Dire humanitarian situation in the north

Access to areas in the north has remained “difficult and sporadic” and assessments of these areas have revealed “a dire humanitarian situation, particularly in the area of food and health care, the Humanitarian Assistance Coordination Unit (HACU) said in its report for 24 October – 6 November. The current situation, it said, highlights the need for “credible and sustainable action on the part of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) and the former Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) to facilitate humanitarian work”. Meanwhile in the northwest, Medecins Sans Frontieres is providing limited health and nutritional interventions in Kambia District through supplies brought in by boat. A needs-assessment mission WFP plans to do in the region will take place when security improves. UNICEF has undertaken a comprehensive water and sanitation assessment in the Kailahun area in the east. Southern, western and parts of eastern of Sierra Leone continue to be calm, providing relatively good conditions for relief operations, HACU said.