Assistance to Refugees and Displaced Populations in West Africa - UNHCR 2012

With CIDA Support UNHCR is addressing the basic needs of displaced populations in the West Africa region. Activities focus on providing protection and addressing the immediate needs of refugees in cooperation with other humanitarian agencies through the provision of food shelter non-food items water sanitation and health as well as registration and camp coordination and management; strengthening protective mechanisms and increasing local capacities to respond to the needs of vulnerable groups; and supporting the creation of an environment which is conducive to voluntary return in safety and dignity and which reduces the risks of further displacement.

Expected outputs include: protection and assistance is provided to 85 000 Malian refugees in Mauritania Burkina Faso and Niger; transport is organised for the relocation of Malian refugees into designated camps and sites away from insecure border areas; assistance is provided to Mauritanian refugees to integrate locally in Senegal; a regional voluntary repatriation strategy is harmonized and developed for Mauritanian and Ivorian refugees; and protection services are provided to Senegalese refugees in Guinea-Bissau and Gambia. The expected intermediate outcome is reduced vulnerability of crisis-affected people especially women and children.