Guinea-Bissau: Relief for returning residents

After fleeing their homes when Bissau, the capital of Guinea-Bissau, was racked by heavy fighting in the summer and autumn of last year, most of the city's 300,000 inhabitants have been gradually returning since a peace agreement was signed in November. Most of the fighting took place in central Bissau but many heavy artillery shells landed in the outskirts as well.

Working in conjunction with the Red Cross Society of Guinea-Bissau, the ICRC has begun providing non-food aid to people living in houses damaged during the hostilities. Over 18,000 people are estimated to be living in 2,500 such homes throughout the capital. Because of the extremely difficult conditions they face, they have been given priority in distributions of tents, buckets, mats, jerrycans and soap.