12 Nov 2002Office of the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian CoordinatorNumber 14, 2002
UN Update on Republic of Congo (Brazzaville)
12 Nov 2002Office of the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian CoordinatorNumber 14, 2002
New displaced people arriving in Brazzaville. The UN is assisting over 8000 IDPs in six sites in the south of the capital. A seventh site was noticed on Friday 08/11/02. Most of the people started arriving since mid October from the district of Mbandza-Ndounga, others come from Kinkala, Louingi and Boko districts. People report they were attacked by bandits and forced to move towards the capital. They were racketed along their way, and reached Brazzaville and its outskirts in very poor conditions. They gathered in churches or partially destroyed buildings. The Government officially opened five (5) sites to accommodate the IDPs.
12 Nov 2002Office of the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian CoordinatorNumber 14, 2002
For the management of the sites three levels have been identified:
- First level: on the site 10 people (displaced and host) form the local coordination committee. The committee will be made taking into consideration the skills available on the site and encouraging the participation of women.
- Second level: on each site the local supervision will be done by a staff from the Ministry of Humanitarian Action in collaboration with a representative from implementing partners.
- Third level: national coordination committee will be made up of the Ministry of Humanitarian Action and the humanitarian partners, with one focal point for each sector (health, nutrition, food, water & sanitation, security, shelter, education, statistics & population).
Statistics
The statistics on the number of IDPs in the sites are updated regularly by the UN in collaboration with implementing partners ASU and Caritas.
The table below summarizes the information for each site as of Friday 08/11/02.
Site / households / personsMantsimou / 441 / 1 371
Annexe Loua / 365 / 965
IDR (Loua) / 994 / 2 734
EEC-Sangolo / 153 / 395
Catho-Sangolo / 470 / 1 626
Kimbanguistes Massisia / 242 / 698
Salutistes Massissia / 121 / 267
TOTAL / 2 786 / 8 056
Health
Healthposts have been opened or reinforced by the UN agencies for each site. Chlorine has been distributed to clean the water and the healthposts have been supplied with medicines. In each site the epidemiological survey sheets have been distributed and are monitored weekly. The most reported illnesses are malaria, severe respiratory infections, diarrhoea and skin diseases. Negotiations underway between the hospital management and humanitarian partners to reduce the medical cost for the displaced people.
Food
Rice and vegetable oil have been distributed twice by the UN and Caritas on the six sites, to cover the needs until 17 November. These rations have been completed with a Government donated salted fish, rice and salt.. Salted fish, bread, powder milk, sugar, salt and sardines have been distributed by ASU to complete the regular assistance.
NFI
The UN agencies distributed buckets, blankets, mats, mosquito-nets, soap, plates, beakers, BP5, micropur and medicines. Those Non Food items were distributed to 1191 households (3767 people) until 5 November.
Water and Sanitation
The water sources are not sufficient. Presently, people use the available water and add chlorine. In three (3) of the sites, the lack of clean water problem could be resolved with bladders and pumps. For the other ones, other solutions will be required (water tank).
The UN distributes materials and provides technical assistance as to how to build latrines. Latrines are constructed, but the number is still insufficient, material for 19 latrines were distributed in the six sites.
Shelter
The shelters are insufficient. Some existing shelters need to be improved by sheeting the roofs in some sites.
All sites are at the limit of their capacities. One possibility is to improve conditions on existing sites by increasing shelter (tents, sheeting of existing buildings) and water. The other solution is to find other sites that have larger shelter and water capacities.
The major problems on those sites are water, sanitation and shelter. No severe health problems have been reported yet but the risk is still there given the insufficient sanitation installations. The UN agencies are working in collaboration with the humanitarian community and the Government to address the problems identified and improve the living conditions in the sites.