West and Central Africa: Latest events at a glance (11 to 17 June 2024)

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Humanitarian Coordinator urges action as violence escalates in the east

The Humanitarian Coordinator for the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Bruno Lemarquis, expressed his deep concern about the escalating violence in the east of the country in a press release on 11 June, urging all parties to respect humanitarian law and protect civilians. Ongoing violence is exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in Ituri, North-Kivu and South-Kivu provinces, with more than 900,000 people displaced between January and April 2024, bringing the total number of displaced people to over 5.6 million in these provinces and 7.3 million nationwide. Recent attacks have resulted in hundreds of deaths and disrupted aid operations affecting tens of thousands of people. Lemarquis stressed the need for immediate de-escalation and political dialogue to find durable solutions and promote sustainable outcomes for displaced people.

Niger

Floods affect more than 3,000 people countrywide

According to the Ministry of Humanitarian Action and Disaster Management, 26 communes have been affected by floods as of 11 June 2024. These include 15 in Maradi in the south-central part of the country, 5 in Tahoua in the west, 3 in Tillabéri in the southwestern, 2 in Zinder in the south-centre, and 1 in Agadez in the north. The same source reported 18 deaths, 3,825 people affected, 329 houses damaged, and 8 classrooms destroyed during the same period of last year. The 2024 scenario had foreseen some 247,192 people potentially affected by this year's floods. In response, the Flood Management Crisis Committee, chaired by the Minister of Humanitarian Action and Disaster Management, held its first meeting on 3 June 2024 to discuss forecasts, the three-year flood contingency plan (2023-2025), risk area mapping, and response preparedness.

Côte d’Ivoire

Eight dead and 18 injured after landslides in Abidjan

The rains of 13 June 2024 caused rising waters and landslides that killed eight people and injured 18 others in some communes of the Abidjan district, the fire brigade announced on 14 June. At least 227 people have been affected in Abidjan city due to floods and landslides. Additionally, several roads have been cut off in various parts of Abidjan city. According to the Ivorian meteorological agency Sodexam, the rainfall was particularly heavy, around four times higher than normal. On 17-18 June, more heavy rainfall is still forecasted over the Abidjan city area and western Côte d’Ivoire.

Mali

Persistent underfunding of humanitarian interventions in Mali affects nearly 1.5 million people

From 15 May to 10 June 2024, the international NGOs forum and the national NGOs platform in Mali conducted a survey to assess the impact of the persistent underfunding of humanitarian interventions since 2023. The survey found that 80 per cent of the 36 participating organisations and an overall 1.4 million beneficiaries (78 per cent women and children) are negatively affected by underfunding, particularly in Timbuktu, Douentza, Mopti and Segou regions. The health sector is the most affected by underfunding with 252,729 beneficiaries directly affected. Overall, the persistent underfunding has led to a reduction in assistance (including basic social services) and a deterioration in the vulnerability or living conditions of vulnerable populations. To mitigate this, humanitarian partners continue to prioritise localisation while increasing efforts to mobilise resources.