GUINEA* (8 October)
Harvesting of rice, by far the most important crop, started at the end of September. Satellite imagery analysis indicated that crops benefited from favourable climatic conditions in most areas of the country at planting and during growth. However, access to food continues to be negatively affected by high inflation and high prices for rice, the main staple, coupled with low household power.
Although the restoration of peace in Sierra Leone and the improved situation in Liberia have resulted in a relative decrease of the number of refugees in Guinea, the country still hosts a large refugee population (repatriation is slower than foreseen). In June 2005, according to UNHCR statistics, there were around 60 000 refugees living in different camps, in addition to some 80 000 IDPs and over 100 000 returnees from Côte D’Ivoire in 2002 in Guinea Forestière and Upper and Middle Guinea.