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Sierra Leone: World Health Organization: Sierra Leone Annual Report - 2017

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Source: World Health Organization
Country: Sierra Leone

WHO Sierra Leone’s ‘Annual Report: A Year in Review’ documents major milestones, lessons and challenges from our work in the health sector in 2017, achieved following two years of intensive post-Ebola support to the Ministry of Health and Sanitation. Together with our government counterparts, colleagues and our valued partners, we have aimed to help restore and strengthen essential health services, rebuild people’s trust and confidence in the public health system, and better protect the population against health emergencies – be this Ebola, or any other critical health threat. Such efforts are bearing dividends. The health needs of the population are changing, but through sustained commitment and investments, the sector promises to be better placed to meet these challenges, today and in times to come.


Mali: West Africa Price Bulletin, March 2018

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Source: Famine Early Warning System Network
Country: Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo

The Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) monitors trends in staple food prices in countries vulnerable to food insecurity. For each FEWS NET country and region, the Price Bulletin provides a set of charts showing monthly prices in the current marketing year in selected urban centers and allowing users to compare current trends with both five-year average prices, indicative of seasonal trends, and prices in the previous year.

West Africa can be divided into three agro-ecological zones or three different trade basins (West Basin, Central Basin and East Basin). Both important for understanding market behavior and dynamics.
The three major agro-ecological zones are the Sahelian, the Sudanese and the Coastal zones where production and consumption can be easily classified. (1) In the Sahelian zone, millet is the principal cereal cultivated and consumed particularly in rural areas and increasingly, when accessible, in urban areas. Exceptions include Cape Verde where maize and rice are most important, Mauritania where sorghum and maize are staples, and Senegal with rice. The principal substitutes in the Sahel are sorghum, rice, and cassava flour (Gari), the latter two in times of shortage. (2) In the Sudanese zone (southern Chad, central Nigeria, Benin, Ghana, Togo, Côte d'Ivoire, southern Burkina Faso, Mali, Senegal, Guinea Bissau, Serra Leone, Liberia) maize and sorghum constitute the principal cereals consumed by the majority of the population. They are followed by rice and tubers, particularly cassava and yam. (3) In the Coastal zone, with two rainy seasons, yam and maize constitute the most important food products. They are supplemented by cowpea, which is a significant source of protein.
The three trade basins are known as the West, Central, and East basins. In addition to the north to south movement of particular commodities, certain cereals flow horizontally. (1) The West basin refers to Mauritania, Senegal, western Mali, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Liberia, and The Gambia where rice is most heavily traded. (2) The Central basin consists of Côte d'Ivoire, central and eastern Mali, Burkina Faso, Ghana, and Togo where maize is commonly traded. (3) The East basin refers to Niger, Nigeria, Chad, and Benin where millet is traded most frequently. These three trade basins are shown on the map above.

World: First Progress Report of the Chairperson of the Commission on the Africa Center for Disease Control

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Source: African Union
Country: China, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Japan, Kuwait, Madagascar, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, United States of America, World

INTRODUCTION

  1. This report is submitted as a follow-up to the pledges I made during the Joint African Union (AU) Commission – Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC) Retreat, held in Cairo, Egypt, from 10 to 11 December 2017, and the interaction I had with the PRC on 7 March 2018. The report covers issues relating to the establishment and governance structure of the Africa Centre for Disease Control (Africa CDC), as well as the activities undertaken, including challenges encountered. It concludes with recommendations on the way forward.

II. OVERVIEW OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH CHALLENGES IN AFRICA

  1. Africa is facing a triple burden of disease, namely, communicable diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria; non-communicable diseases; injuries and trauma. Public health events like the West Africa Ebola Virus Disease outbreak, which claimed over 11,000 African lives (20142016), cholera outbreaks, which have affected southern, central, and eastern Africa in recent years, and other natural disasters, such as the devastating mudslide in Sierra Leone, in which over 1000 people died (2017), are pressing concerns. In the first three months of 2018, 43 ongoing outbreaks occurring on the African continent have been reported by the World Health Organization. In 2016, over 1 million new HIV infections were diagnosed in Africa. Each of these diseases or events impact significant numbers of Africans, have the potential to reverse fragile economic gains (the Ebola outbreak resulted in USD 2.2 billion in gross domestic product losses for Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone), and may ultimately become global security threats.

  2. Globally, the emergence and re-emergence of infectious diseases with pandemic potential is gaining widespread attention. Over the past three and half decades, at least 30 new infectious agents affecting humans have emerged, most of which are zoonotic. The origins of these agents have been shown to correlate significantly with socioeconomic, environmental, and ecological factors, particularly trends in urbanization and population growth (Africa’s population is expected to increase from 1.2 billion to 2.4 billion people by the year 2050). Additionally, the widespread use of medications has created an enormous threat due to emerging antimicrobial resistance.

  3. Agenda 2063 emphasizes the need to view health as a development issue if the continent is to prosper and achieve its objective (Aspiration 1, Goal 3) that citizens are healthy, well-nourished and have long lives. The Africa Health Strategy (AHS 2016-2030), an overarching framework that guides Member State implementation of health policies. The strategy highlights Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention role in disease prevention, surveillance, emergency preparedness and response.

World: Premier rapport d'étape du Président de la Commission sur le Centre Africain de prévention et de lutte contre les maladies

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Source: African Union
Country: China, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Japan, Kuwait, Madagascar, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, United States of America, World

I. INTRODUCTION

  1. Le présent rapport fait suite aux engagements que j'ai pris lors de la Retraite conjointe de la Commission de l'Union africaine (UA) et du Comité des Représentants permanents (COREP), qui s'est tenue au Caire (Égypte), du 10 au 11 décembre 2017, et à la concertation menée avec le COREP, le 7 mars 2018. Le rapport couvre les questions relatives à la création et à la structure de gouvernance du Centre africain de Prévention et de Lutte contre les Maladies (CDC-Afrique), ainsi que les activités entreprises et les défis rencontrés. Il se conclut par des recommandations sur les perspectives d'avenir.

Mali: Afrique de l’Ouest bulletin mensuel des prix, mars 2018

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Source: Famine Early Warning System Network
Country: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo

Le Réseau de systèmes d’alerte précoce contre la famine (FEWS NET) surveille les tendances des prix des aliments de base dans les pays vulnérables à l'insécurité alimentaire. Pour chaque pays et chaque région couvert par FEWS NET, le Bulletin des prix fournit un ensemble de graphiques indiquant les prix mensuels de l’année commerciale en cours pour certains centres urbains, et permettant à l’utilisateur de comparer les tendances actuelles à la fois aux moyennes quinquennales, qui indiquent les tendances saisonnières, et aux prix de l'année précédente.

L'Afrique de l’Ouest peut être divisée en trois zones agro-écologiques ou en trois bassins commerciaux (bassins de l’ouest, bassin du centre, bassin de l’est). Les deux sont importants pour l'interprétation du comportement et de la dynamique du marché.

Les trois principales zones agro-écologiques incluent la zone Sahélienne, la zone Soudanaise et la zone Côtière où la production et la consommation peuvent être facilement classifiées. (1) Dans la zone Sahélienne, le mil constitue le principal produit alimentaire cultivé et consommé en particulier dans les zones rurales et de plus en plus par certaines populations qui y ont accès en milieux urbains. Des exceptions sont faites pour le Cap Vert où le maïs et le riz sont les produits les plus importants, la Mauritanie où le blé et le sorgho et le Sénégal où le riz constituent des aliments de base. Les principaux produits de substitution dans le Sahel sont le sorgho, le riz, et la farine de manioc (Gari), avec les deux derniers en période de crise. (2) Dans la zone Soudanienne (le sud du Tchad, le centre du Nigéria, du Bénin, du Ghana, du Togo, de la Côte d'Ivoire, le sud du Burkina Faso, du Mali, du Sénégal, la Guinée Bissau, la Serra Leone, le Libéria) le maïs et le sorgho constituent les principales céréales consommées par la majorité de la population. Suivent après le riz et les tubercules particulièrement le manioc et l’igname. (3) Dans la zone côtière, avec deux saisons de pluie, l’igname et le maïs constituent les principaux produits alimentaires. Ils sont complétés par le niébé, qui est une source très significative de protéines.

Les trois bassins commerciaux sont simplement connus sous les noms de bassin Ouest, Centre, et Est. En plus du mouvement du sud vers le nord des produits, les flux de certaines céréales se font aussi horizontalement. (1) Le bassin Ouest comprend la Mauritanie, le Sénégal, l’ouest du Mali, la Sierra Leone, la Guinée, le Libéria, et la Gambie où le riz est le plus commercialisé. (2) Le bassin central se compose de la Côte d'Ivoire, le centre et l’est du Mali, le Burkina Faso, le Ghana, et le Togo où le maïs est généralement commercialisé. (3) Le bassin Est se rapporte au Niger, Nigéria, Tchad, et Bénin où le millet est le plus fréquemment commercialisé. Ces trois bassins commerciaux sont distingués sur la carte ci-dessus.

World: Mixed Migration Flows in the Mediterranean: Compilation of available data and information (February 2018)

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Source: International Organization for Migration
Country: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Bangladesh, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Egypt, Eritrea, Gabon, Gambia, Greece, Guinea, Haiti, Hungary, India, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, Montenegro, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, occupied Palestinian territory, Pakistan, Romania, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, Somalia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Western Sahara, World, Yemen, Zimbabwe

12,736 TOTAL ARRIVALS TO EUROPE IN 201810,566 ARRIVALS BY SEA IN 20182,170 ARRIVALS BY LAND IN 201720,200 ARRIVALS TO EUROPE BY THE END OF FEBRUARY 2017

Highlights

According to data collacted from national authorities and IOM offices there were 12,736 new arrivals to Europe in January and February 2018. Looking into the data for the past four years, with the exception of 2015 when 11,950 arrivals have been registered, this is the lowest number of registered irregular migrants arriving to Europe. It represents a 37% decrease compared to 20,200 reported in the same period last year, and more than ten times decrease in comparison to 137,116 registered in January and February 2016.

The decrease this year is mainly related to the lower number of migrants crossing the Central Mediterranean route. Arrivals to Italy halved from 13,436 in 2017 to 5,247. In addition to that, Bulgarian, Spanish and Cyprian authorities also registered less migrants and asylum seekers this year compared to year before. In Bulgaria there were a total of 154 apprehensions in 2018 compared to 451 in 2017, while in Cyprus, there were 47 new arrivals this year compared to 96 in the same period 2017. Spain has seen a slight (4%) decrease, from 3,862 in 2017 to 3,700 registered in January and February 2018.

In contrast to that, authorities in Greece reported a 33% increase, from 2,705 in January and February 2017, to 3,588 in the same period 2018.

Syrian and Iraqi nationals are still the first two registered nationality groups for migrants and asylum seekers who arrived to Europe through the Eastern Mediterranean route. On the Central route, an increase is observed in arrivals from Eritrea (one quarter of all registered migrants in Italy this year) which is a first nationality group registered, followed by migrants originating in Tunisia,
Nigeria and Pakistan.

Although to a lesser extent, the flows through the Western Balkans are still registered. In that regards, a significant increase has been observed in the number of registered irregular migrants on exit and entry to Bosnia and Herzegovina - from 146 reported for the first two months of 2017, to 458 intercepted at the end of this reporting period (increase for more than 200%), It seems that this is a continuation of the rise in apprehensions noted at the end of 2017 when in the last three months authorities intercepted 529 irregular migrants, almost the same as the sum of the apprehensions reported for the remaining nine months of the year.

World: CrisisWatch March 2018

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Source: International Crisis Group
Country: Afghanistan, Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, China, China - Taiwan Province, Colombia, Côte d'Ivoire, Cyprus, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Georgia, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Honduras, India, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mexico, Moldova, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, occupied Palestinian territory, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Republic of Tanzania, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), World, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Global Overview MARCH 2018

March saw Israeli forces respond with deadly force to the largest Palestinian marches in years at the Gaza-Israel border fence, killing fifteen protesters in one day. Violent confrontations risk increasing in the coming weeks, as protests continue in the lead-up to Palestinians’ commemoration of their expulsion from Israel. Sri Lanka faced its worst outbreak of anti-Muslim violence since 2014, while tensions flared between Kosovo and Serbia, and Turkmenistan saw protests over food shortages. In West Africa, jihadists launched their best organised and most sustained attacks yet on Burkina Faso’s capital, and central Mali, on top of ongoing jihadist violence, witnessed a rise in attacks between Fulani and Dogon communities. In Nigeria, the Boko Haram insurgency, herder-farmer killings and rural banditry together pushed the monthly death toll to at least 300. On a positive note, surprise talks between Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and opposition leader Raila Odinga created an opening for dialogue and political reform. In North East Asia, tensions increased between Taiwan and China, while on the Korean peninsula an inter-Korean summit in late April and planned talks between U.S. President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in May offer an opportunity to make progress on security issues.

Nigeria: RBD - Central and Western Africa - Food Insecurity Projected Situation (June - August 2018) Updated: 30 March 2018

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Source: World Food Programme
Country: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo


Sierra Leone: Preliminary Statement of the AUEOM to the 2018 Run-Off Presidential Elections in the Republic of Sierra Leone

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Source: African Union
Country: Sierra Leone

PRELIMINARY STATEMENT

Freetown, 2 April 2018

I. INTRODUCTION

  1. The African Union deployed 30 observers, including eight (8) long-term observers (LTOs) to the 2018 run-off presidential election in Sierra Leone. While the short-term observers (STOs) will depart by 3 April 2018, the LTOs will remain on the ground until 7 April 2018 to follow up on the post-election phase.

  2. The Mission to the run-off election complements its deployment for the 7 March 2018 polls. The AUEOM followed very closely the developments leading up to the run-off including:

• The political campaigning which was at times characterized by negative ethnic undertones;
• The High Court interim injunction restraining the Chief Electoral Commissioner and the National Electoral Commission (NEC) from conducting the presidential election run-off slated for 27 March 2018; • The ruling vacating the interim injunction;
• The facilitation of dialogue by the international observation missions following the revocation of the injunction;
• The explanation provided by the NEC on its level of compliance with the High Court ruling; and
• The reactions from other stakeholders in response to the NEC statement.

  1. Cognisant of the fact that the electoral process is still ongoing with votes being tallied by the NEC, this Statement presents the Mission’s preliminary findings and observations up to and including the closing and counting processes on 31 March 2018.

  2. A final detailed report including recommendations will be released upon the conclusion of the electoral process and will be shared with the relevant Sierra Leonean authorities.

II. ELECTION DAY FINDINGS

  1. The AUEOM witnessed the Election Day processes at 156 polling stations nationwide where it observed the opening, voting, closing and counting procedures in rural areas (48.7%) and in urban areas (51.3%). The findings and observations of the AUEOM include the following. (a) Opening of the Poll

  2. Observers reported queues outside the polling stations at 92.3% (12) of polling stations visited prior to opening. However, these queues were not lengthy compared to the first round.

  3. Observers also reported late opening at two (2) of the 13 polling stations visited, however, voting began at no later than 7:15 am. The late opening was due to poor preparations by polling officials. Furthermore, observers reported that voters were in queues for 40 minutes before voting could start at Kroo Court House polling center in Western Urban. The cause of the delay was due to the need to properly inform party agents of the voting procedures.

  4. A peaceful environment inside and outside the polling stations at the opening of polls was observed by the AUEOM teams in polling stations visited.

  5. Election materials were present at all polling stations visited by the AU observers except for the voting screens at Konomyn Glory Park polling center in Kono District.

  6. The AU observers reported the competence of the polling staff during the opening process as largely good, showing much improvement from the first round held on 7 March 2018.

(b) Voting Process

  1. The majority of polling stations visited by the Mission opened on time. Where the opening was delayed, observers reported that this was due to the late arrival of polling materials.

  2. Observers witnessed voters’ identity cards being checked against the voters register. However, at Movement of Faith Primary School, Matham polling center in Kambia, North West region, a voter without a voter card but with their name in the register was allowed to vote after party agents, local observers and NEC Officials agreed. In 5.1% (8), voters were turned away mostly for being at the wrong polling station or not being on the voters list.

  3. In instances where assisted voting was required, the person chosen by voter and polling personnel provided the assistance in most cases.

  4. While observers reported sufficient polling materials in all polling stations visited, Simbakoro Market, Konomyn Glory Park, and Assemblies of God School polling centers in Kono did not have voting screens, consolidated voters’ register, and batteries for lamps, respectively. A station at Court Barray, Yamadu Town in Bo, was also reported not having batteries for lamps, rubber bands, and scissors.

  5. The AUEOM observed no forms of irregularity during the voting process and were satisfied with the process and accessed it as generally good.

(c) Polling Personnel

  1. The AUEOM noted that the youth formed the majority of polling personnel at the polling stations visited. They also displayed competence and commitment in the application of the polling procedures.

(d) Party Agents and Domestic Observers

  1. The AUEOM reported that the candidates had their agents at all polling stations observed. However, at MMCET Brookfield Campus, Jumu Kaneyata Road polling center in Western Urban, Western region, some agents displayed inadequate understanding of their role.

  2. The presence of domestic observer groups was noted at most polling stations visited by the AUEOM with a strong presence of women domestic observers.

(e) Security Personnel

  1. Security personnel were present at most polling stations visited by the AUEOM during the entire process. In some cases, armed security personnel were found inside the polling stations with instances of interference at ST. Charles Primary School, Gbo in Kenema District.

  2. Moreover, in Dima Junction-Wahmann Abu road polling center in Kenema, Eastern region, AU observers reported an altercation between armed security personnel and the NEC officials when they were denied the right to vote on the station due to the fact that their names were not found in the voters’ register.

(f) Closing and counting process

  1. The AUEOM noted that all the polling stations visited closed at 5 pm and counting was done in the presence of party agents, security personnel, domestic and international observers. The AUEOM also observed that the results forms (RRFs) were posted at polling stations visited.

  2. During the counting and closing process, polling staff showed improvement compared to the 7 March General Elections. The AU observers reported that the overall assessment of the closing and counting process were very good in 38.5% (5) and good in 61.5% (8).

  3. The presence of security personnel inside the polling stations observed by AU observers was reported. Their conduct was assessed as largely good and very good in some instances.

III. CONCLUSION

The AUEOM applauds the people of Sierra Leone for their commitment to upholding democracy as demonstrated by their patience and civil conduct on Election Day. Based on its observations and findings, and despite some challenges encountered during the pre-election period and on Election Day, the AUEOM considers the run-off presidential election of 31 March 2018 as largely peaceful and transparent until now.

The AUEOM concludes that the 31 March Presidential run-off election was conducted in line with the national legal framework as well as the regional, continental and international standards for democratic elections. As the NEC completes the final phases of the electoral process, the AUEOM implores all candidates, political parties and all Sierra Leoneans to preserve peace and security in the country.

Once again, the AUEOM congratulates the people of Sierra Leone for the peaceful run-off presidential election.

Freetown, 2 April 2018
Head of Mission
H.E. Kgalema MOTLANTHE

Sierra Leone: Secretary-General Congratulates Newly Elected President of Sierra Leone

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Source: UN Secretary-General
Country: Sierra Leone

SG/SM/18974
5 APRIL 2018

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary‑General António Guterres:

The Secretary‑General takes note of the announcement by the National Electoral Commission on 4 April of the final results of the presidential run‑off election in Sierra Leone. He congratulates Julius Maada Bio on his election as the next President of the Republic of Sierra Leone and all the candidates for their contributions to the successful outcome of the electoral process. He also applauds the people of Sierra Leone for the sense of responsibility that they have demonstrated in successfully completing the elections in a peaceful manner.

The Secretary‑General commends the efforts of the national, regional and international electoral observation teams as well as those of his Special Representative for West Africa and the Sahel, Mohamed Ibn Chambas.

The Secretary‑General appeals for continued calm and stresses the need for all stakeholders to seek redress of any grievances that could arise through established legal means.

The Secretary‑General reiterates the support of the United Nations to the new Government in consolidating peace and pursuing sustainable development.

For information media. Not an official record.

Sierra Leone: Making maternal clinics a safer place

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Source: UN Development Programme
Country: Sierra Leone

Just over a year ago when Sadia Kamara, 39, was posted as a maternal child health aide in Rosenor Village, she was very pleased to have her first experience outside Freetown.
However, her happiness was short lived when she realized that her new duty station was not as she expected.

The roof of the health post leaked when it rained. “Had you come here in the rainy season, there would be no place to sit.”

This almost made her gave up the profession she had loved since she was a little girl growing up in Freetown, Sierra Leone’s capital city.

“I was disappointed.” Said Kamara. “I had wanted to abandon my post.” She stressed.

However, she thought about the sacred oath she took upon completion of her training course. Her love to serve humanity meant she couldn’t turn her back on the people she has taken oath to serve, no matter what. “I had to stay, come what may,” she said with a smile.

Rosenor village is a remote community on the outskirts of Kambia District, close to the Guinea border.

When the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) together with its local implementing partner Grace Land Sierra Leone engaged the Village Development Committee (VDC), to prioritize their development needs, the leaking roof of the community health post stood out as a top priority for the Rosenor residents.

Through the project, “Support the Strengthening of Sub-Regional Post-Ebola Medical Surveillance and Socio-Economic Recovery Initiatives in West Africa”, UNDP with support from the Government and people of Japan rehabilitated the leaking roof and refurbished 5 other maternal health facilities in 3 chiefdoms serving approximately 100 villages in Kambia.

“This is the place you see patients sitting now, she points to wooden bench where a few pregnant and breastfeeding mothers sit. There was no place to sit during last year’s rainy season.”

Kamara reminisces of the day she had three women in labour who had come in for delivery - “You wouldn’t believe it, we took them to a house adjacent to the clinic for the delivery”.

“As you can see people are seated comfortably and we the staff here are happy because the maternal health clinic is in good shape.” She points to a dozen pregnant women and new mothers who came in for their medical check-ups.

The Rosenor community was not the only maternal health post that was refurbished, it was among five other community health clinics and 95 hand pumps rehabilitated in 110 communities in Kambia and Kailahun districts.

Mali: Analyse du Cadre Harmonisé - Situation Alimentaire et nutritionnelle courante au Sahel et en Afrique de l'ouest - mars/mai 2018

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Source: Permanent Interstate Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Country: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone

World: Cred Crunch Newsletter, Issue No. 50 (March 2018) - Natural Disasters in 2017: Lower mortality, higher cost”

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Source: Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters
Country: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bangladesh, British Virgin Islands, Chad, China, China - Macau (Special Administrative Region), Colombia, Cuba, Dominica, India, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Italy, Mauritania, Mexico, Nepal, Niger, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico (The United States of America), Saint Barthélemy (France), Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Martin (France), Sierra Leone, Sint Maarten (The Netherlands), Sri Lanka, Thailand, Turks and Caicos Islands, United States of America, United States Virgin Islands, Viet Nam, World

In 2017, EM-DAT data indicates that 318 natural disasters occurred, affecting 122 countries. The impact of which resulted in 9,503 deaths, 96 million people affected, and US$314 billion in economic damages.

The human impact of natural disasters in 2017 was much lower than the last 10 year average, where events with extremely high mortality occurred, such as the 2010 earthquake in Haiti (225,570 deaths) and the 2008 Nargis Cyclone in Myanmar (138,400 deaths).

In 2017, there was no single major event responsible for increased mortality. This is unlike more recent years where the earthquake in Nepal (2015) killed 8,831 people and Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines (2013) killed 7,354. Still both these years had a mortality below the 10 year average.

The year with the highest economic losses was 2011, at US$400 billion, mainly due to the earthquake/tsunami in Japan (a). However, 2017 is the second most costly year, reflected in the impact of three hurricanes - Harvey (US$95 billion), Irma (US$66 billion) and Maria (US$69 billion), affecting the United States and the Caribbean (cfr Cred Crunch 49).

Weather-related disasters were responsible for the majority of both human and economic losses in 2017 (B). Almost 90% of deaths in 2017 were due to climatological, hydrological or meteorological disasters. Nearly 60% of people affected by disasters in 2017 were affected by floods, while 85% of economic damages were due to storms (mainly from the three hurricanes cited above).

Sierra Leone: WFP Sierra Leone Country Brief, February 2018

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Source: World Food Programme
Country: Sierra Leone

In Numbers

12.054 mt of food assistance distributed

USD 174,071 cash based transfers made

USD 7,914,883 six months (March-Aug 2018) net funding requirements, representing 64% of total

8,580 people assisted in FEBRUARY 2018

Operational Updates

• Eighty-six smallholder farmers, 80 percent of whom were women, from Port Loko, Koinadugu and Kambia districts benefited from training in leadership, nutrition sensitive agriculture and methods to increase rice yields in inland valley swamps. The trainings were facilitated by WFP and BRAC to increase the involvement of women farmers who are members of Farmer Organisations and Agricultural Business Centre in the decision-making process, encourage diversity in food production as well as create a platform for farmers supported by two WFP projects: Purchase for Progress and the JBP project to share experiences and best practices in rice production.

• The nutrition unit convened a meeting of stakeholders to validate the nutrition care and support guidelines for HIV and tuberculosis patients. The meeting brought together amongst others, staff from the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, WHO, UNICEF, Network of HIV Positives and Civil Society Movement Against Tuberculosis.

• Under its livelihood programme, WFP signed a partnership agreement with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security in Pujehun district to support the rehabilitation and development of inland valley swamps and tree crop plantation. A total number of 1,590 foodinsecure farmers will benefit from these activities (618 women, 972 men).

• In collaboration with UNAIDS, WFP reached 74 households headed by people living with HIV, and those taking care of other vulnerable children (OVCs) in the western area with conditional cash transfers. The cash is expected to facilitate the school attendance of the OVCs and to enable households headed by women to attain vocational training to enhance their livelihoods. Distribution to beneficiaries based in Makeni has been delayed due to the presidential elections.

Liberia: UNHCR Liberia Factsheet - March 2018

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Source: UN High Commissioner for Refugees
Country: Côte d'Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone

POPULATION OF CONCERN: 11,261

CONTEXT HIGHLIGHTS

  • United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) completes its mandate UNMIL completed its mandate after almost 15 years of supporting the transition to peace after the civil war, where 250,000 people were killed. At a ceremony in Monrovia on 22 March 2018, attended by President George Weah and the United Nations Deputy Secretary-General (DSG) Amina J. Mohammed, UNMIL accomplishments were lauded and Weah commended UNMIL for its support to Liberia’s peace and development.
  • DSG lauded the peacekeepers, while acknowledging the remaining challenges. “Peace will not last without sustainable development; and development gains will be at risk without sustained peace”, she stated. DSG also attended the 2-day National Peace and Reconciliation Conference with the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General.
  • UNMIL Radio is now handed over to ECOWAS Regional Broadcasting.
  • UNHCR is deeply thankful for UNMIL support over the years, and particularly in counties where refugees reside. UNMIL has provided logistics, including the rehabilitation of roads and operating national flights; as well as collaborating with the justice system through training and monitoring.

Sierra Leone: Sierra Leone: Salesian Missions donor provides funding for solar lights for victims of mudslides

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Source: Salesian Missions
Country: Sierra Leone

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries with Don Bosco Fambul, one of Sierra Leone’s leading child-welfare organizations in Freetown, immediately responded with relief efforts for those affected by flooding and mudslides that occurred on Aug. 14, 2017. Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone, lies between the mountains and the sea. The intense rain caused a mudslide on Mount Sugar Loaf in the Regent District on the outskirts of Freetown. The mudslide occurred at 6 a.m. when most of the community residents were still sleeping—leaving them more vulnerable to the rising waters.

While the exact number of victims is unknown, disaster-related deaths are estimated at 500 and more than 600 others are still missing and feared dead. More than 5,000 people were left homeless and hundreds of buildings were damaged or destroyed by the mudslides. The disaster was exacerbated by the city’s poor infrastructure and drainage system. Immediately after the disaster occurred, the government of Sierra Leone, through the Ministry of Social Welfare and the Office of National Security, contacted Don Bosco Fambul asking Salesian missionaries to care for women and children who were victims of the flooding.

Don Bosco Fambul was turned into an improvised shelter. Many of those who came to Don Bosco Fambul had been injured during the catastrophe and were given continuous medical assistance. More than 230 victims of the flooding and mudslide took shelter at the Salesian organization.

Outdoor tents were built on the Salesian compound to house those displaced. A source of electricity was needed, but buying a rechargeable light became problematic and was a drain on the already overtaxed national electricity grid. It became difficult for children to study during the evening and mothers found it challenging to make supper and care for their children in the dark.

With $4,000 of donor support through Salesian Missions, Don Bosco Fambul was able to provide portable solar lights to 74 families and nine orphans (296 individuals). The solar lights were used in the tents as a permanent electricity source. Students used it around the compound to study and sometimes mothers used it at night to feed their babies and do other domestic work.

“We are grateful for our donor who was able to provide support to Salesian missionaries on the ground in Sierra Leone,” says Father Mark Hyde, director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Because Salesian missionaries are living in the communities they serve, they were among the first to respond with shelter, aid and coordination for relief efforts. Now, they will continue to help families rebuild and lives and livelihoods.”

While all of the victims have been reintegrated back into their communities to date, Don Bosco Fambul is continuing to help beneficiaries in a post-emergency intervention. They were able to secure funding from public and private donor organizations and plan to provide continual school support and vocational skills training for women.

Don Bosco Fambul has been operating in Freetown since 2001, when it launched its work with child soldiers. Today, the organization offers food, clothing, crisis intervention services, shelter, educational opportunities, long-term counseling and family reunification. The organization was on the forefront of efforts to help prevent Ebola in communities throughout Sierra Leone and provide care for children left orphaned by the deadly epidemic. Don Bosco Fambul received Sierra Leone’s Presidential Award in recognition of its contribution in fighting Ebola.

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Sources:

Salesian Missions

Italy: Italy: Unaccompanied and Separated Children (UASC) Dashboard, March 2018

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Source: UN High Commissioner for Refugees
Country: Côte d'Ivoire, Eritrea, Gambia, Guinea, Iraq, Italy, Libya, Mali, Pakistan, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, World

Between 1 January and 31 March 2018, 1,163 children arrived in Italy by sea, of whom 927 were unaccompanied and separated children (UASC). UASC arrival numbers in the first three months of 2018 dropped by 73%, compared to the same period last year. So far in 2018, UASC represent 15% of all sea arrivals.

UASC arriving by sea in the first three months of 2018 most commonly originate from Eritrea (287), Tunisia (145), Guinea (68), and Côte d'Ivoire (60). Eritreans, Tunisian, Guinean and Ivoirian UASC together represent 60% of total UASC disembarking on Italian shores since the beginning of 2018. Between 1 January and 31 March 2018, relevant numbers of UASC arrivals originate also from Somalia (48), Mali (46), and The Gambia (43). UASC from these three nationalities combined represent 15% of total UASC sea arrivals in 2018 so far.

Sierra Leone: Sierra Leone: Mudslides - Emergency Plan of Action Six months Update

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

Summary of major revisions made to emergency plan of action:

The Emergency Appeal was launched on 15th August 2017 immediately aftermath the catastrophic mudslides which killed more than 300 people and left an estimated 2,000 people homeless. The operation kicked off with initial CHF 270,000 through DREF which was eventually turned into Emergency Appeal. A revision of Emergency Appeal was done in December 2017. The revision was necessitated after the government changed its rehabilitation strategy stating that proposed settlement sites were undersigned for affected people. Thus, the revision had to take place to adjust original operational plan to the changing context. The revision includes provision of unconditional cash grant to address shelter and other associated needs for target people to integrate in new setting. The overall appeal budget remains unchanged with reallocation and scale up in WASH and DRR and reconsidered early recovery cash transfer as alternative to the shelter interventions. The logical consequence of having DRR component added for sustainable impact against existing and potential disaster risk was the extension of the operation timeframe 10 months to 18 months.

As of March 2018, the funding coverage of the Emergency Appeal is 82% which is likely to increase over the course of implementation. The overall implementation of the operation is on track and it reached 2% expenditure during the reporting period.

Nigeria: Afrique de l’Ouest et du Centre - Coordination des affaires humanitaires (avril 2018)

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Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Country: Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo

Sierra Leone: [Sierra Leone] Flood and landslide disaster recovery program is now complete

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Source: Peace Winds Japan
Country: Sierra Leone

Household items distribution:

In February, PWJ and our local partner CEDA distributed household goods to those families heavily affected by the flood/landslide that occurred in August 2018.

Household items like pots, water tanks, and laundry buckets, as well as mattresses and pillows were provided to 228 families with elderly people as well as households headed by women. While the flood took away houses and household items last August, families also lost personal items with memories that are irreplaceable. For many families, it is not just a matter of getting by, but of starting over. Below are some of the highlights of the program.

Mrs. Tamba and her family survived the flood, but the flood took away most of their household goods. So although Mrs. Tamba and her family members were able to rent a house together with her relatives, some of the 9 family members had been sleeping on the bare floor. Now with two additional mattresses from PWJ/CEDA, “we all will have a good night sleep tonight,” said Mrs. Tamba.

Another family, that of Mrs. Hawa, is a family of 15 that also lost their house from the flood and they are now living with their relatives. Supporting a large family is never easy and Mrs. Hawa appreciates PWJ/CEDA for providing essential household items so that she could focus more on comforting her family. “Thank you very much for helping our community” said Mrs. Kawa.

Community Well Rehabilitations:

PWJ/CEDA team not only repaired wells damaged by the flood, but has also improved them so that the community will now have access to safe water even during the rainy season when the floods regularly contaminate well water. The wells have been raised and hand pumps installed.

Toilet construction at Kaningo Elementary School:

After the flood struck the Kaningo area, many nearby families took refuge at the elementary school and as a result soon after the septic tank became full and toilettes became unusable. The evacuees were soon forced to use make-shift latrines made out of tarpaulin which also caused concerns for the health of people. Newly rehabilitated, the school has reopened and students have access to new toilettes.

Tube well construction at Kaningo Elementary School:

Another project at the Kaningo Elementary School: a new tube well was constructed and neighbors will now have access to safe drinking water throughout the year. The school latrine also has access to water which improves overall hygiene of the students.

Health facility rehabilitation:

PWJ/CEDA team also rehabilitated and enhanced the local health facility in Kaningo. This facility is now equipped with proper maternity wards, a shower and laundry area, new toilettes and a complete waste management system.

Moving Forward:

With much support and with the funding of the Japan Platform and PWJ supporters worldwide, PWJ/CEDA successfully concluded the flood/mudslide recovery program in Sierra Leone. With better access to safe water, waste disposal and an improved health facility, we hope Kaningo residents will be able to build a strong community once again.

This program was funded by Japan Platform and PWJ supporters. Thank you!

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