WEST AFRICA: IRIN weekly humanitarian round-up 699 16 August 2013

Table of contents 1. Should the UN be doing more to fight organized crime? 2. Fear of rebels still haunts Mali's herders 3. Ruling party's win may choke Togo reforms 4. Analysis: Abacus of death - and why it matters for the living 5. How technology is transforming emergency preparedness 6. Cholera resurgent in Guinea-Bissau Should the UN be doing more to fight organized crime? NEW YORK, 12 August 2013 (IRIN) - The globalization of organized crime poses a growing threat to fragile states that lack the ability to resist it, putting pressure on the UN to find solutions. Read report online Fear of rebels still haunts Mali's herders GAO, 13 August 2013 (IRIN) - Despite the victory of Ibrahim Boubacar Keita in Mali's peaceful presidential elections at the weekend, sporadic violence continues in the north, where for months herders have been cut off from accessing traditional routes in search of pasture for fear of attacks by bandits and rebels. Read report online Ruling party's win may choke Togo reforms LOME, 15 August 2013 (IRIN) - Togo's July legislative polls extended the dominance of President Faure Gnassingbé's party, which has been in power since 1967, despite opposition claims of malpractice. These results could narrow the chances for reforms and presage the results of the 2015 presidential election, analysts say. Read report online Analysis: Abacus of death - and why it matters for the living BANGKOK, 16 August 2013 (IRIN) - Varied death tolls emerging from Egypt's latest clashes are a reminder that obtaining mortality statistics in emergencies is still a disputed, complicated and, at times, politicized task. But tallied correctly, researchers say mortality data can boost aid efficacy and improve funding decisions. Read report online How technology is transforming emergency preparedness DAKAR, 16 August 2013 (IRIN) - Mobile phone, geographic information systems (GIS), Twitter and other technologies are increasingly being used to warn communities of potential crises and inform them how to prepare, and to help governments and aid agencies predict how emergencies may unfold. Read report online Cholera resurgent in Guinea-Bissau DAKAR, 16 August 2013 (IRIN) - More than 700 people have been sickened by cholera in Guinea-Bissau, the highest number of cases so far this year in West Africa, which has nonetheless seen a significant drop in cases this year compared to 2012. Read report online