Guinea-Bissau
1.1 Guinea-Bissau Humanitarian Background

Disasters, Conflicts and Migration

 

Natural Disasters

Type

Occurs

Comments / Details

Drought

No

Diminished rain average are reported mainly in land where deforestation occurred. Deforested land is reported to be progressively suffering from drought. It is a recent phenomenon, no exact data is yet available on the effects.

Earthquakes

No

 

Epidemics

Yes

Epidemics of cholera reported cases in 2005-2006 and 2008. The highest attack rates were registered in Bissau, Biombo, Bijagos and Oio. Hygiene and sanitation conditions might give room to epidemics of Diarrhoea and Cholera, as well as Malaria.

Though Guinea-Bissau has never known cases of Ebola virus disease, the virus is still being monitored. Additionally, monitoring is ongoing for suspected cases of ZIKA allegedly by carriers from Brazil.

An epidemic monitoring system is in place.

The warning and/or public preparedness system that can lead a quick and correct response in case of any hazards is weak.

Extreme Temperatures

No

 

Flooding

Yes

High tidal waves and unnatural patterns of precipitation such as flash floods, common after heavy rains cause loss of crops and livestock, damage to homes and degradation of the environment.

Insect Infestation

No

 

Mudslides

No

 

Volcanic Eruptions

No

 

High Waves / Surges

No

 

Wildfires

No

 

High Winds

No

 

Other Comments

 

Man-Made Issues

Civil Strife

Yes

Some instability.

The history of Guinea-Bissau has been marked by several armed conflicts, particularly the civil war of 1998-1999. There has been some political instability with coup d’états in 1980, 2003 and 2012, attempted coups in 1985 and 1993, and recent political/military tensions in April 2010, December 2011 and October 2012.

Following the conduct of successful democratic elections in 2014, the Transitional Government period ended and previous cycles of upsetting the constitutional order by armed means ceased. Since August 2014, four Governments have succeeded each other.

Civil Unrest: Demonstrations are usually peaceful. Strikes are also common but carried out in an orderly manner.

International Conflict

No

 

Internally Displaced Persons

No

 

Refugees Present

Yes

8,601 (country of origin: Senegal - reference CIA world Factbook 2015).Refugees are largely absorbed in the community. UNHCR focuses on legal assistance for citizenship rights obtainment.

Landmines / UXO Present

Yes

The US State Department issued a new travel warning for Guinea-Bissau describing “thousands of landmines” across the country, highlighting the risk in rural areas north of Bissau. Guinea-Bissau has declared itself free of anti-personnel landmines so these mines could be anti-tank mines. (May 2015)

https://landminesinafrica.wordpress.com/tag/guinea-bissau/

Other Comments

Generally minimal threat of natural disasters. No records of serious floods, droughts, wildfires, earthquakes, tsunamis, cyclones or landslides. Durign the rainy season, high winds and heavy rains are common which can occasionally cause damage to buildings and result in crop loss.

Overall the country suffers a fragility due to poor infrastructure, lack of response mechanisms, and political instability. Specialization on one main export production (cashew), and insufficient food production makes it partially dependent on import.


For a more detailed database on disasters by country, please see the Centre for Research on Epidemiology of Disasters Country Profile

Seasonal Effects on Logistics Capacities

Seasonal Effects on Transport

Transport Type

Time Frame

Comments / Details

Primary Road Transport

March to August

June to October

Connected with the harvest of the main country crop, Caju, or Cashew Nut, trucks can be scarcely available.

Rainy Season - rains can moderately affect transport on primary roads

Secondary Road Transport

March to August

June to October

Same as above

Rail Transport

N/A

 

Air Transport

N/A

 

Sea Transport

June to August

June to October

Congestion at port (ships and trucks) due to cashew exportation

Rainy Season - offloading vessels with sensitive bulk cargo can be impacted. Delays and some cargo loss can be expected. (eg: rice)

 

 

Seasonal Effects on Storage and Handling

Activity Type

Time Frame

Comments / Details

Storage

From March to August

Warehouses are used to store cashew nuts. Storage space availability is scarce. Prices increase.

Handling

From March to August

Much labour force is involved in cashew harvest and transport.

Other

N/A

 

 

Capacity and Contacts for In-Country Emergency Response

Government

Government capacity to respond to emergencies is limited.

Due to political and institutional instability, a high turnover of key roles in government institutions does not allow for well-established practices. There is no government emergency response coordination mechanism in place.

During the Ebola outbreak that invested the neighbour countries in 2014, Guinea-Bissau Prime Minister nominated a High Commissioner for an ad hoc coordination role to work with UN and all agencies involved.

The Health Emergency Operation Centre - Centro de Operações para Emergências de Saúde (COES), established within the MoH and under the authority of the Health Minister, have a role of collecting epidemiological data. It have a role of preparedness and response coordination for health emergencies. 

The Civil Protection department Sistema Nacional de Proteção Civil was instituted in 2011. It does not have enough means for effective intervention.

Military assets are not used for humanitarian emergency intervention.

For more information on government contact details, please see the following link: 4.1 Guinea-Bissau Government Contact List

Humanitarian Community

The United Nations Office for Peacebuilding in Guinea-Bissau (UNIOGBIS) is an integrated field mission.

UNIOGBIS has four subdivisions working under the direction of the Deputy Special Representative for Political Affairs : (1) Political Affairs Section; (2) Rule of Law and Security Institutions Section; (3) Human Rights and Gender Section and, which also represents the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR); (4) Public Unit Information Unit  

The United Nations Country Team (UNCT) in Guinea Bissau, is coordinated by the Deputy Special Representative/UN Resident Coordinator, includes the following agencies, resident in Guinea Bissau: 

FAO, UNWOMEN, OHCHR, UNDP, UNFPA, UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP and WHO

Non-resident agencies: ILO, OCHA, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNODC, UNOPS, UNHABITAT. UNAIDS, UNODC and UNHABITAT also have project offices in Bissau..

 

Find details in: https://uniogbis.unmissions.org/en/integration-united-nations-system

For more information on humanitarian agency contact details, please see the following link: 4.2 Guinea-Bissau Humanitarian Agency Contact List

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