Note on Guinea Bissau
The Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian
Affairs, Sergio Vieira de Mello, is encouraged by reports that the return
of internally displaced persons (IDPs) initiated around 17 September continues.
Preliminary information provided by a recent UN inter-agency mission
to Guinea-Bissau, indicates that over 200,000 IDPs have already returned
to their homes in Bissau city. United Nations humanitarian organizations
on the ground are at present revising their projects to facilitate their
reintegration and will also maintain emergency support for those who remain
displaced.
Mr. Vieira de Mello remains concerned
over recent reports of increased looting in Bissau, and the continued
movement of populations between Bissau city and their places of displacement.
He calls on both parties to continue to honor the cease-fire and
ensure that international humanitarian law and humanitarian principles
are respected nationwide while working towards achieving a political
solution to the conflict.