U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
BUREAU FOR DEMOCRACY, CONFLICT, AND HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE (DCHA)
OFFICE OF U.S. FOREIGN DISASTER ASSISTANCE (OFDA)
MANO RIVER COUNTRIES (GUINEA, LIBERIA, SIERRA LEONE) - Complex Emergency
Situation Report #2, Fiscal Year (FY) 2002    January 14, 2002


Note: the last situation report was dated October 3, 2001.

BACKGROUND

Since 1990, sustained conflict in the Mano River basin has spread across
borders and engulfed the region in a severe humanitarian crisis.  Civil
wars in Liberia and Sierra Leone in the early 1990's led to the exodus of
more than one million refugees to Cote d'Ivoire and Guinea over the course
of the decade.  In addition to refugees, an estimated one to two million
people in the region were internally displaced at the height of the
various conflicts.  Although Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone formed the
Mano River Union economic pact in 1973, the conflicts of the past decade
severely strained political and economic relations between the three
states.  A struggle for control of diamond fields in Sierra Leone has been
at the heart of the crisis in recent years.  Several failed peace accords
and peacekeeping efforts, collapsed economies, and some of the worst human
rights atrocities in recent history made this one of the world's most
severe humanitarian crises.  Although 2001 brought improved security to
Guinea and Sierra Leone, an upsurge in fighting in Liberia continues to
threaten the stability of the region. The U.N. Office for the Coordination
of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) estimates that 1.1 million of the 15
million inhabitants of Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone are either
internally displaced persons (IDPs) or refugees.



NUMBERS AFFECTED

All numbers are based on the U.N. Consolidated Inter-Agency Appeal (CAP)
FY 2002 for West Africa except where noted:

                IDPs       Refugees

Guinea         359,000 1     192,000
Liberia         55,000        70,000
Sierra Leone   348,000 2       9,500
TOTAL          762,000       271,500

1 U.N. CAP figure is based on IDP totals reported by the Government of
  Guinea.  In 8/01, WFP estimated there were 190,000 IDPs in Guinea.

2 Includes both IDPs (248,000) and refugee returnees (100,000).



USG HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO THE MANO RIVER REGION

                 FY 2001         FY2002
                 (final)        (to date)

USAID/OFDA     $ 12,826,878             N/A
USAID/FFP      $ 41,029,100     $27,323,951
USAID/OTI      $  3,666,589             N/A
USAID/AFR 3    $ 15,344,600             N/A
USDA/416(b)    $ 14,556,200             N/A
State/PRM      $ 36,225,726     $13,059,950
TOTAL          $123,649,093     $40,383,901

3 USAID/AFR assistance included in this report was used in support of
  humanitarian assistance programs.



GUINEA

Background.  During the past decade, Guinea has hosted hundreds of
thousands of refugees from Liberia and Sierra Leone.  While wars in
Liberia and Sierra Leone raged, Guinea provided a relatively safe haven
for refugees.  With USG and international donor support, relief agencies
established refugee camps, food distributions, health care, and schools
for an estimated 500,000 refugees.  Most refugees were sheltered in camps
and communities along Guinea's borders with Liberia and Sierra Leone,
including the Parrot's Beak.  Beginning in September 2000, a series of
armed incursions near Gueckedou, Macenta, and N'Zerekore resulted in
substantial loss of life, destruction of property and crops, and the
displacement of more than 200,000 Guineans and hundreds of thousands of
refugees.  Sporadic violence continued into 2001, severely hindering
humanitarian assistance activities within the region, effectively
isolating the estimated 250,000 refugees and IDPs in the Parrot's Beak
from receiving large-scale humanitarian assistance.  Following the U.N.
High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)-led evacuation of the Parrot's Beak
in May 2001, the overall security situation in Guinea gradually
stabilized.

Security.  Since October 1, the security situation in Guinea has remained
stable.  However, fighting in Liberia near the Guinea border and the
presence of Government of Guinea (GOG) troops has resulted in the tenuous
resettlement of IDPs to the area.  Because an estimated 190,000 Guineans
remain displaced, relief agencies continue to provide humanitarian
assistance to IDPs, as well as refugees, throughout Guinea.  On November
5, 2001, the U.S. Ambassador to Guinea, Barrie R. Walkley, re-declared a
disaster for the ongoing complex emergency in Guinea.

Political.  During the week of October 29, at least ten people were
injured during clashes between GOG troops and members of opposition
parties over the impending constitutional referendum.  The referendum,
which extends President Lasana Conte's term in office as well as allows
the President to nominate public officials, was passed on November 11.
On November 30, Guinea's parliamentary elections, scheduled for December
27, were postponed after opposition parties threatened to boycott
following the referendum vote.

Floods.  In late September, floods along the Niger river and its
tributaries in the Mandiana, Kouroussa, and Kankan prefectures of Upper
Guinea affected an estimated 200,000 people, destroyed 20,000 hectares of
farmland, and resulted in nine deaths, according to OCHA.  A U.N. Disaster
Assessment and Coordination team reported that the agriculture,
water/sanitation, and health sectors were the most severely affected by
the floods.  Much of the flooding occurred in areas with IDP populations,
exacerbating the already tenuous shelter situation.  Relief agencies
continued to provide humanitarian assistance to flood victims into
November.

IDPs. Although there are still an estimated 190,000 to 359,000 IDPs in
Guinea, many have returned to their homes.  With improved stability and
reconstruction efforts in the major market town of Gueckedou, many IDPs
have returned to repair their homes and businesses in the area.  Partial
reestablishment of the Gueckedou market has enticed farmers to return to
their fields in hopes of a renewed market demand for crops.  However,
relief and development agencies continue to target vulnerable IDPs and
war-affected Guineans for assistance.

Refugees.  Since the evacuation of the Parrot's Beak refugees was
completed, those refugees have settled primarily in the Albadaria and
Dabola Prefectures of Upper Guinea.  There are three active camps in
Albadaria: Boreah with 13,066 refugees, Kountaya with 25,652, Telikoro
with 11,898; and one active camp in Dabola, Sembakounya with 7,289
refugees.  The majority of these refugees are from Sierra Leone.  In the
southern Forest Region, near Macenta and N'Zerekore, there are two active
camps: Kouanakan with 13,500 refugees and Kola with 5,900.  The majority
of these refugees are Liberian.  Refugees in camps continue to be reliant
upon humanitarian assistance, including food aid.  However, thousands more
unregistered refugees have established their own settlements or moved in
with host Guineans.


USG Humanitarian Assistance to Guinea

USAID/OFDA Assistance.  In FY 2001, USAID/OFDA provided more than $1
million in humanitarian assistance in support of ongoing agricultural
programs, emergency non-food items, and humanitarian coordination programs
for IDPs and war-affected Guineans.

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) - Emergency agricultural assistance to IDPs
$196,000

International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) - Distribution of non-food
items to IDPs $279,000

U.N. Development Programs – Grant to support the Humanitarian Assistance
Coordination Unit for disseminating information and coordinating relief
efforts $545,000

Total USAID/OFDA FY 2001           $1,020,000
Total USAID/OFDA FY 2002, to date         N/A



USAID/FFP Assistance.  To date in FY 2002, USAID/Office of Food for Peace
(FFP) has provided 5,150 MT of Title II emergency food commodities in
support of the U.N. World Food Program's (WFP)  West Africa Protracted
Relief and Recovery Operation (PRRO) in Guinea. USAID/FFP total
contribution to WFP's West Africa PRRO in FY 2002 is 15,000 MT with a
value of $10,166,834.

Total USAID/FFP FY 2001             $7,580,400
Total USAID/FFP FY 2002, to date           N/A


USAID/AFR Assistance.  In FY 2001, USAID Africa Bureau (AFR) provided an
estimated $9.5 million in support of humanitarian assistance programs
including:  child survival, democracy and human rights, and the special
self-help fund for war-affected Guineans.  In FY 2002, USAID/AFR
anticipates providing a similar level of support to humanitarian
assistance programs in Guinea and continues to support ongoing FY 2001
programs.

Total USAID/AFR FY 2001             $9,482,000
Total USAID/AFR FY 2002, to date           N/A


State/PRM Assistance.  Thus far in FY 2002, the U.S.  Department of
State's Bureau for Population, Refugees, and Migration (State/PRM) has
provided nearly $8 million in support of humanitarian assistance programs
for refugees and other affected populations in Guinea.  In addition to
their FY 2002 funding, State/PRM continues to support ongoing FY 2001
programs in agriculture, education, health, nutrition, refugee relocation
and repatriation, through programs implemented by UNHCR, other U.N.
agencies, ICRC, and NGOs. In FY 2002, State/PRM anticipates providing a
level of support similar to FY 2001 in Guinea.

Total State/PRM FY 2001              $22,215,941
Total State/PRM FY 2002, to date     $ 7,953,302

TOTAL USG Humanitarian Assistance to Guinea in FY 2001
$40,298,341

TOTAL USG Humanitarian Assistance to Guinea in FY 2002, to date
$7,953,302




LIBERIA

Background.  Civil war in Liberia from 1989 to 1997 led to the collapse of
its economy and left its infrastructure destroyed.  Sustained fighting and
human rights abuses by warring factions led to the exodus of an estimated
700,000 Liberian refugees to neighboring countries and an estimated 1
million internally displaced persons during the height of this conflict.
In 1997, a democratically elected government was installed and small steps
taken toward rebuilding Liberia's infrastructure and resettling returned
refugees.  Since 1999, however, the governments of Guinea and Sierra
Leone, as well as much of the international community, have accused the
Government of Liberia (GOL) of supporting anti- government forces in both
Guinea and Sierra Leone.  The GOL spent much of 2001 engaged in battles of
their own with anti-government factions in northern Liberia.  This
continued fighting lead to the internal displacement of thousands of
Liberians, and caused thousands more to flee to Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea, and
Sierra Leone.  In May 2001, the U.N. Security Council (UNSC), in response
to the GOL's alleged involvement with the Revolutionary United Front (RUF)
in Sierra Leone, imposed sanctions on Liberia restricting diamond exports
and international travel by GOL officials.

Security.  Fighting that was once confined to mainly Lofa County has
spread to Gbarpolu County in Northwest Liberia.  Clashes in late November
and December between GOL troops and anti-government forces, identified by
the GOL as the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD),
caused the displacement of an estimated 4,000 Liberians.  Relief agencies
working at camps in the area were forced to withdraw during the week of
November 26 until December 6.  On December 20, LURD forces captured the
northern Lofa County city of Zorzor.

Political.  The civil strife in Liberia has put a major strain on the
GOL's internal and external relations.  At least one cabinet member was
killed during the recent clashes and governmental services have been
almost non-existent in the northern part of the country.  Relations with
Guinea and Sierra Leone also remain tense.  President Charles Taylor did
not attend an Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) summit in
December due to the prevailing security situation in Liberia.  The U.N.
Security Council continues to impose sanctions on Liberia.

IDPs.  While the U.N. estimates there are more than 55,000 IDPs in
Liberia, 37,740 are living in established IDP camps in Bong (TV Tower,
Belefane, and CARI camps), Gbarpolu (Bopolu and Gemana camps), and Grand
Cape Mount (Jenemana) Counties, according to OCHA.  Since October 1, the
movement of IDPs has remained fluid, particularly in and out of the Bopolu
and Gemana camps following the recent outbreak of violence. In late
December, relief agencies were planning on establishing transit centers
for IDPs in the towns of Sawmill and Nyomo in Bomi County. Relief agencies
continue to provide a wide range of assistance to IDPs.

Refugees.  The resurgence of fighting in the last year has forced
thousands of Liberians to flee to Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea, and Sierra Leone.
UNHCR has registered an estimated 9,500 Liberian refugees in Sierra Leone
and 6,000 in Cote d'Ivoire since May.  Unconfirmed numbers of Liberian
refugees have also arrived in Guinea during 2001, but have yet to be
registered.  Prior to 2001, UNHCR estimated that 80,000 Liberians were
living in Guinea and 120,000 in Cote d'Ivoire.  UNHCR also estimates there
are still 70,000 Sierra Leonean refugees living in Liberia.


USG Humanitarian Assistance to Liberia

USAID/FFP Assistance.  To date in FY 2002, USAID/FFP has provided 2,650 MT
of Title II emergency food commodities in support of WFP's West Africa
PRRO in Liberia. USAID/FFP's total contribution to WFP's West Africa PRRO
in FY 2002 is 15,000 MT with a value of $10,166,834.

Total USAID/FFP FY 2002, to date    N/A


USAID/AFR Assistance.  In FY 2001, USAID/AFR provided an estimated $1.9
million in support of humanitarian assistance programs including: child
survival programs, democracy and human rights programs, and the special
self-help fund. In FY 2002, USAID/AFR anticipates providing a similar
level of support to humanitarian assistance programs in Liberia and
continues to support ongoing FY 2001 programs.

Total USAID/AFR FY 2001             $1,970,000
Total USAID/AFR FY 2002, to date           N/A


USDA/416(b) Assistance.  In FY 2001, the U.S.  Department of Agriculture
416(b) program provided 4,200 MT of commodities, with a total program
value of $2.7 million, in support of WFP's PRRO in Liberia.

Total USDA/416(b) FY 2001            $2,691,300
Total USDA/416(b) FY 2002, to date          N/A


State/PRM Assistance.  Thus far in FY 2002, State/PRM has provided $1.2
million in support of humanitarian assistance programs for refugees and
IDPs in Liberia.  State/PRM continues to support ongoing FY 2001 programs
in education, nutrition, and other refugee and IDP assistance through
grants to UNHCR, ICRC, and NGOs. In FY 2002, State/PRM anticipates
providing a level of support similar to FY 2001 in Liberia.

Total State/PRM FY 2001             $3,538,481
Total State/PRM FY 2002, to date    $1,230,000

TOTAL USG Humanitarian Assistance to Liberia in FY 2001
$8,199,781

TOTAL USG Humanitarian Assistance to Liberia in FY 2002, to date
$1,230,000



SIERRA LEONE

Background.  In Sierra Leone, the war has claimed at least 20,000 lives
and, at its peak, forced almost half of Sierra Leone's 4.5 million
inhabitants from their homes.  In 1999, the anti-government RUF, notorious
for their human rights abuses, and the Government of Sierra Leone (GOSL)
declared a cease-fire and signed the Lome Peace Accord, officially ending
the war.  In November 1999, in support of the peace process, the U.N.
deployed a peacekeeping force charged with providing security in
GOSL-controlled areas.

Since August 2000, the security situation has remained generally stable in
GOSL-controlled areas of the country. During 2001, the GOSL and U.N.
Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) representatives negotiated the release
of child soldiers and expedited the disarmament process, while relief
agencies were able to access vulnerable individuals in areas previously
controlled by the RUF.  On October 29, 2001, the U.S.  Ambassador to
Sierra Leone, Peter Chaveas, re- declared a disaster for the ongoing
complex emergency in Sierra Leone.

Security.  The security situation in Sierra Leone was generally stable
during the months of October and November.  However, in December, tensions
in eastern Sierra Leone flared as the disarmament process was stalled and
disagreements over diamond mining led to the deaths of 13 civilians.  In
addition to the tensions in the eastern part of the country, the Sierra
Leone Army deployed along the Liberian border in the Kenema and Pujehun
Districts in response to the fighting across the border.

The Southern and Western provinces, as well as much of the Northern and
Eastern provinces, remain under the control of the GOSL or UNAMSIL forces.
On November 18, the UNAMSIL peacekeeping force reached its full strength
of 17,500 troops. Relief agencies report that crime and violence in
Freetown and the provincial capitals continues to impede humanitarian
assistance activities.

DDR Process.  The Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR)
campaign in Sierra Leone officially ended on January 7, according to
UNAMSIL and DDR representatives. The DDR estimates that 45,449 combatants,
including 4,193 children, disarmed under the DDR since May 2001.
However, the Community Arms Collection program, which collects lethal
weapons from non-combatants, will continue.

Political.  A tripartite meeting between UNAMSIL, GOSL, and RUF was held
on November 8.  The meeting was to encourage dialogue, monitor the
disarmament process, and promote the peaceful transition of the RUF to a
political party.  Although the GOSL has released several RUF prisoners in
recent months, the GOSL has refused to release the imprisoned RUF leader,
Foday Sankoh.  Presidential and parliamentary elections are scheduled for
May 2002.

In early January 2002, U.N. legal representatives met with GOSL
authorities to discuss the establishment of a war crimes tribunal.  The
tribunal is being established to prosecute the groups and individuals
responsible for the widespread atrocities committed during Sierra Leone's
civil conflict of the past decade.  The exact groups and individuals to be
tried are uncertain at this time.

IDPs.  As of late November, OCHA reported that 128,000 IDPs are sheltered
in 19 official camps.  Another 120,000 IDPs are living in host communities
throughout Sierra Leone including: 78,465 in Tonkolili District; 32,634 in
Port Loko District; 7,971 Moyamba District and; 1,561 in Bo District.
Relief agencies continue to provide a wide range of humanitarian
assistance to these IDPs while they await the stabilization of their home
areas.

Refugee Returnees.  Although thousands of Sierra Leonean refugees continue
to live in neighboring Guinea and Liberia, an estimated 75,000 returned to
Sierra Leone in 2001.  Many of these returnees arrived in Freetown by boat
from Conakry, while others walked across the border.  Those returning to
Freetown are being accommodated in transit centers mostly in and around
the capital until they can be relocated or returned to their villages.
According to OCHA, Sierra Leone currently hosts an estimated 100,000
returnees.

On December 13, Ambassador Peter Chaveas, participated in the Kambia
repatriation program.  The UNHCR-run program has repatriated an estimated
5,400 returnees to their place of origin as of late December.


USG Humanitarian Assistance to Sierra Leone

USAID/OFDA Assistance.  In FY 2001, USAID/OFDA provided $11.5 million in
support of humanitarian assistance programs in agriculture, health, IDP
resettlement, nutrition, shelter, and water/sanitation.  In FY 2002,
USAID/OFDA continues to support ongoing humanitarian assistance programs
in Sierra Leone.

Action Contre la Faim (ACF) - Emergency nutrition and water/sanitation
activities in Makeni, Magburaka, Mile 91, Lungi, and Freetown. $1,802,831

Africare - Agricultural and health assistance programs in the Northern and
Eastern Provinces $1,100,481

CARE - Rural resettlement projects in southern Tonkolili and northern
Moyamba Districts $2,382,717

CRS - Agricultural, health, and housing programs in Tonkolili and Moyamba
Districts $2,043,295

Merlin - Health, water, and sanitation programs in Freetown, Kenema, and
Port Loko $656,861

International Medical Corps - Primary and maternal health care in Port
Loko and Lungi $420,101

UNICEF - Humanitarian appeal for women and children $700,000

World Vision - Agriculture and housing activities in Sierra Leone
$1,950,592

WFP - Helicopter support for food assistance activities in Sierra Leone
$750,000

Total USAID/OFDA FY 2001             $11,806,878
Total USAID/OFDA FY 2002, to date            N/A


USAID/FFP Assistance.  In FY 2002, USAID/FFP anticipates providing 28,490
MT of Title II emergency food commodities, with a total program value of
$20.5 million, to CARE, CRS, and WorldVision for the implementation of
emergency food programs in Sierra Leone.  To date in FY 2002, USAID/FFP
has provided nearly $17.2 million toward these emergency programs.  In
addition to USAID/FFP's (Private Voluntary Organization) PVO programs,
USAID/FFP has contributed 7,200 MT to WFP's West Africa PRRO in Sierra
Leone.  USAID/FFP's total contribution to WFP's West Africa PRRO in FY
2002 is valued at $10,166,834.

Total USAID/FFP FY 2001             $33,448,700
Total USAID/FFP FY 2002, to date    $17,157,117


USAID/OTI Assistance.  In FY 2001, USAID Office of Transition Initiatives
(OTI) provided $3.7 million in support of humanitarian assistance programs
including:  civil society programs, education and training programs for
ex-combatants, and elections assistance to Sierra Leone.  USAID/OTI also
programmed an additional $950,000 from the Development Fund for Africa
(DFA) and $950,000 in Economic Support Funds (ESF) on behalf of USAID/AFR.
While USAID/OTI will transition out of Sierra Leone in March 2002, several
of its programs remain ongoing in FY 2002.  USAID/OTI will transfer
responsibility for programs that continue beyond March to USAID/AFR.

Total USAID/OTI FY 2001     $3,666,589


USAID/AFR Assistance.  In FY 2001, USAID/AFR provided $3.9 million in
support of humanitarian assistance programs.  These programs included: the
Leahy War Victims Fund and the Displaced Children's and Orphan's Fund, as
well as reintegration assistance, electoral/political processes support,
and support for the reconciliation process, including human rights.  In
addition to these programs, USAID/AFR transferred $950,000 from DFA and
$950,000 from ESF to USAID/OTI for use in their program in Sierra Leone.
In FY 2002, USAID/AFR continues to support ongoing humanitarian assistance
programs in Sierra Leone and will take responsibility for additional
transition programs when USAID/OTI closes out of Sierra Leone in March
2002.

Total USAID/AFR FY 2001            $3,892,600
Total USAID/AFR FY 2002, to date          N/A


USDA/416(b) Assistance.  In FY 2001, the USDA/416(b) program provided
17,800 MT of commodities with a total program value of $11.8 million, in
support of WFP's PRRO in Sierra Leone.

Total USDA/416(b) FY 2001            $11,864,900
Total USDA/416(b) FY 2002, to date           N/A


State/PRM Assistance.  To date in FY 2002, State/PRM has provided $3.9
million in support of humanitarian assistance programs in Sierra Leone.
State/PRM also continues to support ongoing FY 2001 programs in emergency
environment, education, health, and other programs to assist returning
refugees and their communities in Sierra Leone through grants to UNHCR,
other U.N. agencies, and NGOs.  In FY 2002, State/PRM anticipates
providing a level of support similar to FY 2001 in Sierra Leone.

Total State/PRM FY 2001             $10,471,304
Total State/PRM FY 2001, to date    $ 3,876,648

TOTAL USG Humanitarian Assistance to Sierra Leone in FY 2001
$75,150,971

TOTAL USG Humanitarian Assistance to Sierra Leone in FY 2002, to date
$21,033,765



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