Growing tension near border with Liberia

Two incidents have occurred involving the Guinean army and armed assailants in Nzerekore, near the border with Liberia, amid reports that the situation at the border is getting increasingly tense.

Relief workers in the region said the incidents, which occurred last week and on Wednesday of this week, had raised concerns for the safety of Liberian refugees in Kouankan camp, as well as local communities.

The United Nations' World Food Programme (WFP) stated in an update for the period 9 to 22 September that its activities in the area had been suspended until further notice. It added, however, that the overall situation in Guinea was stable.

WFP, which has assisted some 49,052 beneficiaries in the last two weeks, also called for the relocation of the 33,000 refugees in Kouankan camp (already some 13,000 refugees over capacity) to camps in Kissidougou division.

During September, WFP distributed food items to over 19,000 refugees in the Kountayah and Telikoro refugee camps. Hot meals were provided to 1,600 refugees in Laine refugee camp in Nzerekore, but transfers from the Koyama/Fassankony area had been suspended due to insecurity in that area, it said.

A joint assessment following reports of drought in Koundara prefecture in Middle-Guinea indicated that the rainfall had been down on past years, and an extensive evaluation is scheduled to assess food security in the region, WFP added.