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The humanitarian crisis in the Central Sahel region of Africa is spiralling out of control - with more than 5 million people facing severe food insecurity across the region, according to a new joint food security assessment released today by food security partners including the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP).
The dramatic spike in the number of hungry people comes at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic is spreading into fragile countries in a region home to the weakest health systems anywhere in the world.
Burkina Faso - which has seen the largest number of officially-reported deaths from COVID-19 anywhere in sub-Saharan Africa -- is where the number of food insecure is expected to more than triple to 2.1 million people as the lean season sets-in in June, up from over 680,000 at the same time last year.
"This is a crisis layered on top of a crisis, and the situation risks getting out of hand," said Chris Nikoi, WFP's Regional Director for West Africa. "People are on the brink -- we must step up now to save lives -- we are the only hope for millions."
"Our message to the world is clear - look away now and the consequences will be no less than catastrophic," added Nikoi.
Across the Central Sahel -- a region that encompasses Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger - the situation is extremely worrying, with the number of hungry rising steadily as the crisis deepens, also pushing 1.3 million people in Mali and 2 million people in Niger into severe food insecurity.
The number of internally displaced people has also increased four-fold across the Central Sahel, with numbers spiking in Burkina Faso to 780,000 up from half a million at the start of the year. These communities have been forced from their homes by extremist violence and now rely almost entirely on external assistance to survive.
WFP's food and nutrition assistance provides a lifeline to millions in the region, as well as providing stability and strengthening the resilience of the communities in which they live. WFP assisted 1.5 million people in Burkina Faso and Mali in February, but more support is needed to tackle the crisis, especially as the threat of COVID-19 puts life-saving humanitarian work on the line. WFP urgently requires USD 208 million through August 2020 to carry out its lifesaving operations.
WFP has extensive experience operating in the midst of a disease outbreak as it did during the 2014-2016 West Africa Ebola outbreak, which showed that food assistance can play a vital role in containing disease spread on the one hand, while reducing vulnerabilities to infection through nutrition programmes that target vulnerable communities with compromised immune systems -- like the chronically ill and the elderly.
WFP has rapidly adapted its operations to the COVID-19 pandemic, putting in place measures to reduce the risk of infection to beneficiaries, partners, and WFP staff.
Photos *available here, and broadcast quality footage available on request.*
Multimedia Sway presentation on the situation in the Central Sahel *available here.*
Cadre Harmonisé Food Security Analysis report *available here.*
African Union Member States (49) reporting COVID-19 cases (6,213), deaths (221), and recoveries (469) by region:
Central (425 cases, 20 deaths, 14 recoveries): Burundi (2, 0, 0), Cameroon (233, 6, 5), Central African Republic (8, 0, 3), Chad (7, 0, 0), Congo (19, 2, 2), DRC* (123, 11, 3), Equatorial Guinea (15, 0, 1), Gabon (18, 1, 0).
Eastern (544, 11, 9): Djibouti (33, 0, 0), Eritrea (18, 0, 0), Ethiopia (29, 0, 4), Kenya (81, 1, 3), Madagascar (54, 0, 0), Mauritius (161, 7, 0), Rwanda (82, 0, 0), Seychelles (10, 0, 0), Somalia (5, 0, 0), Sudan (7, 2, 0), Tanzania (20, 1, 2), Uganda (44, 0, 0).
Northern (2,587, 147, 286): Algeria (716, 44, 77), Egypt (779, 52, 179), Libya (10, 0, 0), Mauritania (5, 0, 0), Morocco (654, 39, 29), Tunisia (423, 12, 1).
Southern (1,467, 9, 34): Angola (7, 2, 0), Botswana (4, 1, 0), Eswatini (9, 0, 1), Mozambique (10, 0, 0), Namibia (13, 0, 2), South Africa (1,380, 5, 31), Zambia (36, 0, 0), Zimbabwe (8, 1, 0).
Western (1,190, 34, 126): Benin (13, 0, 1), Burkina Faso (282, 16, 46), Cape Verde (6, 1, 0), Côte d'Ivoire (190, 1, 9), Gambia (4, 1, 2), Ghana (195, 5, 3), Guinea (22, 0, 1), Guinea-Bissau (9, 0, 0), Liberia (6, 0, 0), Mali (28, 2, 0), Niger (34, 3, 0), Nigeria (174, 2, 9), Senegal (190, 1, 45), Sierra Leone (1, 0, 0), Togo (36, 2, 10).
*Inadvertently reported 17 deaths and 6 recoveries instead of 9 and 3 for DRC at 5pm CET 1 April 20 - correct value now listed
African Union Member States (49) reporting COVID-19 cases (5,940), deaths (210), and recoveries (426) by region:
Central (409 cases, 26 deaths, 17 recoveries): Burundi (2, 0, 0), Cameroon' (233, 6, 5), Central African Republic (6, 0, 3), Chad (7, 0, 0), Congo (19, 2, 2), DRC (109, 17, 6), Equatorial Guinea (15, 0, 1), Gabon (18, 1,0).
Eastern (517, 9, 9): Djibouti (30, 0, 0), Eritrea (15, 0, 0), Ethiopia (29, 0, 4), Kenya (81, 1, 3), Madagascar (54, 0, 0), Mauritius (147, 5, 0), Rwanda (75, 0, 0), Seychelles (10, 0, 0), Somalia (5, 0, 0), Sudan (7, 2, 0), Tanzania (20, 1, 2), Uganda (44, 0, 0).
Northern (2,437, 136, 259): Algeria (716, 44, 77), Egypt (710, 46, 157), Libya (10, 0, 0), Mauritania (5, 0, 0), Morocco (602, 36, 24), Tunisia (394, 10, 1).
Southern (1,438, 9, 32): Angola (7, 2, 0), Botswana (4, 1, 0), Eswatini (9, 0, 1), Mozambique (8, 0, 0), Namibia (13, 0, 0), South Africa (1,353, 5, 31), Zambia (36, 0, 0), Zimbabwe (8, 1, 0).
Western (1,103, 29, 107): Benin (8, 0, 1), Burkina Faso (261, 14, 32), Cape Verde (6, 1, 0), Cote d'Ivoire (179, 1, 6), Gambia (4, 1, 0), Ghana (195, 5, 3), Guinea (22, 0, 1), Guinea-Bissau (8, 0, 0), Liberia (6, 0, 0), Mali (18, 1, 0), Niger (18, 1, 0), Nigeria (151, 2, 9), Senegal (190, 1, Sierra Leone (1, 0, 0), Togo (36, 2, 10).
*Inadvertently reported 8 deaths instead of 6 for Cameroon at 5pm CET 31 March 20 • correct value now listed
There are confirmed COVID-19 cases in Niger. Refugees are at the same risk of contracting and transmitting the COVID-19 virus as local populations. To date and based on available evidence, there have been no reports of COVID-19 infections among refugees and asylum-seekers in Niger. However, there is no reason to believe that this won’t change.
UNHCR’s top priority in the COVID-19 crisis is to ensure that people we serve are included in the Government’s response plan and are properly informed, while we supplement Government’s preparedness and capacities to tackle the crisis.
Therefore, UNHCR has taken a series of measures in its field operations to help respond to the COVID-19 public health emergency and prevent further spread, thus contributing to the overall national needs for a total amount of 2,077,027 USD.
First of all, coordination is key. All UNHCR field representations are actively taking place in regional and subregional committees set up by the Government. They coordinate with other regional stakeholders, divide intervention areas and share information on capacities.
Secondly, prevention is paramount to get the virus under control. In all regions where UNHCR is operating, UNHCR has reinforced washing facilities and has distributed soap.
Refugees are actively engaged as actors of prevention. Based on existing practices in Sayam Forage camp (Diffa region) and the transit center for persons evacuated from Libya in Hamdallaye, persons under UNHCR’s mandate are supported to scale up the local production of antiseptic soap, liquid soap and bleach in refugee hosting areas throughout the country (Niamey, Ouallam, Abala, Agadez, Maradi) to contribute to the prevention of COVID-19. Next to improving the hygienic and health conditions in the camp, this activity generates an income for refugee households and stimulates the local economy. This will contribute to mitigate the negative socio-economic impact of COVID-19.
Furthermore, UNHCR offers guidance and fact-based information on prevention measures through printing and distributing the standard information leaflets of WHO and using educational videos. UNHCR has engaged in mass communication campaigns through the use of public criers, theatre, communication caravans, …
For an initial period of three months, UNHCR will support the government through the provision of medical equipment and supplies, as well as additional staffing. Regarding staffing, the following profiles will reinforce the health teams for a period of 3 months: 4 medical doctors (Ayerou, Intikane, Sayam Forage, Hamdallaye), 11 additional WASH staff (Tillabery, Maradi, Diffa, Hamdallaye, Agadez), 12 psychosocial support staff (Tillabery, Maradi, Diffa, Hamdallaye) and 20 additional community sensitization agents (Tahoua). Moreover, UNHCR will organize 2 trainings of health staff in all regions with a total number of 50 persons per training.
In all regions, protection, hygiene and disinfectant equipment is purchased and distributed: 3540 hydroalcolic gels of 500 ml, 605 hand washing basins, 1452 units of liquified chlorine, 19990 soap boxes with 30 tablets each, 3540 liquid soap units of 500 ml each, 3540 bleach units, 750 emergency kits for infections, 1400 boxes with 50 protection masks each, 50 megaphones, 140 laser thermometers, 1370 boxes with each 100 protective gloves, 120 pedal bins and 6200 plastic bags.
As authorities have a limited capacity to set up isolation cells to separate potential COVID-19 cases, UNHCR has undertaken a needs analysis with the Regional Directorates of Health and will put at their disposal 120 Refugee Housing Units with A/C and 240 beds throughout the country, hence a capacity of 2 patients per RHU. If requested by the Government, UNHCR will examine the possibility to construct additional health infrastructure.
Finally, UNHCR continues to enhance monitoring and interventions to ensure the rights of forcibly displaced people are respected. The Government has decided to close all international airports and border entry points as of 19 March 2020 for a renewable period of two months. UNHCR continues to plea for access of refugees and asylum seekers coming from conflict affected neighboring countries such as Mali, Nigeria, Chad and Burkina Faso and continues to give assistance to those expelled from Algeria and Libya, in close cooperation with IOM.
Download Report: https://bit.ly/2w8gPTC
African Union Member States (49) reporting COVID-19 cases (5,786), deaths (196), and recoveries (412) by region:
Central (399 cases, 15 deaths, 13 recoveries): Burundi (2, 0, 0), Cameroon* (223, 6, 5), Central African Republic (6, 0, 3), Chad (7, 0, 0), Congo (19, 0, 2), DRC (109, 8, 3), Equatorial Guinea (15, 0, 0), Gabon (18, 1, 0).
Eastern (483, 9, 6): Djibouti (30, 0, 0), Eritrea (15, 0, 0), Ethiopia (26, 0, 4), Kenya (59, 1, 1), Madagascar (50, 0, 0), Mauritius (143, 5, 0), Rwanda (75, 0, 0), Seychelles (10, 0, 0), Somalia (5, 0, 0), Sudan (7, 2, 0), Tanzania (19, 1, 1), Uganda (44, 0, 0).
Northern (2,437, 136, 259): Algeria (716, 44, 77), Egypt (710, 46, 157), Libya (10, 0, 0), Mauritania (5, 0, 0), Morocco (602, 36, 24), Tunisia (394, 10, 1).
Southern (1,436, 9, 32): Angola (7, 2, 0), Botswana (4, 1, 0), Eswatini (9, 0, 1), Mozambique (8, 0, 0), Namibia (11, 0, 0), South Africa (1,353, 5, 31), Zambia (36, 0, 0), Zimbabwe (8, 1, 0).
Western (1,031, 27, 102): Benin (8, 0, 1), Burkina Faso (261, 14, 32), Cape Verde (6, 1, 0), Côte d'Ivoire (179, 1, 6), Gambia (4, 1, 0), Ghana (161, 5, 3), Guinea (16, 0, 1), Guinea-Bissau (8, 0, 0), Liberia (3, 0, 0), Mali (18, 1, 0), Niger (18, 1, 0), Nigeria (139, 2, 9), Senegal (175, 0, 40), Sierra Leone (1, 0, 0), Togo (34, 1, 10).
*Inadvertently reported 8 deaths instead of 6 for Cameroon at 5pm CET 31 March 20 - correct value now listed.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic. At the time of writing there are over 400 000 confirmed cases across 194 countries. Even the most optimistic analysts expect a global recession.
Mining companies have been affected by COVID-19 outbreaks, and global restrictions to encourage social distancing have meant that mining projects have either slowed or been put on hold until further notice. There is no doubt that mining executives are beginning to feel nervous as the spread of the virus accelerates.
Share-prices of listed mining companies are in a downward spiral. Commodity prices across the industry have been tumbling as the industry considers the devastating aftershocks of this “Black Swan” event. To single out one example: platinum and palladium prices have dropped by more than 40% in just three weeks.
Mining companies are feeling the pressure, despite recent positive results brought by surging commodity prices and various cost-cutting initiatives. South African miner Sibanye-Stillwater’s share price has lost over 60% in the past four weeks while Impala Platinum has lost a similar percentage, and Anglo American is down by as much as 40%.
Covid-19 shakes mining sector
The response to the pandemic from governments and markets has shaken the mining industry. Restrictions imposed on mining companies has seen production shut down across multiple markets. Alta Zinc has shut-down production at its largest project in northern Italy. In Mongolia, Rio Tinto suspended non-essential operations following the country’s first confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis. And Anglo American is in the process of demobilising most of the 10,000-strong construction workforce at its copper project in Peru.
We’re also witnessing a halt on capex growth. While capital expenditure for the world’s 20 largest mining companies grew by 12% in 2019 to reach $49.1-billion, we’re now seeing delays in project work and investments being put on hold.
The recent announcement of a 15-day quarantine in Peru, the world’s second-largest copper producer, has meant miners such as Anglo American, Pan American Silver and Newmont, have had to put a halt to operations, which includes the slowing of work on Anglo American’s major copper project.
The recent announcement of a 15-day quarantine in Peru, the world’s second-largest copper producer, has meant miners such as Anglo American, Pan American Silver and Newmont, have had to put a halt to operations, which includes the slowing of work on Anglo American’s major copper project.
South Africa’s 21-day period of national lock-down has similarly ground all local mining operations to a halt until at least April 16th. Even where shutdowns are not occurring, restrictions on the movement of people and supplies will inevitably delay development work.
Mining industry ‘more exposed’ to pandemic
South Africa’s mining sector is particularly exposed to the spread of Covid-19. According to the Minerals Council of South Africa, the industry employs a workforce numbering almost 420,000, many of whom are underground on any given day. Some mines have thousands of men and women underground, descending into the depths in crowded “cages”. Before and after, dressing rooms are filled with miners preparing for their shifts or cleaning up afterwards. It does not take an epidemiologist to realise that the mining work environment is a catalyst for spreading the COVID-19 pandemic.
In South Africa, this is exacerbated by the fact that the mining labour force remains migrant, with constant movement between the gold fields and platinum belt and Lesotho, Mozambique and the Eastern Cape. In addition, the average age in the industry’s workforce is over 40, increasing their vulnerability to an illness that poses a greater risk the older the infected person is.
On a slightly positive note, the South African mining industry’s experience with AIDS and tuberculosis should stand it in good stead: It has invested in health infrastructure and has experience with contact-tracing because the procedure with a tuberculosis diagnosis is similar to that of coronavirus.
The Minerals Council of South Africa has also published a 10-Point Action Plan for COVID-19 which outlines several measures to deal with COVID-19, however it will take its lead from agencies like the World Health Organization and the National Institute for Communicable Diseases.
Industry to fast-track automation?
The COVID-19 outbreak has made the immediate future of several mining operations around the world uncertain. As a result, there may be an increased appeal and demand for solutions to reduce the human workforce at mine sites.
The uptake of automated mine solutions including self-driving haul trucks and remote operations centers has been slow but steady. One of the earliest moves into automation came with global mining giant Rio Tinto’s Mine of the Future initiative in 2008. From a remote operations center in Perth, Western Australia, workers operate autonomous mining vehicles at mines more than 1,200km away in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. Today, around a third of the haul truck fleet at Rio Tinto’s Pilbara mines are autonomous.
The Syama underground gold mine in Mali, became the world’s first fully autonomous mine operation. Designed in partnership with Swedish engineering company Sandvik, the mine operates with fully automated trucks, loaders and drills. The fully autonomous operation means that the mine can operate 24 hours a day, with all operations overseen from a remote operation centre.
Depending on how long this crisis lasts, the mining industry could see big moves into autonomous mining technologies in the not-too-distant future.
Whilst it is not possible to predict how COVID-19 will further disrupt the mining industry, what is certain is that the mining industry must reconfigure and prepare itself to operate under a new normal, one in which it can operate and sustain itself under the new constraints and challenges that such pandemics bring with them.
The daily trickle of travelers, livestock and goods that once boarded the ferry between Mauritania and Senegal through the Rosso border crossing will grow when it reopens, one of the few active points of entry (POEs) between the two countries.
“In normal circumstances we saw about 100 crossings a day, mainly Mauritanians and Senegalese joining their families or going to work,” one border officer said.
“But, with the travel restrictions in response to COVID-19, and fewer crossings available, between 200 and 350 people were crossing here every day before it was closed. People wanted to go home or leave Senegal, which has recorded cases of COVID-19.”
The impact of the pandemic is being felt in communities from the banks of the Senegal River in this vast desert nation in northwest Africa, to the border country in Southeast Asia. Here, and in a dozen other points around the globe, IOM is applying decades of experience in border management and migration health to empower local authorities, residents and migrants to address and mitigate the spread of the virus and prepare for the future.
“IOM’s activities in Mauritania are part of a larger global effort to provide advice and concrete support to immigration and border authorities and partners coping with current extraordinary situation,” said Florian Forster, the Head of IOM’s Immigration and Border Management Division in the Geneva.
“The virus is having an enormous impact on safe, orderly and regular migration and cross-border mobility. Migrants and mobile populations are heavily affected and can find themselves in particular vulnerable situations. And, immigration officials themselves are severely affected and in need of concrete support and informed advice.”
Like their counterparts around the world, Mauritanian authorities have taken preventive measures to check the spread of the coronavirus, closing all schools, cafés and restaurants, banning non-essential gatherings, and closing air borders.
Only eight of the country’s 45 border crossings, remain active to transport goods and food.
Were it open, travelers trying to cross in Rosso would face long waits to receive authorization to enter and crowded lines where they would be unable to apply the “social distancing” measures advised by the WHO.
Police and customs officers had little or no protection, there was a lack of screening equipment and basic hygiene rules were not always applied. In response, IOM is providing training and donating medical and protective equipment in partnership with the WHO to strengthen the government’s management of the virus.
"The closure of border posts has a heavy impact on the border communities’ economic activities,” said Laurent de Castelli, head of the Border Management unit at IOM Mauritania. “This training will allow the authorities to reopen the border posts quickly, as well as prevent and detect possible COVID-19 cases.”
When the border crossings resume, newly trained police will be able to check the passengers’ temperature as they come off the ferry and have them wash their hands.
“I am satisfied with the cooperative spirit shown by the inhabitants to prevent this disease from entering the country,” said Abdel Kader Ould Tiyib, Hakem (Prefect) of Rosso. “They are following to the letter all the instructions issued by the authorities.”
With the recent closure of the main POE at Mauritania’s northern border with Morocco, the numbers of stranded migrants in Mauritania—or Mauritanians in Morocco and Senegal—are likely to increase. Other Mauritanian border crossing points have the same needs as Rosso for support and training.
The border communities exposed to the disorderly movements and poorly sensitised on this disease are most vulnerable to the COVID-19 outbreak. IOM will work over the next few days to raise awareness and better protect these communities in collaboration with the government.
These training sessions and donations were made possible thanks to the support of the European Union Trust Fund for Africa through the EU-IOM Joint Initiative for Migrant Protection and Reintegration.
Outbreak Update: Globally, a total of 693,839 coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) confirmed cases and 33,214 (CFR 5%) related deaths have been reported to date. Since the last brief (24 March 2020), 360,141 new COVID-19 cases and 18,706 new deaths have been reported globally. Fourteen countries and territories, including five African countries, are reporting cases while 33 countries, including eight African countries, are reporting deaths for the first time this week. The distribution of cumulative cases (proportion of global cases %) from the WHO reporting regions (excluding Africa) are as follows: Eastern Mediterranean Region 44,856 (6%), European Region 392,757 (57%), Region of the Americas 142,081 (20%), South-East Asia Region 4,084 (0.6%) Western Pacific Region 104,487 (15%). For more detailed information on cases and deaths being reported outside of Africa, refer to the WHO daily situation reports.
Download document - Africa CDC COVID-19 Brief - 31st March 2020: https://bit.ly/3bK4UKD
Download document - COVID-19 Scientific and Public Health Policy Update (March 31 2020): https://bit.ly/341Lyhr
As of 3 pm EAT 31 March 2020, 5,287 total COVID-19 cases and 172 (CFR 3%) deaths have been reported in 48 African countries. Africa CDC is working with all affected countries and is mobilizing laboratory, surveillance, and other response support where requested. See Table 1 for the full list of countries in Africa reporting cases, deaths, and those recovered.
Table 1. Confirmed COVID-19 Cases Reported in Africa 24- 31 March 2020, 3pm EAT
|
Country |
No. of cases (new) |
No. of deaths (new) |
No. recovered |
Transmission Type |
|
Central Region |
||||
|
Cameroon |
142 (86) |
8 (8) |
3 |
Local transmission |
|
Central African Republic |
6 (2) |
– |
3 |
Imported cases only |
|
Chad |
7 (4) |
– |
– |
Imported cases only |
|
Congo |
19 (15) |
– |
2 |
Imported cases only |
|
DRC |
83 (47) |
8 (6) |
1 |
Local transmission |
|
Equatorial Guinea |
14 (5) |
– |
– |
Local transmission |
|
Gabon |
16 (10) |
1 (0) |
– |
Imported cases only |
|
Eastern Region |
||||
|
Djibouti |
26 (23) |
– |
– |
Local transmission |
|
Eritrea |
15 (14) |
– |
– |
Imported case only |
|
Ethiopia |
25 (14) |
– |
4 |
Local transmission |
|
Kenya |
50 (34) |
1 (1) |
1 |
Local transmission |
|
Madagascar |
46 (34) |
– |
– |
Imported cases only |
|
Mauritius |
143 (107) |
3 (1) |
– |
Local transmission |
|
Rwanda |
70 (51) |
– |
– |
Local transmission |
|
Seychelles |
10 (3) |
– |
– |
Imported cases only |
|
Somalia |
3 (2) |
– |
– |
Imported cases only |
|
Sudan |
6 (4) |
2 (1) |
– |
Imported cases only |
|
Tanzania |
19 (7) |
1 (1) |
1 |
Imported cases only |
|
Uganda |
33 (24) |
– |
– |
Local transmission |
|
Northern Region |
||||
|
Algeria |
582 (3521) |
35 (18) |
77 |
Local transmission |
|
Egypt |
656 (290) |
41 (22) |
150 |
Local transmission |
|
Libya |
8 (8) |
– |
– |
Local transmission |
|
Mauritania |
3 (1) |
– |
– |
Imported cases only |
|
Morocco |
556 (413) |
33 (29) |
15 |
Local transmission |
|
Tunisia |
362 (248) |
9(6) |
1 |
Local transmission |
|
Southern Region |
||||
|
Angola |
7 (5) |
2 (2) |
– |
Imported cases only |
|
Botswana |
3 (3) |
– |
– |
Imported cases only |
|
Eswatini |
9 (5) |
– |
– |
Local transmission |
|
Mozambique |
8 (7) |
– |
– |
Local transmission |
|
Namibia |
11 (7) |
– |
– |
Imported cases only |
|
South Africa |
1,326 (924) |
2 (2) |
31 |
Local transmission |
|
Zambia |
35 (32) |
– |
– |
Local transmission |
|
Zimbabwe |
8 (6) |
1 (1) |
– |
Local transmission |
|
Western Region |
||||
|
Benin |
6 (1) |
– |
1 |
Imported cases only |
|
Burkina Faso |
246 (147) |
12 (8) |
31 |
Local transmission |
|
Cape Verde |
6 (5) |
1 (1) |
– |
Imported cases only |
|
Côte d’Ivoire |
168 (143) |
1 (1) |
6 |
Local transmission |
|
Gambia |
4 (2) |
1 (0) |
– |
Imported cases only |
|
Ghana |
152 (128) |
5 (4) |
2 |
Local transmission |
|
Guinea |
16 (12) |
– |
1 |
Imported cases only |
|
Guinea-Bissau |
2 (2) |
– |
Imported cases only |
|
|
Liberia |
3 (0) |
– |
– |
Local transmission |
|
Mali |
18 (18) |
1 (1) |
– |
Local transmission |
|
Niger |
18 (16) |
1 (1) |
– |
Local transmission |
|
Nigeria |
131 (91) |
2 (1) |
3 |
Local transmission |
|
Senegal |
175 (96) |
– |
40 |
Local transmission |
|
Sierra Leone |
1 (1) |
– |
– |
Imported cases only |
|
Togo |
34 (16) |
1 (1) |
10 |
Local transmission |
|
Total |
5,287 (3,465) |
172 (115) |
383 |
NEW Africa CDC Response Activities:
Laboratory
Healthcare Preparedness
Risk Communication
Recommendations for Member States:
African Union Member States (48) reporting COVID-19 cases (5,413), deaths (172), and recoveries (387) by region:
Central (353 cases, 15 deaths, 13 recoveries): Cameroon (193, 8, 5), Central African Republic (6, 0, 3), Chad (7, 0, 0), Congo (19, 0, 2), DRC (98, 8, 3), Equatorial Guinea (14, 0, 0), Gabon (16, 1, 0)
Eastern (460, 7, 6): Djibouti (30, 0, 0), Eritrea (15, 0, 0), Ethiopia (25, 0, 4), Kenya (59, 1, 1), Madagascar (46, 0, 0), Mauritius (143, 3, 0), Rwanda (70, 0, 0), Seychelles (10, 0, 0), Somalia (3, 0, 0), Sudan (7, 2, 0), Tanzania (19, 1, 1), Uganda (33, 0, 0)
Northern (2,185, 118, 243): Algeria (582, 35, 77), Egypt (656, 41, 150), Libya (8, 0, 0), Mauritania (3, 0, 0), Morocco (574, 33, 15), Tunisia (362, 8, 1)
Southern (1,435, 5, 31): Angola (7, 2, 0), Botswana (3, 0, 0), Eswatini (9, 0, 0), Mozambique (8, 0, 0), Namibia (11, 0, 0), South Africa (1,353, 2, 31), Zambia (36, 0, 0), Zimbabwe (8, 1, 0)
Western (980, 25, 94): Benin (6, 0, 1), Burkina Faso (246, 12, 31), Cape Verde (6, 1, 0), Côte d'Ivoire (168, 1, 6), Gambia (4, 1, 0), Ghana (152, 5, 2), Guinea (16, 0, 1), Guinea-Bissau (2, 0, 0), Liberia (3, 0, 0), Mali (18, 1, 0), Niger (18, 1, 0), Nigeria (131, 2, 3), Senegal (175, 0, 40), Sierra Leone (1, 0, 0), Togo (34, 1, 10).
The invisible threat of COVID-19 is looming in the conflict zones in Africa where the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) works. Patrick Youssef, the ICRC’s incoming regional director for Africa, explains what it means for his organization to confront the pandemic as it continues to spread around the world.
So far, Africa has been the continent least affected by the pandemic, but if measures to contain the virus are not taken immediately, it could be devastating for Africa’s people and health-care systems. As we race to slow the spread of COVID-19, many African countries have closed their borders and introduced curfews and confinement rules. The whole world is struggling to cope, and we do not yet know the full extent of the economic and social crisis we will face. But wars and fighting, such as in the Lake Chad Region, are continuing unabated.
Humanitarian aid even more critical
With each passing day, we see the pandemic spreading in both the rural and urban areas of Burkina Faso. We fear it will spread further north, to places like Djibo, which have been affected by the conflict. Djibo’s population has doubled over the past few months with the arrival of people fleeing the fighting. Clean water and soap are scarce; social distancing would be next to impossible.
Health-care systems across Africa could collapse under the added weight of the pandemic. In northern Mali, 93% of health-care facilities have been completely destroyed – proof that hospitals, ambulances and medical personnel all too often become targets in armed conflict. The underfunded community health centres that are left already struggle to treat common illnesses like malaria and measles. How could we expect them to test and treat people for COVID-19?
In developing countries, it’s common for a family to use more than half its income to pay for food. When an epidemic, such as Ebola, SARS or MERS, hits communities already struggling to get the food they need, they are at even greater risk of various forms of malnutrition. In addition, some countries rely heavily on imported food to feed their populations, making any disruption in the supply chain perilous. The price of some basic goods more than doubled during the Ebola epidemic in West Africa. So even people who don’t get sick will still suffer the effects.
This is uncharted territory for us all. The World Health Organization has issued repeated warnings: theories are circulating, for example, about treating people with chloroquine, but the science is not yet conclusive. Like many other organizations, the ICRC is doing logistical gymnastics trying get our supplies where they’re needed.
We can’t let our guard down
We’ve introduced protocols to protect our teams’ health and allow them to continue their humanitarian work. All non-essential travel has been cancelled. Some staff members are working tirelessly from home to ensure continuity. Others, who’ve come from countries more acutely affected by the virus, have been put in preventive quarantine to protect their health and that of their neighbours. This virus attacks everyone, regardless of the colour of their skin, their social class or where their parents are from. If we don’t take certain precautions, no one will be spared.
We cannot give up the fight to contain the pandemic. More than ever, the people we help every day need all the support we can give them, now and once the pandemic is over. This is not just a health crisis; it touches every aspect of our lives.
Our work in jeopardy
The environments where we work are already unpredictable and unstable, but the travel restrictions that have been put in place by many governments jeopardize our ability to get our staff and our humanitarian aid where they are needed.
There’s no denying it: all our programmes will be affected one way or another by COVID-19. But our teams are proving to be agile and flexible: they’ve changed their plans to adapt to the challenges ahead. We will carry on taking our message to the front lines, carry on helping to protect medical personnel, providing support to health-care facilities in even the remotest of regions, distributing food and essential hygiene items to those who need them most, and strengthening infection control measures where people are already in confinement: in detention centres and camps for displaced people.
Unfortunately, we can’t be everywhere, which is why we would like to create a platform for exchanging information with governments, organizations and research institutes in Africa. We’ll take a “glocal” approach: adapting the global strategy to the local conditions.
For us to confront this crisis in conflict zones, we humanitarians must, now more than ever, be given the space to do our neutral and impartial work, to be allowed to keep up our dialogue and, above all, take preventive measures so that this pandemic does not reach the places that simply cannot cope.
