West and Central Africa: Weekly Regional Humanitarian Snapshot (7-13 March 2023)

Niger

Over 6,000 new displaced in Tahoua region

On 2-3 March, humanitarian organisations, jointly with local authorities in the Tchintabaraden district, in the north of Tahoua region, conducted an assessment to examine the needs of newly displaced people there. The assessment indicated that they critically need aid in food, nutrition, water, sanitation, hygiene, shelter, education and protection. As of 28 February, over 6,000 people fled their homes in Tillia District due to attacks by non-state armed groups in Egereck village and found refuge in Tchintabaraden District.

Central African Republic

Children injured after their cattle hit an explosive device

On 6 March, children shepherds were critically injured when their cattle hit an explosive device in the Nana Mambéré Prefecture, in the west. They were transferred to Beninga hospital for treatment. In the first six weeks of 2023, seven people, including four civilians, were killed in 18 incidents caused by explosive devices. The number of deaths due to explosive devices in 2023 is already equivalent to 58 per cent of those in 2022. In 2021, 44 incidents due to explosive devices took place, killing 30 people and injuring 48. Moreover, in 2021 and 2022, incidents due to explosive devices increased comparing to 2020, when only two incidents, with no casualties, took place.

Cameroon

Armed groups kidnap 17 civilians in the North-West and South-West

Between 27 February and 1 March, nonState armed groups physically assaulted and kidnapped over 17 civilians for ransom payment in the North-West and South-West regions. The attacks primarily targeted Meme and Manyu divisions in the SouthWest and Mezam, Donga-Mantung divisions in the North-West. Insecurity continues to prevail in both regions, forcing civilians to displace for longer periods of time to hide from violent clashes. Humanitarian organizations are advocating to all parties of the conflict to keep civilians safe.

DR Congo

Fighting continues in North Kivu killing over 60 civilians

Attacks on civilians in the eastern North Kivu province, have displaced 100,000 people, with some 60 civilians reportedly killed in a series of armed attacks in Beni territory, between 7 and 12 March. Three schools in Masisi were also destroyed by shelling, leaving more than 1,000 children without access to education, bringing the number of children impacted by the ongoing violence to more than 600,000 since March 2022. The protection of civilians remains a key priority. Humanitarian organizations are providing aid in health, education, food, water and sanitation among other much-needed assistance to thousands of people in Beni and surrounding areas, while working on scaling up the humanitarian response. Over the past year, violence in the region has caused the displacement of over 800, 000 people, bringing the total number of internally displaced persons in the country to more than 6 million.