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.