CERF allocates $1.1 million for emergent care for the victims of the crackdown on demonstration

Girls in Conakry, Guinea [Photo: IRIN]

15 October 2009: To provide emergency support to the victims of the crackdown on demonstrations in Conakry, Guinea, CERF allocated $1.1 million.

On 28 September, police opened fire on tens of thousands of people gathered at the national stadium in Conakry protesting against the junta that seized power in a bloodless coup last December.

The Guinean Human Rights Organization said that at least 157 people were killed and 1,253 wounded in the crackdown. Rights groups also indicated that soldiers had sexually assaulted women and beaten opposition leaders, among them former prime ministers of the country, Sidya Toure and Cellou Dalein Diallo. Violence continued in Conakry’s suburbs as security forces clashed with demonstrators, searched opponents, and looted goods. According to human rights groups, Guinea's army is accused of hiding bodies in military barracks or burying them in unknown locations.

In response to the situation, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) will provide health related assistance to the victims of the crackdown. 

[Last Update: 30 November 2009]

CERF allocates $1 million for humanitarian air service in Guinea

A Liberian woman working on rice at a camp in Guinea [Photo: IRIN]

9 January 2009: The rising cost of fuel and the lack of donor funds caused the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) to suspend some flights in the West African coastal countries.  UNHAS, which is administered by the World Food Programme (WFP), supports the largest humanitarian operations in the West Africa coastal countries. It is a regional operation which provides passenger and cargo air transportation to the entire humanitarian community engaged in supporting vulnerable people, refugees, internally displaced people and returning refugees in Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.   

CERF has allocated $1 million to allow UNHAS to continue the movement of approximately 1,000 passengers per month, transportation of urgent humanitarian cargo and provision of medical and security evacuations.  Over 100 United Nations agencies, non-governmental organizations, donor representations and Government counterparts will benefit from the services. 

23 March 2009:  In order to allow UNHAS to continue providing air service, CERF has allocated an additional $450,000 to the operation.


[Last Update: 24 March 2009]

16 September 2009: The United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator has allocated nearly $1.2 million to support emergency programmes in Guinea.

Chronic poverty, rapid economic decline, and political instability have led to a deteriorating humanitarian situation in Guinea. Food security is a major concern, particularly as malnutrition rates have increased by 50 percent in the past five years and over 2 million people, out of a population of 10 million, are now food insecure. Some 3,000 refugees are fully dependent on humanitarian assistance, but refugee camps are underfunded, poorly staffed, and lack adequate medical resources.

From this allocation, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) will receive $200,000 to prevent severe malnutrition for 5,000 children under five years old. Another $200,000 has been allocated to the World Health Organization (WHO) to improve the capacities of local hospitals to treat severe malnutrition in an additional 6,000 children. Through $300,000 allocated to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), 35,000 people will receive emergency agricultural assistance, addressing major food security needs. The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has been allocated some $170,000 to provide medicine and medical supplies to 3,298 Ivorians currently residing in a refugee camp. Another $300,000 will enable the World Food Programme (WFP) to continue Humanitarian Air Services to transport personnel from UN agencies, NGOs, and local governments throughout the country to provide continued humanitarian service.  

CERF in Guinea 2008
CERF in Guinea 2007
CERF in Guinea 2006