Assistance to Conflict-Affected Populations in West Africa - ICRC 2010

Across West Africa at least 139 million people continue to live in extreme poverty and remain vulnerable to food insecurity forced displacement conflict recurrent natural disasters epidemics and social tensions. While civil wars have ended in Liberia Sierra Leone and Côte d'Ivoire insecurity remains and localized conflicts persist in Mali Niger Senegal and Nigeria. This in addition to the September 28 massacre of over 150 peaceful demonstrators in Conakry Guinea demonstrates the continued vulnerability of civilians to violent repression and human rights violations and the ongoing need for protection in the sub-region. CIDA's contribution is supporting the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to provide protection and assistance to conflict-affected populations in West Africa. Activities focus on ensuring that the most vulnerable individuals have access to basic healthcare an adequate supply of safe water and the basic resources to restore or preserve their livelihoods; providing training and support to local authorities on international humanitarian law (IHL); providing training medical/surgical equipment and other support to overburdened health facilities; documenting and reporting on alleged human rights and IHL violations against civilians; and working with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to improve the protection of civilians region-wide.