Action by Churches Together (ACT)
Appeal - Liberia
Assistance to IDPs and Returnees - AFLR11
Appeal Target: US$ 297,628
Geneva,  March 30, 2001


The fighting in Liberia's Kolahun District in Lofa between the Liberian
Government troops and the rebels have caused great suffering to tens of
thousands of people and responsible for the destruction of infrastructures
including private homes, public buildings, schools, hospitals and clinics.
The belligerents in the war have destroyed and looted homes and
responsible for a number of people who have been killed. In addition to
the 20,000 people who were displaced in the October, 2000 fighting another
over 5,000 people have been displaced in the latest fighting this
February, and have taken refugee in the districts of Kongba, Gbarma and
Tubmanburg city in Bomi county.

Lutheran World Federation / World Service (LWF/WS) proposes to assist IDPs
in Lofa and Bomi Counties, affected by the current hostilities especially
in the district of Salayea. Special attention will be given to the
internally displaced numbering 25,000.

The assistance will include:

  Food distribution
  Non Food Items (mainly blankets, and clothes)
  Health (Support to Clinics)
  Water & Sanitation
  Seeds and Tools

Project Completion Date: 15 September, 2001

Summary of Appeal Target, Pledges/Contributions Received and Balance
Requested (US$)

                                             US$
Total Appeal Target:                     297,628
Anticipated Income:                            0
Balance requested to ACT Network         297,628



Ms. Genevieve Jacques		Thor-Arne Prois		Rev. Rudolf Hinz
Director			ACT Coordinator		Director
WCC/Cluster on Relations				LWF/World Service



 
REQUESTING ACT MEMBER

Lutheran World Federation/World Service (LWF/WS) - Liberia Programme



IMPLEMENTING ACT MEMBER

The LWF/DWS Liberia Program began emergency assistance for victims of the
Liberian Civil War in September 1990. Intervening initially in Sierra
Leone, LWF/DWS emergency operations were moved to Liberia in early 1991
and has since then, been expanded to cover 8 of Liberia's 14 Counties
during the last 10 years. During this period more than 600,000 persons
were assisted under different emergency interventions that included a
large-scale general food and non-food distribution, emergency school
feeding, the construction and management of shelters for internally
displaced people and Sierra Leonean refugees.

LWF/DWS continues to act as a major implementing partner of ACT,
networking with other ACT partners in Liberia. In July 1999, a
consolidated Appeal was launched for Liberia, involving other partners.
The LWF/DWS section of this appeal originally intended to end in June,
2000, was extended to October, 2000. The appeal has officially ended and
final reports submitted to the donors.


 
DESCRIPTION OF THE EMERGENCY SITUATION

The Liberian county of Lofa bordering Guinea and Sierra Leone has been
besieged by insurgence fighting since early 1999. There have been several
raids by insurgents allegedly based in Guinea. The upper portion of Lofa
County (5 districts) have all been destabilized and plunged into
instability. These attacks affecting the districts of Foya, Kolahun,
Voinjama and Zorzor have left a trail of destruction of towns and villages
and led to disruption of the farming system resulting into loss of
harvest, disruption of basic social services including health, education,
and access to clean water.

As result of the fighting between insurgents and government troops the
entire population of the area, estimated to be 150,000 have had their
lives severely disrupted. Most of them have had to abandon their farms and
flee into remote villages for safety.


Current situation

In February 2001, the latest fighting erupted in Kolahun District in Lofa,
close to the Sierra Leonean border. This fighting has produced a new wave
of internally displaced persons (IDPs). In addition to the 20,000 IDPs who
moved to Salayea District following the October, 2000 fighting, an
estimated 5,000 have moved further west and taken refuge in the districts
of Kongba, Gbarma and Tubmanburg city in Bomi County. Major towns have
been abandoned, with systematic looting going on. Houses are being burned
and death toll still unknown.

Fighting continues in the area, between insurgents reportedly based in and
supported by Guinea and the Liberian government troops. The Guinean
authorities on the other hand have accused the Liberian government of
supporting Guinean dissidents who are fighting inside Guinea. There has
recently been reported attacks on Liberian border towns by Guinean gun
ships.



The situation in the area bordering Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea
remains tense and very volatile. The fear of full scale war between
Liberia and Guinea is not far fetched.

An estimated 100,000 Liberian refugees are trapped in Guinea where
fighting is raging between rebels and Guinean government troops. Liberian
refugees are particularly vulnerable given that the local people are
accusing Liberia of fueling their civil conflict. By implication, refugees
are presumed to be rebels. UNHCR has lost contact with most of these
Liberian refugees and some of their Sierra Leone counterparts.



Impact on human lives

The civilian casualties from recent cross border fighting remain unknown
to date.

As mentioned above, an estimated 150,000 persons are on the run for their
lives, most of them having abandoned the major towns and took refuge in
remote villages, running from the fighting forces. The death toll will be
known only after the cessation of hostilities and relief agencies have
full access to the area. Homes of civilians fleeing the fighting have been
completely looted; while some homes have been burned. The situation forced
humanitarian agencies working in the area to either scale down their
activities, while others have pulled out completely. An estimated 25,000
are in need of urgent attention and basic services: food, non food items,
water, sanitation, and health services. Life for these displaced people is
extremely difficult, having lost properties and their farm crops.

Schools are closed in the area. Once again the education of hundreds of
thousands of Liberian children from this area, who had earlier lost a
decade of schooling during the civil crisis, are again out of school.
There is no functioning health facility in the area, so people are dying
of common illnesses that could be treated.



Description of damages

The war in Liberia destroyed nearly all infrastructures including private
homes, public buildings, schools, hospitals and clinics. Opposing forces
indiscriminately burned down buildings. There is a lost of harvest, tools,
seeds and other properties including household utensils. Fighters
massively looted these items.

In the part of the country (upper part of Lofa County) with the current
fighting, whatever little infrastructure was left up to the end of the
Liberian civil crisis (1997), has now been destroyed. The full scale of
the destruction will only be known once LWF/DWS and other agencies are
able to access the entire area and do a full scale assessment of the
damages that are still up to now being done.

Example of the damages is the destruction of Curran Hospital, a Lutheran
Church run hospital in Zorzor, which up to October, 2000 served thousands
of residents and displaced in the area. Furniture, hospital equipment,
drugs, doors belonging to this health center were all looted. The Curran
Hospital was among institutions renovated with contributions from donors
including those of ACT. A mobile clinic has instead been established which
caters to the health needs of the internally displaced and residents of
Salayea, Zorzor and Belle Districts. This is one of the activities LWF/DWS
propose to assist under the current appeal.


 
Location for proposed response

LWF/DWS proposes to assist IDPs in Lofa County, affected by the current
hostilities in the area: specifically, the districts of Salayea.

Special attention will be given to the internally displaced persons,
numbering about 25,000 (20,000 in Salayea District in Upper Lofa and 5,000
in the districts of Kongba, Gbarma in Lofa County and in Tubmanburg, Bomi
County). There is an estimated IDP population of 5,000 persons who have
trekked through the forests and ended up in the lower part of Lofa County
and in Bomi County, while there is a displaced population of 20,000 in
Salayea District.

The project will therefore take place in the following districts and
counties of Liberia, where the IDPs are currently residing. In Lofa
County, the project will take place in Salayea, Kongba, Gbarma, still
relative safe; in Bomi County, Tubmaburg. All of these areas fall within
the current operational areas of LWF/DWS of Liberia.



GOAL & OBJECTIVES

Goal: Assist internally displaced persons fleeing fighting in Lofa County.

Objective: Provide emergency assistance to 25,000 internally displaced
persons fleeing fighting in Lofa and are now displaced in Lofa and Bomi
Counties, over a period of six months (March 15, * September 15, 2001).



TARGETED BENEFICIARIES

This project will target to 25,000 internally displaced persons mainly
women and children as well as older people. These people are displaced in
the districts of Salayea, Kongba and Gbarma in Lofa, and Tubmanburg in
Bomi County.

Below is a breakdown of displaced people and their present locations:
No.
COUNTY
DISTRICT
Towns
Population IDPS

1.
Lofa
Salayea
Kpaiyea
  3,000

2.
"
"
Gbanway
  2,500

3.
"
"
Yarpuah
  3,000

4.
"
"
Telemai
  1,500

5.
"
"
Salayea
  3,500

6.
"
"
Telemu
  1,000

7.
"
"
Gorlue
  3,000

8.
"
"
Ganglota
  2,000

9.
"
Kongba
Tabay
  1,100 

10.
"
"
Kumgbo
      300

12.
"
Gbarma
Gbarma Town
      500

11.
Bomi
Klay
Tubmanburg
      700

12.
Lofa-Bomi
Kongba, Gbarma
Various
   2,900*

Total



   25,000

* Exact location to be verified after registration.




PROPOSED EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE & IMPLEMENTATION

In collaboration with local implementing partners and with the active
participation of key community and institutional leaders, this appeal
plans the following specific activities: food and non-food distribution,
water and sanitation improvements, support to a mobile clinic.

LWF/DWS implementing this appeal will supplement some of the assistance to
be received under this Appeal.

These will include all food commodities to be solicited from the World
Food Program and a consignment of non-food items donated by Lutheran World
Relief. Other items will be locally procured, depending on funding
availability.

The following activities are proposed for implementation for the period
March 2001 to September 2001



Project Implementation

A project management team will be established which will have sole
responsibility for supervision of all activities under this Appeal. This
team will closely coordinate its activities with the Program Coordination
Unit for proper implementation of activities proposed in this Appeal.



Assessment of IDPs

During the implementation period of this Appeal, four (4) inter-agency
assessments will be made to follow up conditions of the displaced and to
monitor the security situation with the intent of gaining access to areas
from which the displaced come. The assessment will also help to determine
when it is feasible for the eventual return of the IDPs. These assessments
will take place once every two months during the span of this Appeal.



Targeted Food Distribution

A total of 25,000 persons are targeted under this activity to benefit from
food distribution. They include mostly women, children and the elderly.



Non-Food Item Distribution

Donated non-food items will also be distributed to the newly displaced,
numbering about 25,000 IDPs.  The non food-items will include used
clothes, quilts or blankets and layettes for babies.

As farmers had to flee their farms without harvesting them, thus leaving
behind all tools and other vegetable seeds LWF/DWS plans to purchase
assorted tools and seeds and distribute to the displaced population. This
will enable the IDPs to cultivate short duration crops (rice, vegetables,
roots and tuber crops) that will supplement relief supplies. This is
necessary because it is not clearly established for how long the IDPs will
be away from their original homes. Each family will be supplied 100 grams
of vegetable and a tool kit comprising 2 cutlasses, 2 hoes, two shovels, 1
rake and 1 watering can. 25 kg of seeds rice and 20 bundles of cassava
cuttings. The displaced will be encouraged to form groups and these groups
will receive rice seeds for lowland farming. Vulnerable farm families
among the host communities (e. g. women heads of households) will also
benefit from this distribution. About 5,000 family heads are expected to
be served in the effected areas.



Emergency Repairs of Basic Infrastructure

In order to ensure that the IDPs are provided water and sanitation
facilities, this project will augment the existing facilities in the
communities hosting the displaced. A total of 10 wells will be constructed
and 10 wells will be repaired. Also 40 latrines will be constructed in the
same locations.



Support to Curran Lutheran Hospital Mobile Clinic

The Curran Lutheran Hospital (now closed as a result of vandalism in
October, 2000 when its facilities were totally destroyed and looted) now
runs a Mobile clinic in Salayea District. This mobile clinic caters to the
IDPs. This project plans to support this clinic with running costs for the
vehicles, staff incentive for the staff and drugs. This mobile clinic is
the only access to a health facility in Salayea Distrct, hosting majority
of the IDPs. The clinic transfers critical cases to the Phebe Hospital, in
the neighboring county of Bong in central Liberia, some 45 kilometers from
Salayea.




TRANSITION FROM EMERGENCY

Several factors have been built into this Appeal that will help to begin a
transition from emergency assistance provided to the displaced. The
provision of seeds and tools to the displaced to resume agricultural
activities during their displacement, will help them learn improved and
sustainable farming practices. The knowledge and experience gained will be
transferred to the original homes upon their return.

During the implementation of this Appeal assessment will be carried to
assist in the eventual resettlement of the beneficiaries to their original
homes when security is restored. Areas of focus will be the restoration of
basic infrastructures including schools, clinic, water and sanitation
facilities, homes, the sensitization and mobilization of the displaced and
the training of community based animators who will work with the displaced
upon their eventual return to their original communities. By working
through local NGOs and community based organizations (CBOs) where they
exist and encouraging the organization of groups where they do not exist
will help to make the transition possible.

As part of plans for the transition assistance to develop infrastructure
will be with the full participation of beneficiaries and that they will
continue to take a leading role in the operations and maintenance of the
facilities.



Support of LWF/DWS Offices & Mechanical Workshop

In order to effectively implement activities in this appeal,
administrative and logistical backstopping will be required in two
sub-offices located in regions where project activities will be
implemented, with Monrovia providing the overall administrative and
logistical backstopping.

The main mechanical workshop located in Monrovia needs to be strengthened,
from where field vehicles used for project implementation will undergo all
major maintenance and repairs. This workshop will require support mainly
in terms of salaries for support staff, office running cost and the
repairs and running cost of support vehicles.

The LWF/DWS office formerly based in Zorzor had to be closed down last
October when fighting reached Zorzor and is now temporarily based at the
Phebe compound in Bong County. This unit will be strengthened to implement
the project in Salayea District, where the 20,000 IDPs are presently
located. Overnight accommodation and shorter visits will be made at the
Lutheran Training Institute compound, but the main activities of
assistance to the displaced in this part of the country will be
coordinated from Phebe. This office will need support in terms of
transportation, fuel, warehousing, administrative and logistical staff and
their support for the distribution and other activities planned in this
appeal.

The other logistical support base will be in Tubmanburg, Bomi County. This
base will provide easy access to the estimated 5000 IDPs who recently
moved in that direction, following the outbreak of the February, 2001 in
Lofa. Tubmanburg itself is to date hosting 700 IDPs. This number could
increase if the fighting continues. This base office in Tubmanburg will
need support in terms of fuel depot, warehousing, stationery, staff
offices and accommodation, since there is no base in the districts of
Gbarma, Kongba where the rest of the 5000 displaced are settled.




ADMINISTRATION, FINANCE, MONITORING AND REPORTING
		
Project Administration

LWF Liberia program has it main office in Monrovia where the Resident
Representative, Administrative and Finance Section and the Program
Coordination unit are based. This office takes care of procurement of all
items, clearance of goods and transport to the other sub offices,
accounting and clearance of reports through the Program and Finance Office
before submission to donors.



Project Finance Management and Controls

LWF's financial systems and controls are based on procedures that are
consistent with internationally accepted principles. Narrative and
financial reports will be sent to ACT office in Geneva as per the schedule
and the Appeal's financial report will be subjected to both internal and
external audit and the result submitted to ACT.



Project Monitoring procedures

The monitoring and evaluation of activities carried out by LWF/DWS under
this appeal will be the responsibility of LWF Program Coordination Unit,
based in Monrovia. Monitoring and evaluation will be done through regular
field visits and results will be incorporated in the narrative reports
that are submitted as per the donor's request.




IMPLEMENTATION TIME TABLE

Proposed Duration: March 15, 2001 - September 15, 2001.

The general schedule for implementation of activities proposed in this
Appeal is as follows:




Schedule of Activity * March 15 to  September 15, 2001


Months
15 Mar
April
May
June
July
Aug
Sept 15










Assessment
X







Establish 2 logistical bases
X







Registration/verification of beneficiaries 
X
X






Procurement, transport of commodities to EDPs (= extended delivery points)

X






Implementation

X
X
X
X
X
X

Monitoring


X


X
X

Reporting to ACT/donors






X

Close-up






X





BUDGET

Description	Type of 	 No of Units 	Cost of Unit	 Budget 
		Unit			 USD 
					
DIRECT ASSISTANCE					
WATER AND SANITATION		   	 	   
Material & construction of hand pumps	Units	                 10 	           2,500 	      25,000 
Material & repair of hand pumps	Units	                 10 	             100 	       1,000 
Material & labor construct. Instit. latrines	Units	                   5 	           2,000 	      10,000 
	Sub total				      36,000 
					
HEALTH AND MEDICAL INPUTS	 	   	   	   
Stethoscopes	pcs	                 20 	            5.00 	          100 
Syringes (100 pcs/pk)	pk	                 50 	            4.00 	          200 
Needles (100 pcs/pk)	pk	                150 	            2.00 	          300 
Cotton wool	gram	                 20 	            1.90 	            38 
Adhesive tape	pcs	                250 	            7.33 	       1,833 
Suture abs caught chro 2/0 w/n	box	                 50 	           11.31 	          566 
Suture abs syn braided 3/0 wnd	box	                 50 	           27.78 	       1,389 
Suture abs syn braide 4/0 w/nd	box	                 50 	           33.59 	       1,680 
Umbilical cord	pcs	                 60 	            3.60 	          216 
Scales	pcs	                   3 	           50.00 	          150 
Urine bags	pcs	                200 	            0.28 	            56 
Bandages	Packs	                100 	            1.40 	          140 
Themometer metal celesius	pcs	                 60 	            0.44 	            26 
Patient recording forms	pcs	             2,500 	            1.25 	       3,125 
	Sub Total				       9,818 
					
Agricultural Inputs				
Seeds and Tools	farmers	             4,000 	               10 	      40,000 
			   	 	
Road Construction/Rehabilitation				
Equipment to repair roads/bridges	Set	                   1 	6000	   6,000 
					
	Total Direct Assistance				      91,818 
					
MATERIAL TRANSPORT, STORAGE & HANDLING				
Material Transport				
Truck rental and maintenance	Month	                   4 	           9,000 	      36,000 
2 Pick ups - rental	Month	                   6 	           3,000 	      18,000 
Storage, Warehousing, Handling			 	   
- Warehouse Rental (2 warehouses)	Month	                   6 	300	       1,800 
- Labour for Loading & Unloading	Month	                   6 	75	          450 
- Other Costs (Clearing/Storage & Wareh.)	Month	                   6 	1000	         6,000 
					
	Total Material Transport, Storage & handling			      62,250 
					
CAPITAL EQUIPMENT					
Computer and peripheral	Set	                   1 	           3,500 	       3,500 
					
PERSONNEL, ADMINISTRATION, OPERATIONS & SUPPORT			
Staff Salaries and Benefits				
Project staff salaries (46 staff x $ 240/m)	Month	                   6 	         11,050 	      66,300 

Description	Type of 	 No of Units 	Cost of Unit	 Budget 
		Unit			 USD 
					
Travel				
Local travel 	month	                   6 	300	       1,800 
Program monitoring	Trips	                   2 	500	       1,000 
Assessment mission IDPS 	Trips	                   4 	500	       2,000 
Office operations				
Office rental 	Month	                   6 	300	       1,800 
Repair and maintenance office equipment	month	                   6 	500	       3,000 
Office stationery & supplies	month	                   6 	1450	       8,700 
Sat phone/fax/e-mail	Month	                   6 	300	       1,800 
Vehicle Operations				
Fuel 15/gal/truck 2 trucks 24days/6 months	Gallons	             4,320 	            3.50 	      15,120 
Fuel@5gal/days x2x24x6months	Gallons	             1,440 		       5,040 
Fuel Jeep 5gal/dayx24 dayx6months	Gallons	                720 		       2,520 
Fuel 3 motorbikes@5Gal/week/6months	Gallons	                360 		       1,260 
Maintenance and insurance m.bikes + Jeep	Month	                   6 	           1,050 	       6,300 
Fuel 3 generators@1020gal/month 6 mths	Gallons	             6,120 		      21,420 
				
	Total Personnel, Admin etc				    138,060 
					
AUDIT & EVALUATION		 	   	 
Audit of Act Appeal Funds	Lump sum			       2,000 
					
TOTAL EXPENDITURE - ACT/LWF PROGRAMME			   297,628 



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Action by Churches Together (ACT) is a worldwide alliance of churches and
their related agencies, meeting human need through co-ordinated emergency
response.  The ACT Coordinating Office is based with the World Council of 
Churches (WCC) and the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in Switzerland.
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   1211 Geneva 2                              Telex: 415 730 OIK CH
   Switzerland                                 http://www.act-intl.org


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