Liberia: Humanitarian [DHA-28: 21-Aug-96]
Liberia: Humanitarian [DHA-28: 21-Aug-96]
United Nations
Department of Humanitarian Affairs
HUMANITARIAN SITUATION REPORT ON LIBERIA
No. 28, covering the period 15-21 August 1996
ABUJA
Statements concerning various humanitarian issues were made by the
following in Abuja, 13-17 August:
Chief of staff
Looted vehicles and equipment should be returned and neighbouring
countries should facilitate the return of such items, unhindered passage
of humanitarian personnel and supplies must be permitted, and, the Geneva
Conventions, Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the Principles and
Protocols of Humanitarian Operations must be respected.
SRSG
Child soldiers must be freed and demobilised, Convention on the Rights of
the Child must be respected, Free movement of humanitarian personnel and
supplies must be guaranteed, and, all looted items should be returned.
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Civilians must have freedom of movement, Convention on the Rights of the
Child, Geneva Conventions and International Humanitarian Laws must be
respected, and, there must be respect for the principles and protocols of
humanitarian operations.
Heads of State
Looted vehicles and items must be returned, Geneva Conventions and the
Convention of the Rights of the Child must be respected, and, faction
leaders must guarantee the safety of relief personnel to enable them to
carry out humanitarian operations.
POPULATION-AT-RISK
On 19-20 August, HACO facilitated a mission comprised of TEAR Fund, CRS,
UNICEF, WHO and LRRRC to Buchanan and the Liberian Agriculture Company
(LAC) Compound in central Grand Bassa County. As one of a series of
missions undertaken by the humanitarian community, the mission was seeking
to locate approximately 25,000 persons that left the IDP centres in
Buchanan in late June and throughout July and August. The population
reportedly returned to communities in upper Grand Bassa and River Cess
Counties. An earlier mission by ACF to River Cess and Cestos City had
failed to see significant numbers of persons.
LRRRC reported that a survey completed on 16 August showed a total IDP
population of 30,964, a reduction of 24,858 from the June figure of 55,822
IDPs. Discussion with LRRRC and the Grand Bassa county Superintendent
yielded the destinations of these returnees: LAC, Compound no. 2, Compound
no. 3a,b,c, Compound no. 4a,b and Mulway and Yappa Town in river Cess
County. Populations were also reported to be in the interior, beyond
geographical features such as the St. Paul, Sio, Timbo and Cestos rivers.
The superintendent reported that he had arranged for donated CRI Lumber
Company trucks to take approximately 2,000 persons back to Compound no. 4
in southeast Grand Bassa and River Cess Counties. The bulk of the
population was moved under the coordination of TLA Assemblyman Vonyegar.
Those not carried by truck have been walking to their destinations. The
mission observed significant numbers of people on foot, who reported that
they were travelling north to the Compound no. 3 area.
The road to LAC is quite bad in places and requires a 4-wheel drive
vehicle to pass. It took 2 hours to travel the 37 km from Buchanan to
LAC. Most structures along the route were destroyed and few inhabitants
were observed. The most significant population visited was the SDA
Mission-Tubmanville township which stretches for about 8 km along the road
near Mt. Findley. Siah is a market area in the township and appears to be
unused with many stalls turned over, broken or otherwise neglected.
Kpayzohn, a subsection of Tubmanville township, lays astride the LAC road.
The town chief showed the team a CCERC-CRS register containing 277 family
heads and 1,158 total population for the 12 of 16 remaining villages in
his reporting area. It should be noted that Bassa communities are usually
very small, consisting of nuclear and extended family groups. Those
questioned on the roads reported big, large and a whole lot of people in
locations then clarified these as containing 15, 20 and 25 people.
Approximately 75 percent of those seen on the roads and within LAC are new
returnees. Those who had stayed reported the depredations and abuse by
first LPC and then by NPFL fighters who controlled the area. LPC fighters
had preyed on the civilians, preventing them from cultivating food, and
NPFL had continued the harassment, pulling back only after it was too late
to plant crops. The only significant settlement in LAC observed and
reported by inhabitants was Division 6 Old Camp, where some 200 persons
were seen. The children and adults all appeared healthy and ORS was
provided to treat the complaints of running stomach or diarrhoea. The LAC
hospital was destroyed, with only the walls standing.
NPFL maintains only three checkpoints on the road. The first, just outside
Buchanan at the Flour Mill, the second, at the LAC access road and the
third, inside the LAC gate. Populations within LAC reported that a General
Emmanuel Gibson Group had come through on or about 17 August seizing all
property and food. Most fighters seen were child fighters in their
mid-teens. A youth questioned in LAC reported that there were some 20
other teenage fighters with him.
The mission resolved that a further assessment to Compound no. 3 should be
planned as this is an area from which the humanitarian community has been
long absent. The poor roads are the main constraint limiting the amount of
work on site. ACF and CRS are planning a follow-up mission to Cestos City
on 23 August.
In a separate issue the ECOMOG intelligence officer reported that the
disarmed LPC combatants which ECOMOG had been sheltering since April, were
integrated into the community with no problems reported.
FOOD AND LOGISTICS
WFP distributed 45 MTs of bulgur wheat to 3,176 beneficiaries through Food
for Work for cleaning up the area in the Greystone Compound. WFP also
delivered 1.5 MTs of food to 80 beneficiaries through the NGO, Tear Fund,
to clear 15 acres of land in Plumkor, Kamara Town and Coffee Farm - the
areas chosen for the relocation of IDPs from the irregular shelters.
WFP has distributed 36 MTs of assorted food commodities to 5,389
beneficiaries residing in irregular shelters in SKD and the Catholic
Clinic, representing their last ration in preparation for relocation in
the near future.
WFP delivered 6.5 MTs of cereals to 270 persons involved in urban
sanitation under the supervision of SCF-UK as well as those involved in
the making of mats for the ACF therapeutic feeding centre in Gbarnga. 8
MTs of cereals were distributed to 315 workers for the completion of the
reconstruction of the Spriggs Payne Airport.
A WFP convoy carrying 121 MTs of assorted food commodities to 28,310 IDPs,
most who come from Lofa and are residing in 19 shelters located between
Torota and Gbarnga, departed Monrovia on 21 August, for food distribution
by LWS.
WFP distributed 22 MTs of assorted food commodities to 3,273 IDPs and
refugees living in Samukai Town and 54 MTs of assorted food commodities to
8,520 residents of the Perry Town displaced centre, under the supervision
of WFP food aid monitors.
WFP also distributed 16 MTs of assorted food commodities to 2,388
vulnerable persons, mostly children in difficult circumstances and the
handicapped.
WFP reports the 19 August market prices of basic commodities as follows:
Commodity Price-Bag Commodity Price-Gal
Indian long
grain rice USD 26.58 Gasoline USD 1.37
Bulgur wheat USD 16.44 Fuel oil USD 1.23
Corn meal USD 20.55 Engine oil USD 2.74
Vegetable oil USD 3.08 Engine oil USD 2.05
The exchange rate on the parallel market is LDD 73.00 to USD 1.00
WFP stock balances as of 20 August were:
Bulgur wheat 4,975 MTs
Vegetable oil 676 MTs
CSB 34 Mts
Pulses 193 Mts
Miscellaneous 9 Mts
TOTAL 5,887 MTs
HEALTH
The Cholera Control Committee (CCC) reported that the Information,
Education and Communication, Water and Sanitation and Case Management
Sub-committees are actively working in the ten high-risk communities in
Monrovia. The general trend is one of improvement regarding the number of
incidents reported since the declared outbreak, although there was still
cause for vigilance and concern. The Case Management team is developing
strategies to address the long-term situation. The Secretary commended
MERCI, UNICEF, DHA-HACO, WHO, MSF and LWSC who are providing logistical,
material and professional support.
The Information, Education and Communication Sub-committee reports that,
with assistance from HACO, public information activities in regards to the
severe cholera outbreak continues focusing on increased public awareness,
empowerment and capacity building through the dissemination of preventive
measures, source reduction and related information via the media (radio
public service announcements, radio reports, newspaper articles) and
community-based activities. These include teams of medical students
visiting the population, door to door in the top 10 high risk communities
of Monrovia, three days per week. Transportation for this campaign is
provided by HACO. Assessments in the communities show that the outbreak is
clearly linked to ineffective sewage systems, non-functioning pipelines,
poor drainage and overflowing latrines.
The Transport and Communication Sub-committee reports that a fourth
ambulance, contributed by WHO was now on duty and that the Health-Net
radio Communication facility is operational. Permission is awaited from
ECOMOG for making the ambulance service available round the clock.
The Health Information System Sub-committee reported 1,060 cases of
cholera (excluding diarrhoea) in the five referral centres for the period
1-19 August. The highest numbers of cases were reported from: Bushord
Island, New Kru Town, Logan Town, central Monrovia, Kingsville and
Garnersville. The prevalence of cases from these areas is suspected to be
due to the influx of feces into the water system due to the heavy rains.
The mortality rate during the reporting period was zero.
UNICEF reported that a recent assessment mission to Buchanan revealed an
increased caseload of severe diarrhoea patients (suspected cholera) at the
Buchanan Hospital. 74 cases were reported with 7 resulting in death. Local
NGO, MERCI, is supplying ORT as well as sanitation and health education in
Buchanan, while MSF is supplying IV fluids. UNICEF suggested that an
information campaign similar to the one being conducted presently in
Monrovia would be of benefit in Buchanan. The CCC was asked to come up
with a workable campaign strategy by next week.
MSF reported that the JFK feeding centre commenced operation on 17 August.
UNICEF reports that four Expanded Programmes of Immunisation (EPI) mobile
teams visited 14 shelters around Monrovia and immunised 2,000 children and
2,138 women of child bearing age. Materials for 100 delivery kits have
been procured by UNICEF and delivered to the National Drug Service (NDS)
for storage while awaiting distribution to trained TBAs in various
communities and shelters.
UNICEF provided 1,500 gallons of fuel and 200 gallons of kerosene to the
NDS for the month of August. The fuel and kerosene will be used at both
NDS and various health clinics respectively for the maintenance of the
cold chain at JFK Medical Centre. UNICEF provided 50 gallons of gasoline
to MERCI as assistance for the distribution of vaccines to the MERCI
supervised clinics.
UNICEF provided logistics, technical assistance, vaccines, drugs and
medical supplies to the mobile vaccination and medical teams rendering EPI
and curative services to the displaced population of Suehn and Fefeh
towns. A total of 239 women and 219 children benefited from the
interventions.
PUBLIC AFFAIRS
HACO facilitated the activities of a photojournalist from the German photo
agency, Signum, in efforts to document the various shelters at IDP centres
around Monrovia. The photojournalist was accompanied to the Falconer, SKD
and the Ministry of Health building IDP centres. The photos will be used
in a German photo exhibition highlighting the plight of IDPs around the
world.
Various newspapers in Monrovia published articles this week from The
Liberian Humanitarian Community Newsletter and the activity highlights
release, including articles on Child rights, the orphanage situation,
cholera preventive measures and WFP food distributions.
HACO assisted in the drafting of a statement and in arranging a meeting
between the Editor of The National and the ACF Coordinator, following an
article which appeared in The National concerning ACFs Gbarnga court case
- the article should appear in the next few days. The National also
carried an article on comments made by the SRSG in Abuja calling for
respect of the Convention of the Rights of Child and for the freedom of
movement and safety of humanitarian relief personnel.
The fifth Humanitarian Community Newsletter was published and widely
distributed. This issue featured articles on: the UNDP Human Development
Report, advocating the importance of education for a country like Liberia,
which ranks 158 out of 174 nations on the Human Development index, a
review of the Principles of Humanitarian Assistance Operations, a profile
of UNICEF, lyrics to a song of humanitarianism, peace and reconciliation
by Bob Marley, a profile on national NGO NACORP, and, an 8 August report
from Reuters on the concern of UN Security council members over the arming
and drugging of child soldiers in Liberia.
HACO briefed a journalist from Le Monde on the humanitarian situation in
Liberia and facilitated interviews for him with WFP and WHO
representatives.
HACO facilitated the press release distribution on behalf of JFK Medical
Centre who expressed their gratitude to UNOPS-UNDP for restoring
electrical power - ensuring 21 hours of electricity daily to the Medical
Centre. National press releases were also distributed on Operation Protect
Relief items.
The Liberian Humanitarian Community Radio Report was produced and
broadcast twice daily on national radio ELBC, featuring 5, five-minute
reports on Cholera Committee updates and cholera prevention, Humanitarian
Community activity highlights, Operation Protect Relief Items,
Humanitarian Assistance Operation Principles, and a repeat of the Cholera
Prevention Report. The Liberian Humanitarian Community Radio Report is
broadcast on ELBC on both shortwave and FM, thereby reaching listeners
across the country and in the sub-region.
Weekly Humanitarian Community activity highlights were issued for print
and radio media and weekly reports provided to UN Radio.
WATER AND SANITATION
ICRC has started the third round of well chlorination at five shelters in
the Po River area and Caldwell with the chlorination of 100 wells. UNICEF,
in collaboration with the Ministry of Rural Development, Ministry of
Lands, Mines and Energy and community groups, chlorinated a total of 1,271
open walls in Monrovia and its environs from 6 to 15 August 1996.
A consignment of water treatment chemicals, adequate for 6 to 7 months,
was delivered to LWSC by the EU for use at White Plains Water plant. About
2.4 million gallons of water is being delivered to Bushrod Island,10 hours
each day except Sundays. The LWSC now has the capacity to deliver water to
the general public at USD 1.00 - USD 1.25 per gallon.
The Liberian National Red Cross (LNRC) trained 15 community volunteers in
Logan Town area in community sanitation. National NGO, Humanitarian
Emergency Relief Builders (HERB) has mobilised and supervised IDPs at MVTC
to dig garbage disposal pits and to spray shelter latrines.
SCF-UK, in collaboration with the Monrovia City Corporation, collected and
disposed 110 cubic yards of garbage per day utilising 22 skips and two
skip trucks positioned at various locations around Monrovia. Utilising two
18 cubic yards dump trucks, 945 cubic yards of solid waste were removed
from Capitol By-pass and other parts of Monrovia. One D6 was used to
improve the dump site in Gardnersville.
National NGO, Community Organisation and Human Development Agency (COHDA),
held a two-day workshop on chlorination, environmental sanitation,
diarrhoea prevention and first level management at Jah Tondo shelter for
shelter animators, shelter school teachers, teenage mothers and students.
COHDA disseminated information on hygiene-health education at the Seigbeh
IDP shelter between 10-13 August 1996.
CHILDREN AND EDUCATION
UNICEF reports that trauma counselling continues at various displaced
shelters in and around Monrovia. Assessments of unaccompanied, abandoned
and traumatised children, group counselling, play therapy, as well as arts
and dance activities are carried out by 30 counsellors.
Twenty one new orphanages have come into existence since 6 April, and
initial assessment reports indicate that their conditions are
sub-standard. The Board of Accreditation of Welfare institutions (BAWI),
responsible for accrediting and monitoring orphanages, held its first
meeting on 13 August at the Ministry of Health. At this meeting it was
agreed that BAWI should resume its activities to monitor, assess, and
accredit institutions once they have met the Boards criteria. A workshop
on how to work with children in welfare institutions and on the UN
Convention on the Rights of the Child is being planned for personnel of
these orphanages.
An eight day, in-service teachers training workshop was conducted during
the reporting period in Harbel. The workshop focused on preparing teachers
for the resumption of educational activities and was organised by the
Ministry of Education in anticipation of the reopening of schools. There
are plans for similar workshops to take place in other parts of the
country.
DEMOBILISATION
The HACO demobilisation unit continued its contacts with all anticipated
payers in the disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration (DDR) process.
On 16 August, a meeting was held with the Acting Minister of Planning and
the senior staff of the Ministry. The Ministry of Planning is the
governments central organisation for the DDR process for the government.
She indicated the governments readiness to reactivate their efforts in
accordance with the Abuja peace process.
In view of the implementation time schedule for the Liberian Peace
Process, determined by the Abuja Agreement, the HACO demobilisation unit
met with the UNOMIL Administration to review preparations for the DDR
process, to begin on 22 November. Manpower is the main outstanding issue
in the process. Therefore, the recruitment of 13 core international staff
and 160 national staff is planned for the commencement of the DDR process.
Various members of the DDR task force are individually reviewing the DDR
and reintegration plans which were agreed upon prior to 6 April, with the
purpose of reformulating the process so that it conforms to both the new
Liberian Peace Process and the current situation on the ground.
UNICEF, which leads the DDR process for child soldiers, has reactivated
the task force committee on child soldiers. In a meeting held on 21
August, the committee agreed to re-examine previously agreed-upon child
soldier issues and developed plans, in order to reformulate strategies to
conform with the Peace Process and the current situation on the ground.
SECURITY SITUATION
At the recent Abuja meeting, a ceasefire was declared, in principle,
throughout Liberia as of 20 August. On 21 August, a security verification
mission composed of UNOMIL, UNDP and WHO representatives, departed
Monrovia for Tubmanburg to assess the security situation along the
Monrovia-Tubmanburg road. At the second ULIMO-J check point, near Fooley
Town, however, the mission was asked to turn back by ULIMO-J fighters due
to fighting in the area. As a result, the humanitarian community still
awaits verification of a ceasefire prior to conducting an assessment
mission followed by the delivery of humanitarian relief supplies.
Presently, the following main highways are considered secure and clear for
humanitarian travel, Monrovia-Suehn-Voinjama-Vahun, Monrovia-Gb
arnga-Zorzor-Voinjama, Monrovia-Buchanan: Buchanan-Cestos City,
Buchanan-LAC, Monrovia-Gbarnga-Lofa, Monrovia-Kakata-Bong Mines, and
Monrovia-Yekepa. Highways that are presently not accessible include,
Monrovia-Kle-Robertsport-Bo, Ganta-Tapeta-Zwedru-Greenville,
Zwedru-Harper, and Monrovia-Tubmanburg.
On 19 August, the ECOMOG GHANBATT Intelligence Officer gave the mission to
Buchanan a briefing on the security situation in Greenville, Sinoe County.
He reported that NPFL had attacked LPC in Greenville on or about 15 August
and that fighting had continued on and off for four days. Some wounded
were brought by canoe up the coast from Greenville to Buchanan and one was
in the hospital. He reported that most of Sinoe is held by NPFL. He
refuted LPC claims that both Greenville and Zwedru were under LPC control
stating that Zwedru had fallen to NPFL in May.
ACF brought a letter they had received from the NPFL Navy and Marine
Commanders to the humanitarian communitys Program Compliance and
Violations Committee (PCVC). The letter, on behalf of Charles Taylor,
directed all NGOs and companies with HF radios to register their equipment
and to place NPFL radio operators on their payroll to operate each radio.
This included all vehicle-mounted radios and the letter stated that NPFL
operator would accompany all field mission in order to monitor their
communications. Based on the urgency of the issue. HACO faxed the letter
to the Humanitarian Coordinator in Abuja, who immediately raised the issue
with Charles Taylor and the Executive Director of the National Disarmament
and Demobilisation Commission, regarding this blatant violation of the
Principles and Protocols for Humanitarian Operations. Taylor stated that
this was merely a case of local commanders acting on their own and
immediately instructed his commanders on the ground to revoke this order.
NGOs in Buchanan have since reported that no further action has been taken
on the issue by local NPFL commanders.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mr. Tesema Negash
UN Humanitarian Coordinator - Monrovia
Tel.: (231) 224 603
Fax: (874) 150 57 46 (sat.)
Complex Emergencies Division (CED) - New York
Mr. Peter Due
Tel.: (1 212) 963.1731
Fax: (1 212) 963.1388
E-Mail: dhagva@dha.unicc.org
Inter-Agency Support Branch (IASB) - Geneva
Ms. Deborah Saidy-Mr. Chris Kaye
Tel.: (41 22) 788.6384-788.6385
Fax: (41 22) 788. 6386
E-Mail: Deborah.Saidy@dha.unicc.org
Press to contact (DHA-Geneva)
Ms. Madeleine Moulin-Acevedo
Tel.: (41 22) 917.2856
Fax: (41 22) 917.0023
Telex: 414242 DHA CH
E-Mail: dhagva@dha.unicc.org
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