WHO Health Update: Guinea refugees 24 February 2001
Needs for WHO in West Africa:




field presence, in the south west of Guinea and at the regional level;
training - most NGO-employed staff and local staff are working to the limits of their
professional capacity with little or no excess capacity or experience if there are major
outbreaks, plus reproductive health capacity
liaison/coordination role between parties involved with refugees, with IDPs and with
the host population - needed in all countries
strengthened surveillance systems and close liaison in communicable diseases
across borders
General situation
Nyaedou camp: was cleared of the 775 remaining refugees on 24/2. All were taken to the
new camp at Kountaya, near Albedaria.
Katkama camp: relocation convoys were suspended for two days after dispute between
Guinea soldiers and Kamajhors over treatment of refugees on 22/2 resulted in some firing –
no one was injured by the firing which was into the air and ground. Around 5,000 people are
now left in camp. Food distribution took place on 24/2 and relocation of about 1000 people a
day to Kountaye should start again Sunday 25/2. It’s anticipated the camp will be cleared of
existing population by end of month, but small numbers of people are expected to arrive to
use it as a way station from the Languette
Kountaya (Albedaria 1): Has expanded dramatically over 10 days – now around 12,000
people. Food and non-food distributions are going on. People are starting to build their own
houses, markets have started up.
Boreah (Albedaria 2)
Road is being built – construction on site should be able to start by end of month.
Massakoundou: Verification of numbers is going and causing some tension. Refugees do
not agree with HCR numbers. Scuffles and unrest today.
Langette
NGOs working south of Guekedou (Médicins du Monde and Médicins Sans Frontières) report
consistent movement of small groups walking toward Kissdougou area. Not large numbers.
Food distribution via Premier Urgence and the local priest Pere Armel should start Monday or
Tuesday (26/27 Feb)
Planning

Meeting on Wednesday 28 between UN security people to decide whether to change the
security level in the Languette to allow UN staff to enter. NGOs consistently report no
trouble.
Health situation
Nyaedou: MDM has been running daily mobile clinic. People who left to Kountaya today
looked in good shape. Majority of ‘vulnerables’ were pregnant women and elderly rather than
sick.
Katkama:
High under five mortality addressed: Under 5 mortality during the first week after the flight
was 3.2/10,000. Deaths were caused by combinations of malaria, respiratory infection,
diarrhoea and malnutrition. MSF, which runs the health post, has increased their staffing and
opened a second health post under guidance from HCR. ACF started distributing BP5 biscuits
for all under 5s. From figures so far this week, situation appears to have improved and
mortality should be back under 2/10,000.
Kountaya
ARC health post
Disease
Malaria
Watery diarrhoea
Bloody
diarrhoea
Bloody diarrhoea
with fever
Worms
ARI
Acute lower resp.
tract infection
Suspected TB
Yellow Fever
Measles
Skin infections
STDs
Menigitis
Cholera
Malnutrition
Anaemia
Eye disease
Non-accidental
injury
Other
TOTAL CASES
Total Population
5 – 11 February
12-18 February
<5
37
24
1
>5
101
8
15
<5
88
49
7
>5
102
20
35
5
20
3
41
3
0
27
41
0
48
12
0
56
52
0
84
0
0
1
11
0
0
0
2
3
0
1
6
0
0
30
25
0
0
1
4
27
9 (8 male)
0
0
0
15
0
0
0
3
0
6
0
2
0
1
23
42
0
0
0
16
19
2
9
124
180
516
32
271
235
735
600-700
12,000
Deaths: Two in 3 weeks.
1/ Pleurisy – death occurred during trip to Kissdougou Hospital
2/ Child – of fever and convulsions early in the morning.
Births
14 normal births 12 Feb to 23 Feb,
1 miscarriage (midwife believe as a result of the stress of travelling)
173 pregnant women currently registered, but likely that new arrivals have not come to the
antenatal clinic yet.
ARC is continuing to support health posts in Kountaya camp and needs to train health
workers in reproductive health and laboratory skills were identified.
Needs

Training: NGOs ask for experts to support training for midwives and traditional birth
assistants, family planning, STDs, management of common diseases, epidemiological
surveillance for both their own staff and DPS staff.

Sample-taking materials for health post plus microscope for parasite analysis – ARC
nurse is trained technician
Languette: MSF nutritional assessment from far south of area shows global malnutrition
rates of 24% under five, but they say it is possible that the figures are skewed by the worst
cases coming forward first.
Measles
Outbreak of 15 cases last week/ 7 deaths in Guendenbou, 20-30km northeast of Guekedou
among IDP and host population. UNICEF is working with MDM which has access to the area
to start immunization (UN is barred due to security at present).
10 measles cases were reported last week, all bar 1 in over 5s. MSF is planning to restart
measles vaccination campaign.
UNICEF campaign in Kissidougou town and sou-prefecture will be complete by end of month.
They start in Kankan prefecture on March 2, Faranah prefecture on March 8 and in
Gueckedou/N’zerekore area if/when security allows.
Partner Organisations
Some of our partner organisations in the area include:
Médecins du Monde (MDM)
Health
Médecins sand Frontières -Belgium
Health/water and sanitation
American Refugee Committee (ARC)
Health
Action contre la Faim (ACF)
Nutrition and health
GTZ
Shelter
Hilary Bower 24.2.01
Refugees and IDPs in
Gueckedou/Kissidougou area, Guinea
N: Nyaedou
Kt: Katkama :
M: Massakoundou
Kya: Kountaya
Nf: Niafrando
Kya
Nf
M
Kt
N