OCHA Situation Report No. 6
Liberia
14 June 2003


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)

I. Military/Political Developments

Current - Liberia's capital Monrovia remained calm today following the
withdrawal of LURD forces from the western portion of the city. Government
soldiers were reported moving into the areas vacated by the LURD forces,
carrying out search operations. Intermittent firing could be heard. It is
not clear whether or not this was due to engagement with the LURD forces.
Thousands of people began returning to Duala and other suburbs today, only
to find that most of their homes had been broken into and belongings
vandalized and looted. The major road through the Duala market area was
littered with debris from looted homes and stores.

Projected -- Liberian President Charles Taylor has warned that his
resignation before the expiration of his tenure in January could lead to a
blood bath in Liberia. He said there were several thousand of his
supporters who would not accept an unceremonious end to his term of
office. He said that he would like to be part of the process of
demobilization of those that he himself has armed. He warned against any
measures that run counter to the Liberian Constitution, and added that if
he is allowed to resign in January, he would relinquish power to a
vice-president. He accused the American government of supporting the LURD
rebel group in cease fire negotiations, and said that it is now clear who
the LURD supporters are.

Taylor has cautioned that there will be no peace in Liberia unless his
indictment by the Special Court in Sierra Leone is dropped, adding that
the stigma the court has put on him must be removed if the peace process
is to remain on course. He called for a peace package that would take into
consideration the non-harrassment of himself and his cabinet ministers. He
promised, however, to step down as a sacrifice for the good of the
Liberian people.

II. Security Situation

Following a recent request to and subsequent representation by the LRRRC
to Government officials regarding protection for humanitarian workers, the
Government today began airing messages to its fighting forces telling them
to consider humanitarian workers as friends and allow them free and
unhindered passage through checkpoints to access affected populations.
Humanitarian vehicles are again circulating on the streets of Monrovia and
its suburbs following five days of intense fighting by LURD and Government
forces.

UNICEF reported that government militias made away with a radio handset of
one of its staff while he was trying to relocate his family this week.
LWF/WS reported it discovered its looted vehicle in Paynesville and is
trying to get the police to retrieve it. The NGO Merci reported that one
of its vehicles was taken away last Friday and when it was retrieved on
Saturday, the spare tires and other accessories could not be found. IRC
reported that its looted vehicle was seen heading towards Duala. The
organization said it had received information that the soldiers are trying
to paint it and make it their property. IRC also said this vehicle was
taken away by the Deputy Police Director and that efforts to retrieve it
have proven futile.

III. Humanitarian Situation

Local Population -- Many stores remained closed today. Street markets were
functioning, selling only essential items. Local residents were able to
circulate freely in the city.

IDPs / Refugees - An inter-agency assessment team involving 13
organisations and coordinated by OCHA visited a number of sites in
Monrovia yesterday [participants: LRRRC, Ministry of Health, OCHA, WFP,
UNHCR, WFP, World Vision International, Lutheran World Federation/World
Service (LWF/WS). Concerned Christian Council (CCC), Merlin, Merci, Save
the Children Fund, and Oxfam]. The mission found that an estimated 50,000
IDPs are currently sheltering at the National Stadium and other public
buildings, such as schools. There are rumours that the government may ask
them to return to the camps in the Brewersville area, following the
withdrawal of the LURD forces. The fate of thousands more IDPs and
refugees in the former camps Jartondoh, Wilson, Blamese, Ricks, VOA,
Perrytown and Seighbe is not known. Humanitarian organizations present on
the ground have yet to access these camps due to the insecure situation.

Food Security: WFP is looking at ways of distributing food to target the
most vulnerable people in the city, including IDPs, refugees and other
vulnerable groups. One strategy that the inter-agency mission recommended,
was to start with distributions to those who already have ration cards
(residents of IDP and refugee camps).

Water and Sanitation: Oxfam reported that the water and sanitation
conditions at most sites where IDPs are congregating in Monrovia are
deplorable, and that there is an urgent need to intervene.

Health: The Ministry of Health and doctors from NGOs described the health
situation in all of the IDP sites visited as an impending disaster, and
that urgent action is necessary. Immunization, safe drinking water and
medical supplies remain a priority, as cases of diarrhea and measles
continue to be reported.

IV. Humanitarian Response

Food-Security: WFP was scheduled to meet its implementing partners this
afternoon to discuss rapid food distribution modalities. They report that
they have opened their offices and are prepared to provide food to the
affected population. The government's National Humanitarian Task Force
undertook the distribution of rice to affected families in Monrovia,
however most of this rice has been seen on the open market, and does not
appear to have reached the intended beneficiaries.

Water and Sanitation: Oxfam reported that the government Anti-Terrorist
Unit (ATU) has trucked some 2,000 gallons of water to the National
Stadium, but said that the supply was grossly inadequate. They said that
there are three wells within the vicinity of the stadium that need to be
upgraded. The stadium badly needs more latrines. MSF has started supplying
water at the Newport Junior High School. ICRC and the local Red Cross are
planning to construct trench latrines at the stadium. The water and
sanitation organizations were expected to meet today to coordinate their
activities.

Health: Health sector NGOs also planned to hold a meeting today to
consolidate their evaluation findings and coordinate their interventions.

Coordination: OCHA RSO in Abidjan has begun coordinating the
identification of relief stocks of UN agencies available in the sub-region
that may eventually be deployed to Liberia to support the humanitarian
response.

V. Issues to be Addressed

Efforts must be redoubled, both from within and beyond Monrovia, to ensure
that the government continues to proactively provide protection for
humanitarian workers and supplies in Monrovia, and that all forces engaged
in fighting refrain from attacking civilians, forcing recruitment of IDPs
and refugees, and targeting relief supplies.

It is also essential that a humanitarian "safe space" be established
beyond Monrovia, starting with the area of Brewersville, where refugee and
IDP camps are located, to allow the safe return of those who have fled
into the city and elsewhere.

OCHA has ensured the continuity of coordination efforts by designating its
national field officer as the focal point for the humanitarian community
on the ground in Liberia. It is hoped that despite the current lack of
human resources available in Monrovia, humanitarian agencies will continue
to make every effort to support this ad hoc coordination arrangement.

Aid organizations are urged to put mechanisms in place that will allow
their teams in Monrovia to react quickly and effectively to changing
conditions on the ground, and provide the maximum assistance possible.

For further information, please contact:
Mr. Muktar Ali Farah, Head of Office, OCHA Liberia (currently in Abidjan):
tel: (OCHA Abidjan) +225-2240-5174/75 / cell: +225-07-443392 /
farah.muktar@undp.org / muktarfarah@yahoo.com


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