberia in the week to 22 November have now completed 21-day follow-up. The first-reported case in the cluster, a 15-year-old boy, died on 23 November. Two subsequent cases, the boy’s father and younger brother, tested negative twice for Ebola virus on 3 December and were discharged. As of 11 December, 210 eligible recipients associated with the cluster had received the rVSV-ZEBOV Ebola vaccine as part of the Partnership for Research on Ebola Vaccines in Liberia (PREVAIL study), which is administered by the Government of Liberia and the US National Institutes of Health.

• Human-to-human transmission linked to the recent cluster of cases in Liberia will end on 14 January 2016, 42 days after the 2 most-recent cases received a second consecutive negative test for Ebola virus, if no further cases are reported. Human-to-human transmission linked to the primary outbreak in Guinea will end on 28 December 2015, 42 days after the country’s most recent case, reported on 29 October, received a second consecutive negative test for Ebola virus. In Sierra Leone, human-to-human transmission linked to the primary outbreak was declared to have ended on 7 November 2015. The country has now entered a 90-day period of enhanced surveillance scheduled to conclude on 5 February 2016.

• The recent cluster of cases in Liberia is now understood to have been a result of the re-emergence of Ebola virus that had persisted in a previously infected individual. Although the probability of such re-emergence events is low, the risk of further transmission following a re-emergence underscores the importance of implementing a comprehensive package of services for survivors that includes the testing of appropriate bodily fluids for the presence of Ebola virus RNA. The governments of Liberia and Sierra Leone, with support from partners including WHO and US CDC, have implemented voluntary semen screening and counselling programmes for male survivors in order to help affected individuals understand their risk and take necessary precautions to protect close contacts. A network of clinical services for survivors is also being expanded in Liberia and Sierra Leone, with plans for comprehensive national policies for the care of EVD survivors due to be completed in January 2016.

• In order to effectively manage and respond to the consequences of residual Ebola risks, Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone have each put surveillance systems in place to enable health workers and members of the public to report any case of illness or death that they suspect may be related to EVD to the relevant authorities. In the week to 13 December, 1014 community deaths alerts were reported in Guinea from all of the country’s 34 prefectures. Over the same period 8 operational laboratories in Guinea tested a total of 593 new and repeat samples from 12 of the country’s 34 prefectures. In Liberia, 1027 alerts were received from all 15 of the country’s Counties. The country’s 5 operational laboratories tested 1277 samples for EVD over the same period. In Sierra Leone, 1446 alerts were reported from all of the country’s 14 districts in the week ending 29 November (the most recent week for which data are available). 1151 samples were tested for EVD by the country’s 8 operational laboratories in the week ending 13 December.

• The deployment of rapid-response teams following the detection of a new confirmed case continues to be a cornerstone of the national response strategy in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. Each country has at least 1 national rapid-response team, with strengthening of national and subnational rapid-response capacity and validation of incident-response plans continuing through December and January.

Freetown, Dec. 16, 2015 (MOHS) – Project Hope founded in 1958 has paid a courtesy call on the Ministry of Health and Sanitation to explore areas of assistance within its Post Ebola priority plan in the area of public health and maternal and child health.

Project Hope in group photo with MOHS Sr. officials: (R-L) – Second, Deputy Minister Madam Madina Rahman, Deputy Minister 11, Foday Sawi Lahai, Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Brima Kargbo and Project Hope President and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Thomas Kenyon

Addressing Senior Officials of the Ministry, The President and Chief Executive of Project Hope, Dr. Thomas Kenyon underscored the importance of the dialogue with the ministry, expressing the need for a better collaboration within the organization’s existing Memorandum of Understanding for the benefit of the two Institutions.

He told the meeting that details of the Ministry’s priority area would be worked out according to programmes time line and targets and reiterated his organization’s commitment to ensure that some of the challenges and health needs are met.

Deputy Minister of Health and Sanitation I, Foday Sawi Lahai, described the area of interest as timely as the ministry faces challenges with limited resources to address human resource capacity for effective and efficient quality health care delivery services in rural puerperal health units across the country. He enumerated the low number of trained staff, motivation for health workers in remote areas, accommodation and capacity for accurate and timely data collection and processing as part of the challenges for quality health delivery services in rural communities.

Deputy Minister II, Madam Madina Rahman reiterated the need for a conducive working environment for staff and In- Service Training across the country. Noting also the importance of having the baseline for the promotion of maternal and child health.

The Chief Medical Officer, Dr, Brima Kargbo spoke on key priority areas which included maternal and child health, community engagement and ownership, surveillance and information communication based surveillance and duplication of efforts in service delivery among other concerns.

Other speakers include the Director of Primary Health Care, Dr, Joseph Kandeh, the Director of Planning, Information, Policy and Health System strengthening, Dr, Samuel Kargbo

JAK/MOHS/SLENA

16 and 17 December 2015, Abuja, Federal Republic of Nigeria

1 Under the chairmanship of H.E. Macky Sall, President of the Republic of Senegal and current Chair of the Authority, the Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) held their Forty-Eighth Ordinary Session on 16 and 17 December 2015 in Abuja, Federal Republic of Nigeria. The Session was followed by a ceremony to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the creation of the organization.

2 The Session was attended by the under-listed Heads of State and Government or their duly- mandated representatives:

• H.E. Thomas Boni YAYI, President of the Republic of Benin;

• H.E. Michel KAFANDO, President of the Transition of Burkina Faso;

• H.E. Alassane OUATTARA, President of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire;

• H.E. Sheikh Prof. Alhaji Dr Yahya A.J.J. JAMMEH, President of the Republic of The Gambia;

• H.E. John Dramani MAHAMA, President of the Republic of Ghana;

• H.E. Alpha CONDE, President of the Republic of Guinea;

• H.E. José Mario VAZ, President of the Republic of Guinea Bissau;

• H. E. Joseph N. BOAKAI, Vice President of the Republic of Liberia;

• H.E. Ibrahim Boubacar KEITA, President of the Republic of Mali;

• H. E. Brigi RAFINI, Prime Minister of the Republic of Niger;

• H.E. Muhammadu BUHARI, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria;

• H.E. Macky SALL, President of the Republic of Senegal;

• H.E. Faure Essozimna GNASSINGBE, President of the Togolese Republic

• H.E. Jorge TOLENTINO, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cabo Verde

• H.E. Dr Ebun STRASSER-KING, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Sierra Leone

3 The session was also attended by Mrs. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, Chairperson of the African Union Commission and Dr Mohamed Ibn Chambas, the UN Secretary General’s Special Representative for West Africa as observers.

4 Furthermore, H.E. Yakubu Gowon, former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, former Executive Secretaries and Presidents of the ECOWAS Commission, as well as eminent personalities and representatives of various international organizations, socioprofessional organisations and Civil Society Organisations, including religious and traditional leaders, attended the celebrations of the 40th anniversary subsequent to the Summit deliberations.

5 During their session, the Heads of State and Government took note of the 2015 Annual Report of the President of the Commission and the Reports of the 75th Ordinary Session of the Council of Ministers, the 35th Meeting of the ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council, as well as the 14th Extraordinary Session of the Council of Ministers on institutional reforms, and the end of tenure of statutory appointees. The Heads of State and Government also exchanged views on peace and security matters, particularly the new cross-border threats in the ECOWAS region.

(excerpt)

16 et 17 Décembre 2015, Abuja, République Fédérale du Nigeria

COMMUNIQUE FINAL

1 Sous la Présidence de S.E.M Macky Sall, Président de la République du Sénégal,
Président en Exercice de la Conférence, les Chefs d’Etat et de Gouvernement de la Communauté Economique des Etats de l’Afrique de l’Ouest (CEDEAO) ont tenu leur quarantehuitième Session Ordinaire à Abuja, République Fédérale du Nigeria les 16 et 17 décembre 2015. Cette Session Ordinaire a été suivie de la cérémonie commémorative du quarantième anniversaire de la création de l’Organisation.

2 Etaient présents à cette Session, les Chefs d’Etat et de Gouvernement suivants ou leurs représentants dûment mandatés:

• S.E.M Thomas Boni YAYI, Président de la République du Benin
  
• S. E. M. Michel KAFANDO, Président de la Transition du Burkina Faso
  
• S. E. M. Alassane OUATTARA, Président de la République de Côte d’Ivoire
  
• S. E. M. Sheikh Prof. Alhaji Dr Yahya A.J.J. JAMMEH, Président de la République de Gambie
  
• S.E.M. John Dramani MAHAMA, Président de la République du Ghana
  
• S.E.M. Alpha CONDE, Président de la République de Guinée
  
• S.E.M. José Mario VAZ, Président de la République de Guinée Bissau
  
• S. E.M. Joseph N. BOAKAI, Vice-Président de la République du Liberia
  
• S.E.M. Ibrahim Boubacar KEITA, Président de la République du Mali
  
• S. E. M. Brigi RAFINI, Premier Ministre de la République du Niger
  
• S. E. M. Muhammadu BUHARI, Président de la République Fédérale du Nigeria
  
• S. E. M. Macky SALL, Président de la République du Sénégal
  
• S.E.M. Faure Essozimna GNASSINGBE, Président de la République Togolaise
  
• S.E.M. Jorge TOLENTINO, Ministre des Affaires Etrangères de la République du Cabo Verde
  
• S. E. M. Dr Ebun STRASSER-KING, Ministre Délégué aux Affaires Etrangères et à la Coopération Internationale de la République de Sierra Leone
  

3 Ont également pris part à ce Sommet en qualité d’observateurs, Mme Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, Présidente de la Commission de l’Union Africaine et Dr Mohamed Ibn Chambas, Représentant Spécial du Secrétaire Général des Nations Unies pour l’Afrique de l’Ouest.

4 Par ailleurs, S.E.M. Yakubu Gowon, Ancien Président de la République Fédérale du Nigeria, d’anciens Secrétaires Exécutifs et Présidents de la Commission ainsi que d’éminentes personnalités et des représentants de différentes organisations internationales, organisations socio-professionnelles et organisations de la société civile, de même que des Autorités religieuses et coutumières ont participé à la Célébration du 40e anniversaire qui a suivi les travaux du Sommet.

5 Au cours de leur Session, les Chefs d’Etat et de Gouvernement ont pris acte du Rapport annuel 2015 du Président de la Commission ainsi que des Rapports de la 75ème Session Ordinaire du Conseil des Ministres, de la 35e Réunion du Conseil de Médiation et de Sécurité de la CEDEAO et de la 14e Session Extraordinaire du Conseil des Ministres sur les réformes institutionnelles et l’expiration des mandats des fonctionnaires statutaires. Les Chefs d’Etat et de Gouvernement ont également procédé à un échange de vue sur le thème paix et sécurité : les nouvelles menaces transfrontalières dans l’espace CEDEAO.

(extrait)

16 et 17 Décembre 2015, Abuja, République Fédérale du Nigeria

COMMUNIQUE FINAL

1 Sous la Présidence de S.E.M Macky Sall, Président de la République du Sénégal,
Président en Exercice de la Conférence, les Chefs d’Etat et de Gouvernement de la Communauté Economique des Etats de l’Afrique de l’Ouest (CEDEAO) ont tenu leur quarantehuitième Session Ordinaire à Abuja, République Fédérale du Nigeria les 16 et 17 décembre 2015. Cette Session Ordinaire a été suivie de la cérémonie commémorative du quarantième anniversaire de la création de l’Organisation.

2 Etaient présents à cette Session, les Chefs d’Etat et de Gouvernement suivants ou leurs représentants dûment mandatés:

• S.E.M Thomas Boni YAYI, Président de la République du Benin
  
• S. E. M. Michel KAFANDO, Président de la Transition du Burkina Faso
  
• S. E. M. Alassane OUATTARA, Président de la République de Côte d’Ivoire
  
• S. E. M. Sheikh Prof. Alhaji Dr Yahya A.J.J. JAMMEH, Président de la République de Gambie
  
• S.E.M. John Dramani MAHAMA, Président de la République du Ghana
  
• S.E.M. Alpha CONDE, Président de la République de Guinée
  
• S.E.M. José Mario VAZ, Président de la République de Guinée Bissau
  
• S. E.M. Joseph N. BOAKAI, Vice-Président de la République du Liberia
  
• S.E.M. Ibrahim Boubacar KEITA, Président de la République du Mali
  
• S. E. M. Brigi RAFINI, Premier Ministre de la République du Niger
  
• S. E. M. Muhammadu BUHARI, Président de la République Fédérale du Nigeria
  
• S. E. M. Macky SALL, Président de la République du Sénégal
  
• S.E.M. Faure Essozimna GNASSINGBE, Président de la République Togolaise
  
• S.E.M. Jorge TOLENTINO, Ministre des Affaires Etrangères de la République du Cabo Verde
  
• S. E. M. Dr Ebun STRASSER-KING, Ministre Délégué aux Affaires Etrangères et à la Coopération Internationale de la République de Sierra Leone
  

3 Ont également pris part à ce Sommet en qualité d’observateurs, Mme Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, Présidente de la Commission de l’Union Africaine et Dr Mohamed Ibn Chambas, Représentant Spécial du Secrétaire Général des Nations Unies pour l’Afrique de l’Ouest.

4 Par ailleurs, S.E.M. Yakubu Gowon, Ancien Président de la République Fédérale du Nigeria, d’anciens Secrétaires Exécutifs et Présidents de la Commission ainsi que d’éminentes personnalités et des représentants de différentes organisations internationales, organisations socio-professionnelles et organisations de la société civile, de même que des Autorités religieuses et coutumières ont participé à la Célébration du 40e anniversaire qui a suivi les travaux du Sommet.

5 Au cours de leur Session, les Chefs d’Etat et de Gouvernement ont pris acte du Rapport annuel 2015 du Président de la Commission ainsi que des Rapports de la 75ème Session Ordinaire du Conseil des Ministres, de la 35e Réunion du Conseil de Médiation et de Sécurité de la CEDEAO et de la 14e Session Extraordinaire du Conseil des Ministres sur les réformes institutionnelles et l’expiration des mandats des fonctionnaires statutaires. Les Chefs d’Etat et de Gouvernement ont également procédé à un échange de vue sur le thème paix et sécurité : les nouvelles menaces transfrontalières dans l’espace CEDEAO.

(extrait)

KEY POINTS

• Good agro-pastoral production is expected in West Africa and the Sahel.

• Some localized fodder deficits in the pastoral zone of Niger, Mali, Mauritania, Senegal and Chad may lead to an early pastoral lean period.

• Results of the Cadre Harmonisé (CH) indicate that 7.9 million people are in crisis in the current period (October-December 2015) and 10.5 million people during the lean period (June-August 2016) in 17 countries in the region: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cap Vert, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo.

The increase in grain production by 13 percent in the Sahel and 12 percent across the region over the five-year average currently allows for a good supply in most markets in the region.

The pastoral situation is satisfactory with good fodder availability, however, there is a localized fodder deficit north of the Sahel (Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal and Chad), and this area merits monitoring.

Food and nutrition insecurity affect 7.9 million people in this time of harvest and 10.5 million people are estimated to be food and nutrition insecurity in the 2016 lean period if no adequate response is made.

In Chad, the low levels of production and insecurity could lead to a slump in food availability until June 2016 for vulnerable households.

Democratic Republic of the Congo: Continuity of efforts on the provinces of Katanga and South Kivu.

Over the past weeks, outbreaks have appeared to be limited on the provinces of Katanga (Kalemie and Vangu) and South Kivu (spread throughout most of health areas); it is reminded that South Kivu is one of the most affected provinces by cholera epidemics in the DRC. The outbreak in Maniema that hit strongly in Kindu, Kailo, and Alunguli health zones, has now significantly decreased and the end of this outbreak shall be achieved by the end of the year if I prevention and response activities are maintained. According to Radio Okapi, three hundred cholera cases may have I been notified in the Mura instruction centre in Likasi

(Radio Okapi-click to access the article).

RDC : Continuity des efforts sur les provinces du Katanga et du Sud Kivu.

Sur les dernieres semaines, les foyers epidemiques semblent se concentrer principalement sur les provinces du Katanga (Kalemie et Vangu) et du Sud Kivu (diffus sur la majorite des zones de sante) ; it est rappels que le sud Kivu est I'une des provinces les plus affectees par les epidemies de cholera en RDC. A present, les flambees qui avaient violemment frappe les populations des zones de sante de Kindu, Kailo et Alunguli, de la province du Maniema, dimi-nuent tres significativement et la fin de ces foyers pourrait subvenir d'ici la fin de l'annee si les activites mises en cnuvre se maintiennent egalement. A noter que trois cents cas de cholera auraient ete enregistres au centre d'instruction Mura a Likasi dans la nouvelle province du Haut-Katanga , information non encore confirm& par les autorites nationales.

(selon Radio Okapi-cliquer pour acceder au lien)

A. Situation analysis

Description of the disaster In early September 2015, the Bo, Bonthe Freetown, Port Loko and Pujehun districts in the southern provinces of Sierra Leone experienced flooding due to torrential rains which led to widespread destruction. According to the Government of Sierra Leone through the Office of National Security (ONS) the total affected population in the five districts reached 24,303 (Bo (3,293), Bonthe (4,650) and Port Loko (1,510), Freetown (14,050) and Pujehun (800)). In Freetown, an estimated 12,000 people were displaced and initially sought refuge in the Attouga Mini Football Stadium and National Football Stadium; while in Bo, Bonthe, Port Loko and Pujehun districts, people have evacuated to nearby communities, seeking refuge to relatives or in public buildings (government buildings, mosques, schools etc.). In many of the more remote affected communities, assistance has not reached the affected population, leaving them exposed to the continuing rains. On 14 September 2015, the GoS appealed to humanitarian organizations to assist the affected population.

On 18 September 2015, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) released CHF 88,050 from the Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to support the Sierra Leone Red Cross respond to the needs of 2,630 people (567 families), affected by flooding in Bo and Pujehun districts for a period of three months. The support specifically focused on health and care, shelter and settlements, water, sanitation and hygiene promotion. On 12 October 2015, an Operations Update was issued, which released an additional DREF allocation of CHF 196,950 (Total allocation: CHF 285,000) to expand the activities planned into Freetown (East End and West End), and the chiefdoms of Bonthe and Port Loko. In total, 24,303 beneficiaries (4,051 families) were expected to be reached through the DREF operation. This Operations Update is requesting an extension of time frame of six weeks to enable the completion of a review of the DREF operation. The DREF operation will end on 31 January 2016, and a final report will be made available on 30 April 2016 (Three months after the end of the DREF operation).

This DREF has been replenished by the Canadian RC/Govt DFATD. The major donors and partners of the DREF include the Red Cross Societies and governments of Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Ireland, Italy,
Japan, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden and the USA, as well as DG ECHO, the UK Department for International Development (DFID) the Medtronic, Zurich and Coca Cola Foundations and other corporate and private donors. The IFRC, on behalf of the Sierra Leone Red Cross Society would like to extend many thanks to all partners for their generous contributions.
Please refer to Operations Update no.1 for information on the DREF operation, including on the operational strategy and plan, and operational support needs which remain unchanged.

HIGHLIGHTS

• No EVD cases reported in West Africa in nearly one month

• All contacts in Liberia complete 21-day monitoring period

• USAID/OFDA partners support adherence to IPC protocols in Liberia

• DART works to bolster PPE pipeline in Guinea

KEY DEVELOPMENTS

• The Government of Liberia (GoL), the USG Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART), and relief organizations continue to lead response efforts linked to mid-November cases of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in Liberia’s Montserrado County. All contacts linked to the EVD cases completed their 21-day monitoring period on December 10, with no contacts remaining under precautionary observation.
  
• A USAID/OFDA health advisor traveled to Sierra Leone during the week of November 30 to assess the ongoing EVD response transition. The advisor briefed the U.S. Ambassador to Sierra Leone and met with the DART, CDC, the UN, and USAID/OFDA partners.
  
• As of December 18, the governments of Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone had not reported a confirmed EVD case since the week of November 15.

West Africa - Ebola Outbreak, Fact Sheet #6, Fiscal Year (FY) 2015 (as of December 18, 2015)

This page tracks Ebola resource flows (including monetized in-kind contributions where available) totaling US$1 million or more from multilateral and bilateral institutions and some foundations. Data is captured from government and other official websites and from communication with key officials within development partner agencies. Data is updated on a monthly basis. Pledges are a non-binding announcement of an intended contribution or allocation by the donor.

by Denise Rollins

Last month I, along with a multidisciplinary team from USAID and colleagues from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health, traveled to Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia.

Our objectives were to observe Ebola recovery efforts in each country, assess the progress of USAID’s transition from response to recovery activities on the ground, and get a better understanding of the impact of the disease on the survivors. We met with government officials, international NGOs, civil society organizations, other donors, and a host of ordinary citizens from each country, and visited many project sites.

One of the highlights of our time in Liberia was the visit to Lango Lippaye Elementary, Junior and Senior High School in Kakata, Margibi County, a 50-year-old school with nearly 2,200 students.

In July 2014, as the magnitude of the Ebola outbreak was gaining international attention, Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, in an unprecedented move, closed the nation’s 4,500 schools in an effort to stop the spread of the disease. More than 1 million children were forced to stay home for over six months as the country battled the deadliest Ebola outbreak in history.

Over one year later, and after 4,200 deaths, Liberia has made significant strides in defeating the disease and is focused on recovering the development gains achieved prior to the outbreak.

The schools reopened in February as part of the recovery efforts. USAID and our partners at UNICEF worked with the Government of Liberia to ensure that children were able to safely return to school by providing more than 7,000 infection prevention and control kits to schools throughout the country, and training teachers and administrators on how to prevent infection.

The safety kits included buckets, soap, chlorine and cleaning items to help schools reduce the risk of Ebola transmission. USAID also partnered with UNICEF to provide schools with 700,000 learning kits that included chalk, pencils, books, erasers and folders. In addition, we trained teachers and PTA members on how to provide psychosocial support to the students and their families.

The students, teachers and administrators of Lango Lippaye Elementary, Junior and Senior High School welcomed us warmly during our visit. As we alighted from our vehicles, many beaming, cheering students greeted us; virtually all of them showed off their USAID-funded learning kits, holding up blue school bags with the familiar handclasp logo.

At the official welcoming ceremony, a student choir filed in singing joyously and full of energy about being grateful for the United States and its citizens for helping Liberia overcome Ebola. What an uplifting moment!

Reflecting on what life was like during the height of the crisis, one high school student told us, “It was very difficult during that period. We did not leave our home. I felt alone. People were afraid to go out.”

Another student added, “I tried to keep up with my courses while the school was closed but it was difficult. I missed my friends.”

The students said they were excited that they were now able to attend school and could pursue their career dreams once again. For some this meant aspiring to be doctors so they could contribute to addressing public health emergencies like Ebola. Being back in school also gave them renewed hope about the future.

Rosetta Fardolo, the student representative, asserted that USAID is “helping this school develop into a stronger, safer, and more productive environment to teach the next generation of Liberian leaders. We look forward to a long partnership with you as we work to rebuild our school and community post-Ebola.”

Principal Robert Zaza expressed deep appreciation for the United States, telling us, “We are grateful and blessed even though we lost teachers and parents. Your donations helped our students come back to school and teachers to teach. You gave us those things that make us to be alive today, so we say, thank you.”

He noted that the school had established peer educators and a social club in an effort to fight stigma and discrimination against survivors of Ebola. Addressing survivor care and support are high priorities for USAID and we are developing new approaches to focus on this issue.

We know that there is more to do. Life is still scary and difficult for many Liberians—including schoolchildren and their families. As we support future education programs, we must remain dedicated to easing their concerns about Ebola and reintegrating students who have not yet returned to school. We cannot afford to fail these students now. Their futures depend on it.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Denise Rollins is the senior coordinator of the Africa Ebola Unit at USAID.

2014 and 2015 have been two years of strong mobilisation for SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL's teams, who have had to take urgent action regarding too many crises. Feedback on two years of intense campaigns.

In the last two years, SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL's teams have taken action across the world to bring essential support to the thousands of men, women and children who had to flee their homes because of conflict, natural disaster or an epidemic. Thus, initial analyses that were followed for the most part by an intervention have taken place in more than 10 countries.

"Be present at the onset of the crisis"

From the Central African Republic to Afghanistan, through Somalia, DRC or South Sudan, SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL has maintained its efforts for several years in order to bring support to populations affected by these protracted crises. In these situations requiring extended operations, as for more sudden disasters caused by the earthquake in Nepal, cyclone Haiyan in the Philippines or the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, it is our teams' rapid response and action that has made and will continue to do the difference. Therefore, despite the risks taken by the humanitarian actors on fields where their neutrality continuously has to be reaffirmed, the commitment and professionalism of SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL's teams enables us more than ever to intervene immediately and professionally on a large scale. Yesterday in the Philippines, today with the Syrian crisis, our teams will continue to deploy in Europe, facing the flood of exiled populations, but also in Tanzania with the Burundi refugees or in Yemen and Nigeria. We continue more than ever to be present beside the affected populations at the outset of the crisis."

Alexandre Giraud, Director of Operations

Chronology of emergencies

June 2014 - Multi-sector needs analysis in Cameroon's East region in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), shelters, non-food items and food security - Needs analysis in Iraqi Kurdistan's Dohuk governorate

August 2014 - Launch in Cameroon of the WASH activities and of shelter/NFI in Central African refugee camps

September 2014 - In response to the floods in Pakistan, SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL carries out a multi-sector needs analysis in the Punjab region

October 2014 - Start in Pakistan of an emergency response in drinking water supply in the Jhang district

December 2014 - Opening of an Ebola treatment centre in Sierra Leone, SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL is in charge of managing Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in the centre as well as of the Infection Prevention and Control procedures - Constitution of a pre-positioning emergency stock in order to answer possible damages caused by typhoon Hagupit in the Philippines.

April-May 2015 - Opening of the Nepal mission, SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL launches emergency programs in water, sanitation and shelters to meet the needs created by the April 25, 2015 earthquake - In this setting, use of the pre-positioned stock for the Philippines in December 2014, which had remained unused

June 2015 - Intervention in La Lande site in Calais in France in order to meet the needs of the refugee populations regarding hygiene and sanitation

July 2015 - Exploratory mission in Ukraine

September 2015 - In September 2015, SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL runs a multi-sector needs analysis in the Rwanda/Tanzania/Burundi area to determine the relevance of an intervention regarding the Burundian crisis - Exploratory mission in Serbia and Macedonia due to the worsening situation of the migratory crisis in Europe

November-December 2015 - A new evaluation is run in Tanzania to finalize the analysis, proceed with fundraising and prepare the emergency response - A new exploratory mission in Serbia, Greece and Macedonia is launched - Exploratory mission in the North region of Cameroon, impacted by the arrival of Nigerian refugees

• UNHRD continues to dispatch operational equipment for its Partners, most recently supporting WHO and WFP by sending plastic pallets and vehicles to Guinea and Liberia.

• UNHRD facilities in Accra and Las Palmas have served as regional staging areas and the Accra depot hosted UNMEER headquarters.

• On behalf of WFP, UNHRD procured and dispatched construction material and equipment for remote logistics hubs, Ebola Treatment Units and Community Care Centres. Most recently, in collaboration with WHO, UNHRD began procuring and dispatching equipment to establish camps for teams tracing EVD. Members of the Rapid Response Team (RRT) are building the camps.

This week, on 17 December, the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) will mark its 10 year anniversary. Created in 2005, CERF marked an innovative breakthrough in humanitarian funding by Member States of the UN General Assembly as a “fund for all, by all”. It raises and pools funds before the need arises, and provides fast, predictable funding to partners on the frontlines at the onset of a crisis, as well as financing critically underfunded emergencies.

Over the past 10 years, CERF has disbursed more than US$4.1 billion to support hundreds of millions of people affected by natural disasters, conflicts and complex emergencies across 94 countries and territories, ranging from Africa and Asia to Latin America and the Middle East.

CERF has more than proved its worth. It is fast: funds were disbursed within 10 hours of the Haiti earthquake and within 48 hours of the Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines and of the Nepal earthquake.

CERF also supports response in crises that could not leverage sufficient attention or support from donors. In 2015, it disbursed $76 million for the protracted conflict in Syria and $70 million to support people in Bangladesh, Darfur, the Horn of Africa and Myanmar.

Because of CERF, 20 million people receive life-saving health treatments each year, 10 million people receive nourishing food, 8 million people can now access clean water and sanitation, and 1 million people who have been displaced have shelter.

This is made possible only by the 125 Member States and observers, regional and local governments, private donors and individuals that have come together to demonstrate their solidarity to people in urgent need of humanitarian assistance.

As we celebrate CERF’s impact, we must also recognize that the world has changed. A record 125 million people will need humanitarian assistance to get by in 2016. The new norm is protracted crises with regional implications, high levels of displacement but few political solutions in sight. In this climate, donors have been generous, providing more aid than ever. But despite this, the level of suffering outpaces the funding we need.

To address these issues, the UN Secretary-General has convened a High-Level Panel on Humanitarian Financing and called for the World Humanitarian Summit in May 2016 to look at the systemic constraints and challenges of the current humanitarian response and funding model. We look forward to the panel’s recommendations.  

Amid these important discussions, it is clear that CERF has a proven track record and will continue to play a critical role in improving the efficiency and effectiveness of humanitarian response.  The CERF High-Level Conference is an opportunity for Member States and other stakeholders to review the success of the past and also identify strategic directions on CERF for the future. This year we are calling for $450 million from Member States and other donors to help us meet the needs of the most vulnerable in crises. Your support will help us continue saving lives together.

The CERF High-Level Conference will take place on 17 December from 9:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. EST in the ECOSOC Chamber, United Nations Headquarters in New York. The conference will be streamed live at www.webtv.un.org. Also follow and join the discussion on Twitter using @UNCERF, #CERF10 and #SavingLivesTogether.

Key resources:

• CERF's 10-year anniversary flagship publication THE WORLD HELPING THE WORLD, available at www.unocha.org/cerf/10years
• The film, 10 YEARS OF SAVING LIVES TOGETHER, available here youtu.be/N9Sis_RxCM
• CERF pledges for 2016 (as of 18 december 2015): https://docs.unocha.org/sites/dms/CERF/CERF-HLC_for_2016.pdf

HIGHLIGHTS

• Since October, WHO and partners have provided dedicated preparedness support to 15 priority African countries

• Sierra Leone declared the end of the outbreak on 7 November

• In November, UN Special Envoy on Ebola released the Overview of needs and requirements III for the Ebola Response Phase 3 Framework

KEY FIGURES

Population in Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone 20.8 million

Total cases 28,637

Deaths 11,315

FUNDING (ONR III)

US$244.5 million Required for Phase 3 (1 Nov ember 2015 – 31 March 2016)

US$ 123.2 million Received (Sep 2014 – May 2015)

US$ 123.4 million Funding gap (1 November 2015 – 31 March 2016)

Bolstering Ebola preparedness in Africa

Since October 2014, the World Health Organization (WHO) and its partners have provided dedicated preparedness support to 15 priority African countries1 to implement the necessary actions to ensure that response to the emergence of Ebola is rapid, coordinated and effective.

Based on the Comprehensive Ebola Preparedness Checklist2 - an 11-point guideline of key Ebola preparedness actions - initial baseline assessments in 2014 identified the necessary immediate steps, with preparedness activities prioritized according to each country’s context and needs.

The average implementation score across priority countries is now 55 per cent, from an initial 19 per cent in December 2014. Eighty per cent of the priority countries have implemented over half the checklist requirements.

WHO is now testing the speed and efficacy of response systems through evidence-based mechanisms using a range of simulation exercises, and strengthening preparedness for a broader range of risks and extending activities to other countries, including Guinea,
Liberia and Sierra Leone. Activities undertaken by WHO between October and December 2015 have targeted six interlinked areas: national mechanisms for coordinating health emergencies, surveillance for early detection, rapid response, outbreak operations and logistics, system testing and infection prevention and Control and occupational health and safety.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Humanitarian partners seek US$2 billion for Sahel response in 2016.

• 4.5 million people displaced in the Sahel, a threefold increase in two years.

• Around 4.4 million people in Lake Chad Basins need emergency food assistance

• Almost 50,000 people have been displaced by recent violence in CAR, human rights violation continues.

• Ebola resurfaces in Liberia. One dead and two recovered

Humanitarian partners seek US$2 billion for Sahel

UN agencies and other humanitarian partners on 9 December launched the 2016 Sahel humanitarian appeal in Dakar, requesting US$1.98 billion to provide vital assistance to millions of people affected by crises in nine countries across the Sahel region. This represents a tenth of the humanitarian response globally for 2016.

“In the Sahel, the combined effects of climate change, abject poverty, fast population growth and a tormenting rise in violence and insecurity dangerously undermine the lives, assets and future prospects of some of the most vulnerable communities in the world,” said Toby Lanzer, Assistant Secretary-General and Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Sahel, speaking at the launch.

KEY FIGURES

Food insecure people in 2016 in Sahel 23.5 million

No. of Ebola cases in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone since 20 November People at risk of epidemics targeted for assistance in the Sahel 6.8 million

Children at risk of malnutrition in 2016 5.9 million

FUNDING OF THE SAHEL STRATEGY

US$1.976 billion requested in 2015 $820 million received (in SRP)

Freetown, Sierra Leone | AFP | Monday 12/21/2015 - 18:21 GMT

Sierra Leone praised its resilient population of six million on Monday for cooperating in an "exceptionally successful" nationwide census seen as a benchmark of the country's post-Ebola recovery.

Almost 13,000 surveyors fanned out across the country for two weeks up to Friday, collecting a slew of data on population demographics, housing provision, agriculture and the impact of the deadly virus.

"The census was exceptionally successful as people readily gave details to our enumerators," Sullay Kamara, the director-general of the government's statistics council, told AFP.

"When one thinks that the census came barely a month after Sierra Leone was declared Ebola-free... and many people were at the point of rebuilding their lives after the death of loved ones, we had no case of people being rude to our enumerators."

The count is seen as a key test of Sierra Leone's recovery from an epidemic that killed almost 4,000 people before the west African nation was declared free of transmission last month.

The $10.5 million survey was postponed twice because of the outbreak but finally set in stone several months ago, as the country was still fighting Ebola.

"People look at the census with hope that their living conditions will improve and that more development -- in terms of health, education and basic social life -- will improve after the devastating destruction caused by Ebola," Kamara said.

The statistics council says provisional results are expected in March, while a final report will not be available until the end of 2016.

The 2004 count put the population at 4.9 million but this is expected to rise to 6.5 million.

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