Local fisheries in countries such as the Comoros and Mauritania are already suffering from depleted resources. Particularly in rural areas, children were made to help out in the field or around the house at a very tender age. That situation gave rise to serious abuses, the report regretted, for example when a child was not permitted to attend school because he or she was economically useful to the family. According to the UK Foreign Office, there is a general risk of cholera on the Comoros. However, there are reports of a specially heavy outbreak of cholera on the separatist island of Anjouan.
Reports say that the civilian population is suffering severely from the blockade.
The reconciliation pact between the Comoran government and Anjouan separatists is rejected by its neighbour states, which themselves struggle with differing claims on a great number of Indian Ocean islands. Three years after the declaration of independence by the island of Anjouan, the Comoran government now sees hope for a national reconciliation. Texts and graphics may be reproduced freely, under the condition that their origin is clearly referred to, see Conditions .