Liberia - ACT: 20-Jun-02

Action by Churches Together (ACT) Appeal - Liberia Emergency Relief - AFLR-21 Appeal (Revision 2) Appeal Target: US$ 871,597 Balance Requested from ACT Network: US$ 565,190 Geneva, 20 June 2002

The present renewed fighting in north west Liberia is a result of dissident attacks led by a group calling itself the "Liberia United for Reconciliation and Development" (LURD), which seeks to remove the current government by force of arms. This is causing further suffering for the people of Liberia and has brought most of the rehabilitation activities undertaken under the AFLR 21 Appeal to a standstill. Consequently, ACT members in Liberia have (in consultation with the ACT CO) revised their appeal projects to be able to respond to the new and pressing emergency needs. In recent weeks, as fighting has crept close to Monrovia, relief workers have registered about 400 persons crossing the Po River daily by canoe into Brewerville. Thousands of residents fleeing the fighting in Gbah Tubmanburg, Suehn-Mecca District, and Lofa Bridge are moving west towards Sinje and south towards Monrovia, where they have sought refuge nearer Montserrado. Furthermore, in central Liberia, the situation has changed dramatically. With the attack on Gbarnga, thousands of IDPs fled from the area and are presently sheltered along the Monrovia Gbarnga highway, especially in the Totota areas - about 70 miles from Monrovia. The majority of the IDPs are women and children. Hundreds of young women, with babies on their backs and head loads, were seen trekking along the highway from Gbangar towards Totota. The small children, many under the age of five that could walk, were forced to fend for themselves on this arduous journey. According to OCHA & UNICEF, there are more than 141,000 IDPs in Liberia currently needing emergency life-saving assistance. As the former appeal was greatly under funded, it was further agreed to stay, as close as possible to the original financial targets. Whenever possible, some of the rehabilitation related activities will be continued. ACT members, the Lutheran World Federation, Department of World Service (LWF/DWS) and the Liberian Council of Churches through the Concerned Christian Community (CCC) are proposing a programme with the following components: Temporary accommodation Non-food items Provision of potable water Food supplements - high protein biscuits Sanitation - latrines Basic health care - incl. AIDs awareness Craft training Counselling Project Completion Date: 31 December 2002 Summary of Appeal Targets, Pledges/Contributions Received and Balance Requested Appeal Targets Less: Pledges/ Balance Requested Contr. Recd from ACT Network LWF/DWS 685,551 256,433 429,118 CCC 186,046 49,974 136,072 Total Budget US$ 871,597 306,407 565,190 Thor-Arne Prois Director, ACT DESCRIPTION of the EMERGENCY SITUATION As a result of the renewed fighting, thousands of people have again been displaced from northern and western Liberia. Most of these people have moved to the western suburbs of Monrovia, the capital of Liberia. Four camps already constructed in this area over the past three months account for more than 72,000 (seventy-two thousands) internally displaced and refugees. In recent weeks, as fighting has crept close to Monrovia, relief workers have registered about 400 persons crossing the Po River daily by canoe into Brewerville. Thousands of residents fleeing the fighting in Gbah Tubmanburg, Suehn-Mecca District, and Lofa Bridge are moving west towards Sinje and south towards Monrovia, where they have sought refuge nearer Montserrado. It was reported that there is a worsening of the humanitarian situation as those fleeing the fighting were without belongings and food and have strained the already inadequate facilities. Furthermore, in central Liberia, the situation has changed dramatically. With the attacked on Gbarnga, thousands of IDPs fled from the area and are presently sheltered along the Monrovia Gbarnga highway, especially in the Totota areas - about 70 miles from Monrovia. The majority of the IDPs are women and children. Hundreds of young women, with babies on their backs and head loads, were seen trekking along the highway from Gbangar towards Totota. The small children, many under the age of five that could walk, were forced to fend for themselves on this arduous journey. According to OCHA & UNICEF, there are more than 141,000 IDPs in Liberia currently needing emergency life-saving assistance. The present renewed fighting in north west Liberia is a result of dissidents attacks led by a group calling itself the "Liberia United for Reconciliation and Development" (LURD), which seeks to remove the current government by force of arms. Impact on Human Lives The crisis has caused the movement of over 127,000 persons made up of approximately more than 25,000 families. The gender distribution of this number is 30% women, 45% children and 25% men (mainly elderly). For many it is not the first time they have been displaced - over the years many have been forced to move several times in order to escape the fighting. Presently, all life-support assistance is grossly inadequate. Food is not of the "local basket" and insufficient. Shelter, in most cases, is 5 ft by 8 ft and houses an average family of 5 persons (husband, wife and children); water, sanitation and medical care are also either lacking totally or clearly inadequate. Disaster and Emergency Statistics Reliable statistics concerning IDPs and refugees on the move are difficult to obtain, but it has recently been estimated that about 127,000 are presently sheltering in the Brewerville areas and about 40,000 in central Liberia. Current Security Situation Fighting has recently come as close as 10 miles to the nearest IDP shelter in Brewerville, in Arthington (President Taylor's home village). Also the whole Tubmanburg area (between 25 and 45 miles from Monrovia) has been very volatile with fighting reported in many areas - resulting in the recent mass movement of people into the suburbs of Monrovia. Locations for Proposed Response As of June 4, each of the new Brewerville Camps around Monrovia (still under construction) have begun receiving hundreds of newly displaced coming from Gbangar. The children's school, funded by UNICEF, is being used to house newly arrived persons from the Arthington attack on 17 May. The Liberian Government has designated a new camp site to house the latest influx of displaced people. They have also asked ACT member LWF/DWS to extend the present camp of Jahtondo to accommodate another 1,000 - 1,500 families (about 5,000 persons). LWF/DWS will be assisting IDPs on the move fleeing Lofa, Gbopolu, Bomi, Cape Mount, Margibi and Bong Counties. These now reside in a variety of locations throughout the central part of Liberia. ACT member the Concerned Christian Community (CCC) has erected two transit tents for a group of new arrivals in the Seigbeh Community - Brewerville in response to a request from the UN-OCHA/LRRRC. This camp will accommodate about 1,500 or more vulnerable new arrivals from western Liberia. CCC has laid out the camp but requires funds to construct the camp and continue assistance to her target groups - sexually abused women and children along with other vulnerable persons. CCC will work with the Internally Displaced Persons in Seigbeh and Jah Tondo Towns with mobile services to Blamasee and Wilson Towns, all in the Brewerville area - the front-line community to western Liberia. CCC and LRRRC have already registered about 15,000 new arrivals for the new camp to be constructed in Seigbeh Town. CCC has also constructed a small 4-room field office and counselling/training (small skills) tent in Jah Tondo Town IDP center (where LWF is the lead NGO). CCC is also targeting IDPs who have fled Belefani, TV Tower, CARI 1 AND 2 in central Liberia in Bong County to Totota and surroundings, where about 40,000 displaced persons are sheltering. Other NGOs are in the targeted locations are providing food/clothes, water and sanitation services, along with medical services, although these services are overwhelmed and clearly inadequate for the enormous needs of the ever growing IDP population. REQUESTING ACT MEMBER INFORMATION Lutheran World Federation/Department of World Service (LWF/DWS) Liberia Program IMPLEMENTING ACT MEMBER & PARTNER INFORMATION The LWF/DWS Liberia Program started emergency assistance for the victims of the Liberian civil war in 1990. Over the last 10 years, LWF/DWS has carried out emergency assistance in 8 of Liberia's 14 counties. LWF/DWS works in close collaboration with the Lutheran Church in Liberia (LCL). The Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) with representation from LWF/DWS and LCL, guides the overall LWF/DWS program in Liberia, including emergency assistance. Other ACT Partners in Liberia are: Liberian Council of Churches (LCC) Lutheran Church in Liberia (LCL) United Methodist Committee On Relief (UMCOR) Christian Health Association of Liberia (CHAL) Concerned Christian Community (CCC) Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) The ACT Partners in Liberia have established a network in the country to ensure co-ordination of emergency response, emergency planning and disaster preparedness. Members of the Network are committed to sharing information in order to avoid duplication of activities. The Liberia Council of Churches (LCC) is the present convenor of the Network. To co-ordinate ACT inputs, the agencies organized a one-day ACT Liberia Network workshop, facilitated by LWF/DWS, in preparation for an ACT Appeal revision. The present situation around IDPs was analyzed and needs identified that were not sufficiently covered. The ACT Partners agreed to focus on the gaps in emergency assistance rendered to IDPs. GOAL & OBJECTIVES Goal To provide emergency life-saving assistance to 30,000 of the estimated 141,000 persons (40% women, 28% men and 32% children - half of the children are vulnerable, sexually exploitable females between 13-17 years) that have been displaced from Lofa, Gbopolu, Bomi, Cape Mount, Margibi and Bong Counties. They have fled these areas and now reside in a variety of locations throughout the central part of Liberia. Objectives Provide temporary accommodation for 30,000 IDPs through the construction of 50 transit shelters. Provide safe drinking water to an estimated 30,000 mobile displaced population through water trucking. Provide BP5 High Protein (ready-to-eat) Biscuits to displaced populations on the move. Provide non-food items, including blankets, mats, cooking utensils, clothing and footwear to 30,000 IDPs . Create awareness for the prevention of the Sexual Exploitation of 6,000 females especially female children through meetings, counselling and other media. Create HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention through information - dissemination and distribution of condoms for 24,000 . TARGETED BENEFICIARIES People on the move - life-saving measures for 30,000 IDPs - 40% women, 32% children and 28% men. PROPOSED EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE & IMPLEMENTATION Shelter Construction - The heavy rains have already begun and shelter construction is most urgently needed. A total of 50 temporary transit shelters with a 300 person capacity will be erected to accommodate displaced people. Each shelter will be constructed using materials purchased locally. The construction of the shelters will be contracted so as to ensure speed in assembly and will be built in a manner that makes it easy to disassemble and re-erect at another location when the situation demands it. Women, children and the elderly will be given priority for accommodation. Provision of safe drinking water: the chaotic movement of the displaced requires water to be trucked to different points where they pass and to the assembly points. Provision of BP%-high protein biscuits: HP biscuits will need to be purchased for 30,000 IDPs. Approximately 65-70% of the displaced are women and children. Many women are pregnant and there are thousands of infants with signs of malnourishment arriving from far away. Immediate onsite distribution of these biscuits will be carried out. Provision of Non-food Items - A total of 30,000 IDPs are targeted to benefit from pre-packaged consignments of non-food-items that include blankets, sleeping mats, cooking utensils. The following activities will be carried out under this component: Acquisition and distribution of 100 bales of blankets. The coldness of the rainy season, especially at night when temperatures drop, will be catastrophic to the health of the vulnerable who are without proper clothing. Acquisition and distribution of 30,000 sleeping mats - the floors of the transit shelters are lined only with plastic sheeting over the hardness of the ground. Acquisition and distribution of 7,500 sets of kitchen utensils, as most families evacuated their homes so quickly that they left most possessions behind. Acquisition and distribution of clothing for 30,000 - clothing is the number one priority after food. Acquisition and distribution of footwear, sandals, sneakers and slippers in assorted sizes for 30,000 - footwear is seriously in short supply. The long journeys made through dense forest take a heavy toll - only ten percent of the IPDs have serviceable footwear. Awareness inputs: Prevention of Sexual exploitation - During displacement women, especially young females between the ages of 13-17 are extremely vulnerable to exploitation. Awareness will be created through sensitization meetings and counselling - estimated target 6,000. The Emergency Project Officer together with the assistant and relief monitor will be responsible. HIV/AIDS Awareness and Prevention - In areas such as transit centers, where masses of people are grouped, a basic awareness campaign is warranted together with distribution of free condoms. ADMINISTRATION, FINANCE, MONITORING & REPORTING Administration LWF/DWS emergency and development operations are conducted from the field office in Monrovia. With the support of the Program Co-ordination Unit and the Finance Office, the Program Manager directs the program activities throughout Liberia and reports to LWF/DWS Headquarters in Geneva. Emergency operations come under the direct responsibilities of the Program Manger and the Assistant Program Co-ordinator, who supervises the work of the Emergency Officer and support staff. A team of 2 persons at the LWF/DWS office in Monrovia follows the day to day activities, attends the weekly IDP co-ordination meetings chaired by the LRRRC, reviews and advises the Program Manger on the detailed work plans, field activities and reports of the emergency field staff. Finance LWF/DWS financial systems and controls are consistent with internationally accepted accounting practices. The Finance Manager supervises all expenditures and co-ordinates financial reporting to the donors. All LWF/DWS accounts are subjected to internal audits and to an external end-of-year audit. Financial and narrative reports will be prepared as per ACT schedules. Funds for the ACT activities will be disbursed through the LWF/DWS office in Geneva. The LWF/DWS Liberia auditing firm is: STEVMANSON, Certified Public Accountants, PO Box 10-3226, 1000 Monrovia 10. Monitoring LWF/DWS program unit will monitor the activities carried out under this revised ACT appeal, through regular field visits. Observations resulting from such visits will be fed back to the project to improve its efficiency and will as well be incorporated in the reports to ACT. IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE Construction of transit centers - 15 June - 31 July Non Food Items distribution - 15 June - 15 September BP5 distribution - 15 June - 31 July Safe drinking water - 15 June - 15 September Awareness sexual exploitation - 15 June - 15 September Awareness HIV/AIDS - 15 June - 15 September COORDINATION During the life-saving phase there will be close co-ordination with the EU, USAID, UNHCR, OCHA, UNICEF, UNDP, ICRC, CRS, MSF and Africare. All present and proposed intervention activities are co-ordinated each week during several meetings on the status and the needs of the displaced. LWF/DWS is a senior member of these bodies. All LWF/DWS emergency assistance work is closely co-ordinated with the Liberian Refugee Repatriation and Resettlement Committee (LRRRC), a government agency mandated to deal with all aspects of assistance to IDPs and refugees. LWF/DWS is an active member of the Management Steering Group, a consultative body of the INGO's in Liberia. The MSG meets fortnightly to discuss security issues, emergency needs, relations with government and program management issues. BUDGET INCOME RECEIVED: US$ Church of Sweden Aid - SEK 300,000 27,982 Diakonisches Werk 84,966 OTHER INCOME - sent directly to implementer: Finnchurchaid / Finnish government 49,147 GNC / HA Deutscher Hauptausschauss - Euro 5,000 4,338 OTHER INCOME - pledges: Diakonisches Werk 90,000 TOTAL INCOME 256,433 ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE Description Type of No of Unit Cost Orig Budget Revised Bud Unit Units USD US$ 24/1/02 US$ 18/6/02 DIRECT ASSISTANCE CRISIS PHASE ASSISTANCE Shelter Construction Transit shelters Number 50 350 3,000 17,500 Family shelters for female Headed households Shelter 600 5 3,000 0 Tools & materials shelter constr Set 5 1,500 7,500 0 Plastic sheeting (20 ft container) Container 1 30,000 0 30,000 Salary technical supervisor Month 3 275 0 825 Salary assistant technician Month 3 220 0 660 Sub Total 13,500 48,985 Water and Sanitation Materials & labor constr wells with pumps Unit 3 1,950 5,850 0 Construction of bath houses Unit 25 185 4,625 0 Water trucking Trip 10 500 5,000 0 Sub Total 15,475 0 Logistics Truck rental for relocation IDPs Day 60 150 9,000 0 Fuel truck (500 gals/per mth X 2 mths) Gallon 1,000 3.25 3,250 0 Pick-up rental 2 x 3 mths Month 3 3,000 9,000 0 Fuel pick-up for monit/superv Gallon 750 3.25 2,438 0 Sub Total 23,688 0 Provision of Drinking Water Rental of water tanker Trip 105 500 0 52,500 Chlorine for water treatment Bag 10 50 0 500 Sub Total 0 53,000 Provision and Distribution of Food Inputs BP5 nutritional food Box 880 40 0 35,200 Provision and Distribution of Non Food Inputs Blankets Bale 100 150 0 15,000 Sleeping mats Number 30,000 1 0 30,000 Kitchen utensils Set 7,500 15 0 112,500 Clothing Set 30,000 5 0 150,000 Footwear Pair 30,000 3 0 90,000 Sub Total 0 397,500 Registration of New IDPs Printing & distrib registr. cards Piece 5,000 0.10 500 0 Assorted stationary Month 3 250 750 0 Sub Total 1,250 0 Description Type of No of Unit Cost Orig Budget Revised Bud Unit Units USD US$ 24/1/02 US$ 18/6/02 Staff Salaries & allowances - 8 Month 3 2,800 8,400 0 Casual labor (20 X $ 2 per day) Day 45 40 1,800 0 Local travel (8 X $ 90 month) Month 3 720 2,160 0 Sub Total 12,360 0 Other Assessment trips Trip 3 500 0 1,500 Project monitoring Trip 4 500 0 2,000 Sub Total 0 3,500 Total Direct Assistance 66,273 538,185 POST CRISIS ASSISTANCE - 9 months: Shelter construction and Repairs - 880 families Tools & materials shelter constr Unit 880 20 17,600 0 Technical supervisor Month 9 275 2,475 0 Assistant technicians (2) Month 9 220 3,960 0 Fuel - trucks 15 gls / day x 24 days / mon x 4 mons Gallon 1,440 4 5,040 0 Fuel - 1 pick ups x 5 gls./ day 24 days x 12 mons Gallon 1,440 4 5,040 0 Sub total 34,115 0 Agriculture Assistance - 3,000 Families Agric tools for new arrivals Kit 3,000 15 45,000 0 Seed rice Kg 25,000 1 12,500 0 Vegetable seeds Gram 7,500 1 7,500 0 Beans and pea seeds Kg 500 3 1,275 0 Root and tuber cutting Bundle 1,250 3 3,125 0 Local planting materials & improved seedlings Lumpsum 2,500 2,500 0 Senior agric supervisors (2) Month 9 275 4,950 0 Agriculture technicians (4) Month 9 220 3,960 0 Casual agricultural workers (6) Month 9 50 2,700 0 On-site training for farmers Workshop 14 500 7,000 0 Fuel - 1 pick up x 5 gls./ day 24 days x 12 mons Gallon 1,440 4 5,040 0 Sub Total 95,550 0 Water and Sanitation Repair of existing wells Unit 6 1,300 7,800 0 Repairs of existing hand pumps Unit 10 100 1,000 0 Construction of new wells Unit 10 1,950 19,500 0 Construction communal latrines Unit 4 2,000 8,000 0 Purchase of hand pumps Set 16 675 10,800 0 Tool kits for repairs of systems Set 10 35 350 0 Health and hygiene education Workshop 4 500 2,000 0 WatSan supervisor Month 9 275 2,475 0 Assistant WatSan supervisor Month 9 225 2,025 0 Sub Total 53,950 0 Description Type of No of Unit Cost Orig Budget Revised Bud Unit Units USD US$ 24/1/02 US$ 18/6/02 Non Food Items Assistance Plastic sheetings Container 2 30,000 60,000 0 Clearing & transp of container Container 2 1,500 3,000 0 Cooking utensils Set 1,500 25 37,500 0 Jerry cans, buckets, footwear Set 1,500 25 37,500 0 Relief monitors (2 persons) Month 9 220 3,960 0 Sub total 141,960 0 Camp Management - 10,000 people Rental of warehouse and office Month 9 300 2,700 0 Camp manager Month 9 350 3,150 0 Assistant camp manager Month 9 275 2,475 0 Site monitors (4 persons) Month 9 225 8,100 0 Admin assistant / data processor Month 9 275 2,475 0 Driver Month 9 200 1,800 0 Casual workers (18 persons) Month 9 45 7,290 0 Labour clearing & de-stumping of 500 acres land Acre 500 7 3,500 0 Rental of vehicle Month 9 1,500 13,500 0 Fuel for camp vehicle gallons 1,500 3 4,875 0 Gasoline for motorbike gallons 576 3 1,872 0 Fuel & generator maintenance Month 9 500 4,500 0 Sub total 56,237 0 Disaster Management Training Training materials & supplies for 120 IDP leaders Person 120 50 6,000 0 Training facilitators fees Person 6 125 750 0 Participants transport allowance Person 120 5 600 0 Sub Total 7,350 0 Total Cost Post Crisis Assistance 389,162 0 MATERIAL TRANSPORT, STORAGE, WAREHOUSING AND HANDLING Fees for clearing containers Container 15 1,000 0 15,000 Fees clearing LWR containers Container 5 1,500 7,500 0 Other costs : clearance, handling Month 12 200 2,400 0 Rental of truck for distribution Trip 150 280 0 42,000 Truck rental Month 5 4,500 22,500 0 Pickup rental Month 9 1,500 13,500 0 Fuel for truck (30 gallons X 150 trips) Gallon 4,500 3 0 13,500 Vehicle rental for supervision Month 3 1,500 0 4,500 Fuel rented vehicle for superv Gallons 450 3 0 1,350 (5 gallons per day) Salary warehouse manager Month 12 250 3,000 0 Salary 2 guards Month 12 100 1,200 0 Salary driver Month 5 200 1,000 0 Salary 2 drivers Month 9 200 3,600 0 Casual labor (10 X USD 2 / day) Day 90 20 900 1,800 Distribution staff (8 persons) Month 3 2,000 0 6,000 Local travel (8 persons) Month 3 1,000 0 3,000 Rental of warehouse Month 3 1,000 3,600 3,000 Total Material Transport, Storage, Warehousing & Handling 59,200 90,150 Description Type of No of Unit Cost Orig Budget Revised Bud Unit Units USD US$ 24/1/02 US$ 18/6/02 CAPITAL EQUIPMENT Computers, desk top Unit 2 2,143 4,286 0 Laptop computer Unit 1 2,000 2,000 0 Printers Unit 2 750 1,500 0 UPS 500 VA Unit 2 450 900 0 Photo copy machine Unit 1 3,000 3,000 0 Furniture & supplies (3 tables, 10 chairs, paints, etc) Set 2 500 1,000 0 HF base communication equip Set 1 3,900 3,900 0 HF Radio, accessories & install Set 1 4,500 4,500 0 Handset Set 2 600 1,200 0 Mobile communication radios Set 2 3,425 6,850 0 Motor bike Unit 3 3,500 10,500 0 Generator, 75kva Perkins 110/220-V-60 Hz/3 phases Unit 1 14,677 14,677 0 Generator installation Number 1 2,000 2,000 0 Generator and installation cost Set 1 4,500 4,500 0 Total Capital Equipment 60,813 0 AWARENESS INPUTS Sexual Exploitation / HIV and AIDS Awareness Purchasing & free distribution Of condoms Number 120,000 0 0 24,000 Sexual exploitation awareness sessions for 6,000 Visit 8 500 0 4,000 women & children Total Awareness Inputs 0 28,000 PERSONNEL, ADMINISTRATION, OPERATIONS AND SUPPORT Staff Salaries and Support Program coordinator (15% ) Month 3 6,000 10,800 2,700 Emergency project officer Month 3 650 5,850 1,950 Assistant project officer Month 3 450 4,050 1,350 Senior relief monitor Month 3 300 2,700 900 Finance manager (15% ) Month 3 5,000 9,000 2,250 Accountant Month 3 275 1,650 825 Secretary Month 3 225 1,350 675 Driver Month 3 200 2,400 600 Casual labor (3 persons) Month 3 225 2,025 675 Staff Travel Per diem for local travel Month 3 425 3,825 1,275 Assessment trips Trip 3 500 1,500 0 Project monitoring Trip 4 500 2,000 0 Office Operations Office rental Month 3 750 9,000 2,250 Office utilities Month 3 600 7,200 1,800 Stationery, office supplies & printing Month 3 400 6,600 1,200 Communications Telephone, fax and e-mail Month 3 250 7,800 750 Vehicle Operation Fuel (24 gal /m-cycle/mth) Month 3 72 1,008 216 Description Type of No of Unit Cost Orig Budget Revised Bud Unit Units USD US$ 24/1/02 US$ 18/6/02 Repairs & maint motorcycles Month 3 75 675 225 Repairs & maint vehicle Month 3 525 4,725 1,575 Insurance 2 motorbykes & 3 vehicles Lumpsum 400 0 Other Insurance of building & equip Lumpsum 600 200 Repairs & maint - bldg & equip Lumpsum Month 12 6,000 0 Total Personnel, Administration, Operations & Support 91,158 21,416 AUDIT AND OTHER EXPENSES Audit of ACT appeal funds Lumpsum 3,000 1,000 1% bank fees Lumpsum 6,720 6,800 Total Audit and Evaluation 9,720 7,800 TOTAL EXPENDITURES 676,326 685,551 BALANCE REQUESTED 676,326 429,118 REQUESTING ACT MEMBER INFORMATION Liberian Council of Churches (LCC) IMPLEMENTING ACT MEMBER & PARTNER INFORMATION The Liberian Council of Churches (LCC) is the national council of churches comprising about fifteen church and para-church organizations in Liberia. LCC has been involved with providing emergency relief assistance to displaced and refugee people in the shelters around the country since the inception of the Liberian civil war. Description of ACT Member's Implementing Partners The Concerned Christian Community (CCC) is a local Christian organization founded in 1990 in response to the suffering and anguish caused by the civil war at the time to the inhabitants of western Liberia. CCC is a partner of the LCC and a member of the local ACT network in Liberia, which comprises eight Christian relief organizations and churches including LCC, UMCOR, LWF, CHAL, UMC, LCL, YMCA and CCC. CCC and LCC have collaborated on programs of mutual interest since 1992 in areas of peace-building, relief and training, etc. GOALS & OBJECTIVES Goal CCC has three main goals: to provide emergency assistance to IDPs and to provide psycho-social counselling to vulnerable females who have suffered rape or been harassed while fleeing the military activities in the conflict areas , and to conclude the work with Refugees in Cape Mount. Objectives The provision of immediate emergency material relief and food aid to victims and their children The construction of 1,500 or more shelters for IDPs and Refugees fleeing fighting in Liberia The construction of twenty (10) pit latrines in the new shelter under construction for IDPs The provision of counselling services to women and girls in target response locations The provision of basic emergency health care to female victims including their children and elderly. Training in tie-dyeing, bakery/cookery, soap and grease making, sewing, etc. The provision of small grants and seeds and tools specifically to female, traumatised victims to enable them establish economic independence. Capacity Building Objectives To strengthen the working skills of volunteer workers (Organization)\ To improve the coping skills of the victims of violence. TARGETED BENEFICIARIES 1,500 newly displaced families (or around 7,500 IDPs/Refugees) will benefit from new shelters and pit latrines to be constructed while an approximate 1,000 Internally Displaced persons (IDPs) women and girls from the IDP & Refugee Camps will benefit from psycho-social assistance; all are sexually abused and victims of the military activities of Liberia. 100% of the IDPs are rural women and farmers! 200 elderly IDPs will receive supplementary feeding. Criteria used in beneficiary selection New arrivals crossing the Po River by Canoe will benefit from the shelter assistance Activities for psychosocial aid include interviews and listings Screening or medical examination and collaborative information; and Registration of confirmed victims PROPOSED EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE AND IMPLEMENTATION Relief food and non-food Food and non-food items will be provided for new arrivals upon registration. Material relief assistance consists of clothes - blouses, under wear, footwear, soap, towels and some food (food from other sources is usually totally inadequate). Wet rations (distributed through soup kitchens) will be provided to the vulnerable elderly. This will be carried out in co-operation with local community volunteers. Shelter Construction CCC Community Development team has the responsibility to spearhead the construction of the 1,500 huts for the displaced and ten pit latrines. Two emergency transit shelters have already been constructed for the estimated 15,000 families registered from the Po River Crossing point. CCC has planned the layout for the new camp, raised awareness of the plight of new arrivals and now seeks assistance to construct the shelters. The work plan includes: Activity Duration Negotiation for new camp site in Seigbeh Town - 1 Day Clearing of land & construction of 5 transit sites to temporarily hold IDPs 7 days Demarcation of new camp site - layout in blocks, sections, etc. 7 days Cutting and transportation of sticks - 200 estimate per hut - standard - 400,000 sticks for estimate 1,500 vulnerable families 15 days Construction of camp & pit latrines (10) 115 days Reporting - regular updates & project report Trauma Counselling Services Thousand of women and girls as young as 12-13 years suffered in the Mano River Basin countries of Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone where wars and dissidents attacks became the order of the day for 7-10 years (and still continuing in northern, central and western Liberia). The suffering of these women comes in the form of multiple rapes, battered with the butt of the guns, amputation and killing (when the victim resisted rape she invariably suffered one of the last actions). The result of this often repeated, brutal and depraved form of violence is that the victims often become withdrawn, showing deeply disturbed psychological problems. Their traditional values have been shattered and they suffer an all-pervading feeling of shame and guilt. The Counselling program seeks to undermine post-traumatic stress disorders through trauma counselling and to provide awareness and instruction on the prevention of diseases such as AIDS. CCC counsellors assess and screen identified victims of rape and battery, etc. Thereafter individual counselling begins; the counsellor makes progress reports. When the counsellor is satisfied with the improvements made in the lives of her clients she groups them for group-counselling where clients are expected to speak freely about their ordeals - indicating that psychosocial healing is taking place, and participate in HIV/AIDS awareness sessions. In the process of counselling medical problems are referred to the medical unit, an important component of the counselling services. Currently CCC is working with IDPs and Refugees in Seigbeh and Jah Tondo Town - Brewerville near Monrovia; Sinje in Grand Cape Mount County and Totota in Bong County. The counselling activity which will include training and termination exercises will be in two phases of 6 months each. Medical relief assistance speeds up the process of trauma healing and runs concurrently with the counselling while material relief assistance takes place twice in a phase. Basic skills training cover two months of the 6 months. To assist in the healing of the assaulted women, they are trained in home economic skills to keep them occupied. Medical Relief Assistance Limited edical relief assistance is provided to clients in total confidentiality. The victim most commonly experiences fear, helplessness and humiliation. She is likely to experience a loss of trust and might feel guilty or ashamed sharing medical problems with others. Most often the victim suffers from sexually transmitted infections and medically there are guidelines at health post and clinics, which restricts the treatment of these infections causing re-traumatisation. The medial relief program for these victims, which uses female counsellors, nurses, physician assistants and trainers, is bound to maintain strict confidence between client and the organization. Medical relief assistance offered ranges from common diagnosis and treatment to surgical intervention for extreme conditions. The project has always set up the medical unit with trained and experienced staff. Each project site has either a registered/professional nurses or physician assistant who is supervised by a medical officer. Cases requiring hospital management are referred to a gynaecologist. Basic empowerment training (concluding treatment) For a de-traumatized person to stay clear of regressing he/she needs to be occupied with one form of activity or the other. For this reason CCC counselling services integrates training in the areas listed below to help clients re-establish themselves and care for their families: Tie-dyeing and sewing Soap and grease production Embroidery/crocheting Cookery/Baking Household decoration After the training materials are provided they are started off in groups of 5 to 10 persons. Seventy five sets of seeds and tools are also distributed to selected persons to assist in re-establishing livelihood. Required Personnel and Volunteers 10 Technicians for huts construction 5 Trauma Counsellors 2 Nurses (general and midwife) 1 Driver 2 Volunteers (Unskilled services) Field offices are needed to ensure proper implementation and monitoring. Furthermore, there is a great need for a vehicle as the present vehicles are old and require a lot of maintenance to keep them on the road. In addition, to move large quantities of items, trucks will have to be rented. LRRRC/Government and United Nations will provide independent co-ordination services. At least two small workshops in emergency response training will be conducted in the field for the field staff. Transition from Emergency: The skills training attached to the counselling services is the first step in the long process of rehabilitation. Since 99% of the women CCC works with are from the rural areas and depend on the land for their livelihoods, long-term rehabilitation activities are structured along agricultural lines. The further hope is that, as soon as the present violence and fighting subsides, the programme can continue to deal with the rehabilitation needs of the displaced. ADMINISTRATION, FINANCE, MONITORING & REPORTING Administration Implementation is carried out from five main locations with technicians, counsellors, nurses, an administrative officer and monitors form the direct project workers. Finance CCC Business and finance office will be responsible for keeping account of all ACT funding. Results of independent auditing will be included in the financial reports, which normally form the general report to ACT. The CCC auditor is: Notre Dame Inc., Monrovia. The audit will be carried out at the end of the funding year. Monitoring CCC has an internal monitoring unit - Project Monitoring and Development Unit- responsible for all projects. The Unit has as its head the Programme officer who is assisted by the financial Officer. Four other persons in management complete the team. IMPLEMENTATION TIME TABLE Activity Time Project Assessment June 2002 Start up June 2002 Implementation June 2002 to December 2002 CO-ORDINATION An implementation co-ordination structure is in place - all NGOs working in in the Emergency meet weekly to appraise the security situation and activities of participating UN agencies and NGOs (Local and International). The meeting is chaired by government officials and convened at the European Union offices in Monrovia and the field (on Wednesdays). Participants include United Nation agencies, International and National NGOs and representatives of the Donor community. BUDGET INCOME RECEIVED: Mennonite Central Committee (for food and medicals) 24,974 Presbyterian Disaster Assistance / PCUSA 20,000 Disciples of Christ / Week of Compassion 5,000 TOTAL INCOME 49,974 ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE Description Type of No. of Unit Original Revised Unit Units Cost Budget Budget USD USD USD DIRECT ASSISTANCE Pre Crisis Assistance Emergency response training Workshop 1 500 1,000 500 Contingency relief supplies Lumpsum 5,500 2,000 Sub Total 6,500 2,500 Crisis Phase Assistance Relief Food and Non Food Inputs Nutrit feeding elderly - wet rations Ration 200 10 0 2,000 Shelter Hut 1,500 50 0 75,000 Water and sanitation Latrine 10 532 0 5,320 Health and medical inputs Lumpsum 25,000 10,000 Seeds and tools Set 75 75 7,500 5,625 Psychosocial inputs Month 12 800 12,000 9,600 Other Micro loans scheme for women Lumpsum 30,000 5,000 Skills training for 150 women Lumpsum 12,000 3,000 Sub Total 86,500 115,545 Total Direct Assistance 93,000 118,045 MATERIAL TRANSPORT, STORAGE, WAREHOUSING AND HANDLING Truck rental and related costs Lumpsum 3,000 1,500 CAPITAL EQUIPMENT Office Equipment Computer and printer Set 1 4,500 4,500 0 Photocopier Unit 1 1,000 1,000 750 Mimeographing machine (field office) Unit 1 750 750 750 Typewriters Unit 1 500 1,000 500 Description Type of No. of Unit Original Revised Unit Units Cost Budget Budget USD USD USD Communication Equipment High frequency (HF) radio Set 1 1,000 2,000 800 VHF radio Set 1 600 1,200 600 Hand sets for office coordination Set 3 500 1,500 0 Vehicle Equipment 4W pick-up for high forest area Unit 1 25,000 24,000 25,000 Motor bykes for field monitors Unit 2 3,000 6,000 0 Other Equipment Portable generator for field office Brewerville Unit 1 1,000 1,000 1,000 Total Capital Equipment 42,950 29,400 PERSONNEL, ADMINISTRATION, OPERATIONS AND SUPPORT Staff Salaries and Support Project staff salaries Month 12 1,300 19,000 15,600 Project staff insurance Month 12 250 3,240 3,000 Staff Travel Local and regional travel Month 12 125 2,000 1,500 Office Operations Office rental Month 12 260 3,120 0 Office utilities Month 12 150 2,400 1,800 Stationery and supplies Month 12 100 1,800 1,200 Communications Telephone and fax Month 12 150 1,800 0 Electronic mail Month 12 100 1,200 0 Vehicle Operation Fuel (gasoline and diesel) Gallon 1,250 4 3,200 5,000 Maintenance (labor and parts) Month 12 300 1,500 3,600 Insurance Vehicle 1 600 1,200 600 Total Personnel, Admin., Operations & Support 40,460 32,300 AUDIT AND EVALUATION Audit of ACT appeal funds Lumpsum 2,400 2,400 Program evaluation Lumpsum 2,400 0 Total Audit and Evaluation 4,800 2,400 OTHER Field workshops Workshop 6 400 0 2,400 TOTAL ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE 184,210 186,046 BALANCE REQUESTED 184,210 136,072 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 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. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Ecumenical Centre Phone: ++41-22-791.60.33 150, route de Ferney Fax: ++41-22-791.65.06 P.O. Box 2100 E-Mail: act@wcc-coe.org 1211 Geneva 2 Telex: 415 730 OIK CH Switzerland http://www.act-intl.org distributed by - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Center for International Disaster Information Volunteers in Technical Assistance web: www.cidi.org listserv: www.cidi.org/listsub.htm - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - comments/suggestions/requests to incident@cidi.org