Impacts of Ebola on Protection Miata Tubee Johnson, Public Health Unit UNHCR RO Dakar

Outline  Situation Report of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone  Situation Report of EVD cases among People of Concern (PoC) in affected countries  Impact of EVD on Protection in general  Impact of EVD on Protection of PoC  UNHCR Coordination and support to EVD affected countries

Situation Report of Ebola in Guinea, Liberia & Sierra Leone as of July 8, 2015 Total Guinea Cases3748 Deaths2499 Liberia Cases10666 Deaths4807 Sierra Leone Cases13180 Deaths3940 Total Cases27573 Deaths confirmed cases in the week to 5 July: 18 in Guinea, 9 in Sierra Leone and 5 in Liberia

Survivors in Liberia Source: MOH/IMS, June 2015

Cases among PoC in Affected Countries Guinea: No case! Liberia: 5 fatal cases (Urban Refugees) Sierra Leone: 5 fatal cases (Urban Refugees)

Impacts on Protection in General On Freedom of movement Movement restrictions: on public and mass gathering; curfew; borders and schools closure; quarantined communities Health check points creating opportunities for abuse of power and sexual exploitation and abuse On Security Incidents: arm forces shooting at civilians to enforce law and order in quarantined communities On Protection Rejection o Towards infected and affected people

Impacts on Protection in General On Health Collapse of existing weak health systems o Limited availability or no services, including for vulnerable groups o High mortality among health care workers (509 deaths from 875 cases) leading to acute human resource shortage o Demotivation to work due to lack of salary and benefits for health care workers and burial teams On Vulnerable Groups Transportation, Isolation and treatment services for people infected or suspected were not adopted to accommodate the most vulnerable People with disability and children not properly care for due to lack of facility or dedicated care givers

Impacts on Protection in General On Child Protection At least 3,700 children from the 3 countries lost one or both parents Limited or no systematic identification and/or support for unaccompanied and separated children Lack of dedicated care givers for children who survived Inadequate financial and psychological support Risk of abuse by caregivers or guardian

Impacts on Protection of PoC Urban Refugees Insecurity Restrictions on movement as nationals Health Limited or no access to health care services as nationals Case management for PoC with chronic illnesses jeopardized due to collapse of health systems Weak or suspended referral services Education Suspension of educational programs same for nationals Durable Solutions Halt to resettlement Suspension of Voluntary Repatriation Self Reliance Livelihood or income generating activities suspended to avoid mass gathering Limited food for quarantine groups or contacts Camp Base Refugees Insecurity Restrictions on movement in and out of camps Health Limited or no access to referral services Case management for PoCs with chronic illnesses jeopardized due to collapse of the health systems Education Suspension of educational programs same for nationals Durable Solutions Complete halt to repatriation issues and border closure Halt to resettlement Access to legal documentation jeopardized Self Reliance Livelihood activities suspended to avoid mass gathering Restriction on movement out of the camps to do business Nutrition and Food Security Food security jeopardized due to reduced food trade Inflation of food and goods price

Coordination Structure  National coordination bodies for overall Ebola response  Guinea - Child Protection sub-cluster led by Min of social action and women’s promotion and childhood, with co-lead by UNICEF.  Liberia - Protection cluster led by OHCHR - Child protection sub-cluster led by UNICEF - 3 technical WG on: 1) Gender and Gender-based Violence; 2) Rule of Law and Vulnerable Groups; 3) Mainstreaming Protection, Gender and HIV in the Ebola Response  Sierra Leone - Pillars: 1) a Child Protection, Gender and Psychosocial Pillar chaired by the Ministry of Social Welfare Gender and Children’s Affairs; 2) Social Mobilisation pillar – Ministry of Health/UNICEF, 3) Safe burial – NERC & Red Cross

Thanks !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!