FAO/GIEWS - Foodcrops & Shortages 09/01 - GUINEA (7 September)
First rains were registered in the south in late March, and subsequently covered the entire country in May. They remained widespread and above normal in June. They were abundant during the first and the last dekad of July, particularly in the west and the centre. They decreased in the western part during the second dekad of August but widespread and above normal rains covered most of the country during the last dekad. Cereal crops are maturing satisfactorily. Crop prospects are favourable.
The overall food supply situation is satisfactory and markets are generally well supplied, except in the southeast where recurrent rebel incursions from Sierra Leone have severely affected agriculture and marketing activities.
The security situation has improved in border areas with Sierra Leone. UNHCR completed the evacuation of refugees from the Parrot's Beak to new refugee camps in Upper Guinea in the Prefectures of Albadaria (Boreah, Kountaya, and Telikoro camps) and Dabola (Sembakounya camp) camp and it closed the Massakoundou camp, which formerly housed an estimated 25 000 refugees. The Mambia camp near Kindia has been established as a transit center for those Sierra Leonean refugees who may seek to repatriate. Refugees preferred to remain in the Parrot's Beak or return to Sierra Leone on their own, rather than be relocated to another camp in Upper Guinea. Some have planted crops and others are finding day labor. Several relief agencies continue to provide assistance.
The recent outbreak of violence in neighbouring Lofa County in Liberia has forced Liberian refugees across the Guinean borders near Macenta and N'Zerekore. The Kouankan camp in the Macenta Prefecture houses an estimated 13 500 refugees. There are about 180 000 IDPs in the country. With the improved stability and reconstruction efforts in the major market town of Gueckedou, many IDP's have begun to move back to their homes and to their fields in hopes of a renewed market demand for their crops.
Since September 2000, about 75 000 Sierra Leoneans have returned from Guinea. A transit camp has been established in Conakry to organise repatriation of refugees by boat to Freetown where reception facilities are available. With the reopening of the Conakry to Freetown road, relief agencies have discussed the possibility of moving returning refugees overland.