Possible recruitment of refugees in militia worries UNHCR

UNHCR has expressed concern that increased militia activity in southern Guinea could lead to the recruitment of fighters amid refugees living in overcrowded camps. “The most severe security concern we are facing now is a fear that militarisation could occur in Nyaedou camp”, said Renata Dubini, UNHCR’s emergency team leader in southern Guinea.

UNHCR also said it feared that the presence of militia groups in the overcrowded camp could draw attacks from rebels, endangering the security of both refugees and aid workers. Nyaedou camp, situated 15 km north of the regional centre of Guekedou, is becoming increasingly dangerous for aid workers, allowing only sporadic delivery of aid, it said.

The camp houses some 35,000 Sierra Leonean and Liberian refugees, many of whom have not received aid in weeks, UNHCR added. Its population has more than doubled, UNHCR said, since attacks on other camps in December forced refugees to seek shelter in Nyaedou, which also hosts about 1,000 Guineans displaced by the fighting in the Guekedou region.

Fresh fighting erupted in Guekedou on Monday forcing a UNHCR team to withdraw rapidly from Nyaedou towards UNHCR’s regional base in Kissidougou. However, food distribution resumed on Thursday as tension subsided, UNHCR said.