OCHA Situation Report
Sierra Leone
Period: February 2003
15 March 2003


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

HIGHLIGHTS
Refugees

Concerns and constraints

The recent upsurge of fighting in Liberia is having a tremendous impact on
the normal lives of Sierra Leoneans, especially those living along the
border areas. A continuing large refugee presence along the Zimmi axis and
border areas is likely to cause food shortages among the already over
burdened host population. WFP reports that food supplies remain low at the
border areas, with refugees living off the supplies of the host community.
Although the host communities have offered farm land to refugees in almost
all the camps, the refugees however, lack tools and seeds to undertake
farming activities.  Also, the lack of appropriate water and sanitation
facilities in these areas may cause outbreaks of disease and possibly
epidemics if the refugees are not relocated soon.


Refugee influx

Since 12 February, UNHCR has registered over 7,000 new refugees. As at 28
February, the seven refugee camps in the south and eastern parts of the
country are now home to 46,317 Liberians.  It is estimated that an
additional 17,000 refugees could cross into Sierra Leone over the next few
weeks.  The refugees are reported to be in poor health, especially the
lactating mothers, pregnant women, and children. UNHCR reports that the
accelerated rate of return will have a series of ramifications for
reintegration programming and will place a potential strain on resources
if the Liberian situation further declines and influxes continue. Due to
the security situation in Liberia the child protection agencies have
suspended the repatriation of Liberia children from Sierra Leone to
Liberia.


Repatriation plans

Recently, UNHCR staff met at a regional level and have agreed upon an
accelerated repatriation plan for Sierra Leonean refugees from Guinea.  
The convoys through Kambia will increase from 750 people per week to 1,500
a week.  As of mid March UNHCR hopes to have completed the building of a
bridge and road improvements, to repatriate refugees through the Languette
region directly into the Kailahun District. Convoys of up to 350 will
operate through this route every other day.  UNHCR in collaboration with
the International Organization on Migration (IOM) has started airlifting
Sierra Leonean refugees in Ivory Coast and Liberia back home to Sierra
Leone. In this phase, 648 Sierra Leonean refugees have registered to be
airlifted to Sierra Leone to escape the horrors of civil war in Liberia.
An average of 30 refugees will be airlifted to Lungi International
Airport, twice, weekly and the operation would last approximately two
months.


Ghanaians seek refuge in Sierra Leone

Over 400 Ghanaian citizens, who fled the recent fighting in Robertsport,
Liberia, have arrived in the Sierra Leonean seaside village of Sulima. The
Ghanaians are not however willing to be relocated for economic reasons as
most of them are fishermen. Some 14 Ghanaian who solicited UNHCR
protection and assistance have been relocated to the Zimmi Way Station,
which is almost full to capacity, while a policy decision on them is being
awaited. Meanwhile, UNANMSIL has provided assistance to the Ghanaian High
Commission, NaCSA, UNHCR and OCHA to reach their people in Sulima to
assess their situation.


Kambia hosts the first National Recovery Committee meeting at the district
level.

The National Recovery Committee (NRC) hosted the first NRC meeting to be
held outside Freetown on 18 February. A delegation of Government
Ministers, Donors and Heads of Agencies led by the Vice President -
Chairman of the NRC attended the meeting, which was the first of a series
that will be organised at district level throughout the country.  The
meeting, which discussed progress, achievements and problems facing the
district recovery, provided a unique opportunity for the local people to
dialogue with Government Ministers, many for the first time.

In order to achieve the goal of effective coordination of humanitarian
activities and allow peoples participation and empowerment, the Government
through NRC, will support the various DRCs and further encourage dialogue
with the people. This process will ensure political commitment and
people's participation. The NRC will focus on; supporting infrastructure
of local government for effective functioning of central government;
continued assistance to the District Offices, Paramount Chiefs and
management of Chiefdom Recovery Committees; maintenance of law and order
by ensuring police presence, existence of courthouses and prisons. The
committee will also be supporting the various sectors such as education,
health, agriculture, economy, gender and also improve road networks.  The
Vice President, his team of Ministers and other stakeholders will make
similar visit to Port Loko on 04 March.



SECURITY HIGHLIGHTS

Liberian soldiers disarm in Sierra Leone

An estimated 240 Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) soldiers have so far
surrendered with their arms and ammunition to the Republic of Sierra Leone
Armed Forces (RSLAF) at major crossing points such as Jendema, Sulima,
Gbaa, Dar-Es-Salaam, Mano Kpende and Bombohun. Most of soldiers have been
transferred to the Mapeh Internment camp, Lungi. The spouse/families of
the AFL soldiers are currently at the Zimmi Way Station and are being
encouraged to register so that they can be grouped together in a camp
close to Mapeh.


RSLAF take precautionary measures

Since 19 February, GoSL officially closed the Jendema Bridge, stopping all
Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD) combatants and
traders, from coming over to Sierra Leone. The RSLAF are only allowing
refugees, who are mostly reported to be in poor health, to enter into the
country. LURD latterly have only allowed refugees to pass in exchange for
food. Due to the occupation of the main Mano River Bridge by the LURD
combatants, there have been no reports of movement across the bridge,
resulting in an increase in refugees crossing over at other crossing
points such as Gbaa and Dar Es Salaam.

As a result of the unfolding security situation across the border in
Liberia, there has been a daily co-ordination meeting that started on 16
February at the UNAMSIL Base; participants comprise PAKBAT, MILOBS, UNHCR,
NGOs, RSLAF and SLP. The RSLAF and UNAMSIL have reinforced their troops
with heavy weapons along the major border areas in a bid to forestall
cross border raids by the LURD dissidents, who have been pressing to cross
and buy food and other basic needs from Jendema town.

UNAMSIL and the RSLAF conducted a joint three-day patrol, the first
significant operation of its kind, in Kambia District along the border
with Guinea. The operation was conducted by a platoon of troops from
UNAMSIL's Kenyan battalion at Masiaka and a platoon from the RSLAF's
Force-Reconnaissance Unit. UNAMSIL PAKBAT in Daru reports that some
unexploded ordinance have been discovered in Guma, Tobu and Baiima, Jawi
Chiefdom, Kailahun District.


Ensuring stability in Sierra Leone

In a continuing effort to demonstrate the United Kingdom's military
commitment to supporting the peace process in Sierra Leone, Britain has
sent to Sierra Leone part of its 'Over the Horizon' Force, including the
staff of an operational headquarters, HMS IRON DUKE (a Type 23 Frigate),
RFA BLACK ROVER (an auxiliary support ship) and as a token land force, the
company of the Spearhead Battalion, currently its 2nd Battalion Royal
Gurkha Rifles. The deployment, which is expected to last until mid-March,
includes support personnel and consists of about 300 soldiers. The Gurkhas
have been sent to Sierra Leone to demonstrate the UK's standing commitment
to the preservation of security within Sierra Leone beyond the likely
mandate of UNAMSIL. While in Sierra Leone, the Gurkhas will work alongside
the UK-led International Military Advisory and Training Team (IMATT) to
conduct military training with the RSLAF, and will also link up with
UNAMSIL in whose support it would deploy if so requested.



POLITICAL HIGHLIGHTS

Mr. Olara Otunnu visits Sierra Leone

Under-Secretary-General Olara A. Otunnu, the Special Representative of the
Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, arrived in Sierra Leone
on February 23, to assess the status of war-affected children in the
post-conflict peace-building phase. During his week-long visit, the
Special Representative officially launched two initiatives he proposed in
1999 in his "Agenda for Action for the Children of Sierra Leone" -- the
National Commission for War-Affected Children (which was launched together
with President Kabbah), and the Voice of Children, a radio programme run
by and for children. Mr. Otunnu warned that without the prospect of jobs
or education, Sierra Leone's youth could be a source of instability in the
country. He urged for the setting up of micro-credit schemes and other aid
programmes to support the children, especially those who were involved in
mining, to prevent them from joining wars in neighbouring countries. Mr.
Otunnu met with President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah and government ministers and
officials, UNAMSIL staff, the UN Country Team, child protection agencies,
children and civil society representatives. He also made field visits to
Koidu, Bo, Makeni, Daru and Magburaka.



DONOR UPDATE

World Bank approves $40 million grant

The World Bank has recently approved a $40 million grant to Sierra Leone,
aimed at rehabilitating the country's war-ravaged health and educational
sectors. The first of the two $20 million grants will be used to help
restore "the most essential functions of the health delivery system of
Sierra Leone." The money will be used to rebuild primary and first
referral health services in four districts, to improve programmes
responsible for addressing the country's major health problems, to
strengthen health sector management to improve efficiency and to
decentralize decision-making to the districts, and to support the
development of the private health care sector. The second $20 million
grant will seek to provide basic education for the majority of Sierra
Leone's children through the rebuilding or refurbishing of damaged primary
and junior secondary schools. (Sierra Leone Web)


NORAD mission

>From 24 February - 03 March, UNHCR and the UN Country Team hosted a
mission from the Norwegian Development Organisation (NORAD) to Sierra
Leone.  The mission looked at the need for transitional assistance. They
met with UNAMSIL, the UN County Team and NGO's to explore funding
possibilities while looking at enhancing interagency cooperation. The
delegation visited Kono and Kailahun Districts to see UN reintegration
programmes. Participants included Mr. Per Asmund Gulden, Country
Coordinator, Assistant Director, Department for Eastern and Central Africa
for NORAD, Mr. Einar Rystad, Advisor Department. for Eastern and Central
Africa NORAD, Ms Marianne Opheim, First Secretary Norwegian Embassy in
Abidjan and Ms. Cathrine Skonhoft, Associate External Affairs Officer,
UNHCR Geneva.


Saudi Arabia support to the Health Sector

President Kabbah, after his return from an official visit and pilgrimage
to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on 16 February, announced an aid package
from the Saudi Government to Sierra Leone. He said he had signed a
financial agreement in which the Government of Saudi Arabia will construct
three referral hospitals in the country and will write off Sierra Leonean
debt to the kingdom, clearing the way for further Saudi aid to Sierra
Leone's health sector.



UN COORDINATION

UNDAF

To support the national efforts in peace building, recovery, and the
transition to sustainable development, the UN Country Team, in close
consultation with the GoSL and, its partners, has prepared the United
Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF). The UNDAF translates the
key dimensions of the Peace-building and Recovery Strategy into a common
UN programme framework for the period 2004-2007. It is aimed at assisting
government in four inter-related areas of cooperation where the UN system
utilises its accumulated experience, technical expertise, and financial
resources: Poverty reduction and reintegration; Human rights and
reconciliation; Good governance, peace and security, and economic
recovery. Based on national development goals, the UN Country Team has in
each of the four areas of cooperation, identified expected outcomes to be
achieved during 2004-2007, major lines of action, cooperation strategies,
as well as the contributing agencies and their programme modalities.



SECTORAL HIGHLIGHTS

AGRICULTURE

Food security survey

The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS), in collaboration
with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and their partners
undertook a post distribution monitoring survey in nine districts,
targeting 66 chiefdoms where agencies had distributed emergency rice and
groundnut. The primary objective of the exercise was to determine the
level of emergency support given by FAO and its partners to the most
vulnerable farm families affected by the war and the corresponding impact
in terms of food production and household food security on beneficiaries.

The survey findings indicated that at the start of the 2002 cropping
season, an estimated 211,677 vulnerable farm families, not supported in
2001, urgently needed assistance.  Out of this figure, agencies registered
about 170,909 vulnerable farm families for assistance. With an estimated
seed rice requirement of 8,467Mt. for 2002, 6,011Mt. was provided by
agencies under the emergency programme, representing 71 percent of total
requirements. The shortfall was further heightened with the increase in
the vulnerable farm families after the May general elections when farm
families returned to their farming communities. The influx resulted in a
corresponding increase in the demand for seed rice and this caused the
overall gap in the seed rice requirements to be about 4,920 Mt. for 2002.

The survey also found that in addition to the emergency seed distribution
carried out in the nine districts, seeds saved (as seed banks) in the
communities, were also distributed to vulnerable farm families. This
practice was observed particularly in the Port Loko and Tonkolili
Districts were agencies operated seed bank systems.  A total of about
502Mt.of seed rice was distributed from the reported seed banks.  Prior to
the distribution exercise the Technical Committee of the National
Agriculture Committee stipulated a minimum input package of 40kg seed rice
and 20 kg groundnut was to be given to each farmer.  This was to serve as
an emergency response to augment the food security of the beneficiaries.
It was estimated that the packages supplied could plant 0.6ha and 0.3 ha
of rice and groundnut respectively. The survey results also indicated that
90 percent of the seed distributed by agencies were planted and this could
cultivate an estimated 80,147 ha, with an expected total paddy production
of 96,176Mt. of paddy rice.  This implies that the emergency programme
contributed 53 percent of the normal seed rice requirement of the 150,280
farm families supported.


Challenges for the agricultural sector

The survey identified constraints affecting agricultural production. This
includes farmers in some areas having to walk long distances to collect
inputs due to bad roads not accessible to vehicles; lack of knowledge of
updated agronomic practice and limited access to extension services and
lack of seeds to plant or insufficient labour.  Finally, the survey team
noted that though all the inputs provided by the agencies reached the
intended beneficiaries, they were still insufficient to cover the total
vulnerable caseload.


Promoting local food products

During 2002, FAO distributed a total of 33 cassava graters through
implementing partners to women's groups throughout the country. Besides
providing the 5hp grater machine, a full set of necessary equipment like
cooking pans, sieves, spoons, and engine maintenance tool kits were
supplied. To ensure sustainability, members of the women's groups received
basic training in machine operation and maintenance, and various methods
of processing and preserving cassava. The organization of the training was
jointly facilitated by the Training Unit of MAFS and the Work Oxen
Programme.  Management and the Emergency Coordination Unit facilitated the
coordination of the training.



AMPUTEES & WAR-WOUNDED

NRC continues to resettle amputees

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) resettled four amputee beneficiaries
with their families at Fadugu on 20 February. They resettled 17 families
in Motema, 7 families in Bumpeh and 6 in Yormandu, all in the Kono
District. Construction of the ten houses at the fourth site in Makeni and
six houses in Koeyor (Kono) will soon be completed. This will bring the
total number of houses constructed by NRC over the past two years to 239.
This years construction activities has begun at Makeni - Masongbo Town (8
houses); Fadugu (3 houses) and Motema (5 houses).  Plans are also underway
for the construction on 8 plots in Kabala, Koinadugu District, 6 in Koeyor
Gbanse Chiefdom, and 6 in Motema Nimikoro Chiefdom, Kono District. NRC is
considering a land offer in Newton/Kissy Town to build houses on a 20-plot
land for the amputees and war wounded.



CHILD PROTECTION

TRC working with children

The TRC and child protection agencies, including UNICEF, have finalised a
framework of collaboration, which will culminate in a vulnerability
assessment procedure and a safety plan for children. Social workers in
every district are expected to work closely with the TRC statement takers
to implement this framework. Recently the TRC and the child protection
agencies - in Makeni, Kenema, Bo and Freetown - organised training
workshop for social workers and the statement takers. The package
included, child development, detailed review of strategy concerning
children, vulnerability assessment of child and safety plan for children.
UNICEF has also jointly developed a curriculum in collaboration with
SC-UK, IRC and Caritas.



EDUCATION

UN agencies support to education

UNICEF recently hosted the first UN Theme Group on Education, attended by
UNHCR, WFP, and the World Bank. They resolved that the Theme Group should
meet at least once a month to ensure a coordinated approach in supporting
the education sector and that NGOs should be invited to meetings on a case
by case basis. The focus of the meeting is to support the Ministry's
co-ordination of the education sector at the district level, as well as
facilitating district-regional-HQ vertical co-ordination. The Theme Group
will participate in a proposed survey of current and planned, pre- and
in-service teacher training programmes.


Reintegrating child ex-combatants into schools

As part of its continued support to the reintegration of children formerly
associated with the fighting forces, UNICEF has distributed school
materials and core textbooks to 4,268 children benefiting under the
Community Education Investment Programme (CEIP). UNICEF conducted
community reintegration workshops for teachers on the strategies for the
reintegration of child ex-combatants in schools and communities in three
centres in the Kailahun District: Daru, Buedu and Kailahun. UNICEF is
supporting some 2,300 children demobilised ex-combatants who are enrolled
in formal schools. There remains a caseload of 14,700 ex-combatant
children who are yet to be serviced for reintegration


Building the capacity of MEST at district level

In an effort to support capacity building of the Ministry especially at
district level, UNICEF supplied six District Inspectorates - Kono, Kenema,
Pujehun, Bonthe Island and mainland, and Tonkolili II - with stationery
materials and some basic equipment, including typewriters. The Director,
Inspectorate (MEST), also received similar items plus one photocopier and
three toners. UNICEF also supplied NRC with 175 Complementary Rapid
Education Programme for Schools (CREPS) kits and RREP manuals for 7,000
children in the CREPS programme in Kailahun, Kono and Kambia Districts.


Training for teachers on nutrition, HIV/AIDS and First Aid

UNICEF in collaboration with WFP, the MOHS (Ministry of Health and
Sanitation) and MEST supported a training of trainers' workshop for
teachers from Kenema, Bo, Pujehun, and Tonkolili Districts in Kenema town,
on nutrition, HIV and AIDS and First Aid. The training was geared towards
empowering and capacitating teachers to train other teachers in their
various districts. The workshop was attended by 32 participants comprising
teachers, inspectors of education and District Medical Officers.
Facilitators were drawn from MOHS, Red Cross and UNICEF. An important
output of the workshop was the development of a strategic plan that would
help district teams to design and implement teacher-training programmes in
their respective districts.  First Aid kits were issued to 24 teachers for
use during emergency at their various schools.


NRC education review

NRC conducted a one-day education review workshop for 2002 in Freetown.
The workshop reflected on the status of education programmes in 2003,
identified gaps and planned the way forward for 2003. Major highlights
were on improving the quality of teaching of the CREPS teachers,
monitoring enrolment /attendance of CREPS pupils/teachers and CREPS
classes, data collection and management, strengthening the relationship
between the Primary School heads and CREPS teachers, continued partnership
with MEST and UNICEF, teamwork and information sharing. NRC reports that
in spite of all the ongoing sensitisations the attendance of the CREPS
pupils continues to decrease in Kambia and recently in Kailahun. This
decrease is mainly attributed to lack of school feeding programme in CREPS
centres in Kambia and Head teachers withdrawing children from the CREPS
schools, coupled with labour needs for reconstruction of houses in
Kailahun. Meanwhile, in-service monthly workshops continue in the three
districts of Kono, Kailahun and Kambia on various issues and topics aimed
at improving the teaching skills of the CREPS teachers. In related news,
NRC provided nine schools (two secondary and seven primary) in Kambia and
Kono with 240 double and single sitter desks, and 45 benches.



FOOD AID

Interagency Food Security Assessment

On 26 February, WFP coordinated the launching of an Interagency Food
Security Assessment by the Minister of Development and Economic Planning.
Representatives from the various participating agencies, including UN
agencies, NGOs and government line ministries attended the ceremony. The
survey of rural livelihood, food security, and health and nutrition, is
designed to improve geographical targeting of food aid interventions,
which will assist the recovery of the national food economy that was
devastated during the war. So far the project has received funding from
the Canadian Impact Grant and the OFDA (US), with participating agencies
also providing logistical, technical and personnel support. WFP is in the
process of seeking additional funds for the project. A training programme
for the survey is being planned from 26 February - 08 March, after which
the assessment will be conducted from 10 - 24 March.


Ongoing Food distributions

Countrywide, WFP supported a total of 120,359 beneficiaries with 733Mt. of
food during the reporting period. Vulnerable Group Feeding (VGF)
programmes (refugees, resettlement, returnees and institutions) supported
22,476 beneficiaries with 171Mt. of food. The Therapeutic Feeding Centres/
Supplementary Feeding/ and Mother and Child Health Programmes
(TFC/SFP/MCH) provided 132Mt. of food to 14,307 beneficiaries comprising
under-fives, pregnant women, lactating mothers and TFC caretakers. The
Emergency School Feeding (ESF) Programme supported 79,491 school children
with 271Mt. of food. In the Food for Work (FFW) programme, a total of
2,461 beneficiaries received 146Mt. of food. The Food for Training (FFT)
Programme assisted 1,378 beneficiaries with 9Mt. of food. Safety nets
(Institutional Feeding) provided 246 beneficiaries with 4Mt. of food aid.

WFP is working closely with is partners in preparation to assume
responsibility for food provision to all refugee camps throughout the
country, by March 01.



HEALTH

Strengthening routine EPI programmes

UNICEF supplied the following medical equipment to six District Health
Management Teams (DHMT); Bombali one generator, one ice lining freezer and
one air conditioner, Western Area three ice lining freezers, two chest
freezers and 10 fron R 134A, Koinadugu, Bo and Kambia, one ice lining
freezer each and Kenema one ice lining freezer, five vaccine carriers,
four thermometers and four regulators.



HUMAN RIGHTS

Truth and Reconciliation Commission

Sierra Leone's Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) has recorded the
stories of more than 3,500 war victims and perpetrators since its
statement taking began across the country last December. The Commission's
statement taking will last through the end of March and public hearings
are to begin on 07 April. The Commission reports that one third of its
respondents were women and about ten percent were children. Depending on
availability resources, the Commission is ready to take statements from
Sierra Leonean refugees in Guinea, Liberia, the Gambia and Ghana. The TRC
reports to be receiving good cooperation, so far from the RUF. In other
news the Chief prosecutor of the Special Court, David Crane, has assured
members of the military that the war crimes tribunal's investigations
would focus only on "those bearing the greatest responsibility" for
violations of international humanitarian law, and not on the rank and file
in the military.



INFORMATION MANAGEMENT

Sierra Leone Information System

SLIS is now headed by William Bell, a former Professor in Geography and
expert on Information Systems. Under his leadership, SLIS will strengthen
its efforts on working with capacity-building in government institutions
and enhance the role of SLIS in the sub-region. Since January, a new
Recovery Advisor position was staffed in the OCHA Field Coordination unit,
in order to ensure a strengthened relation between SLIS and the
coordination mechanism throughout the country.

The OCHA-based SLIS organised the first Geographic Information System
(GIS) user group meeting of 2003 on 18 February, comprising UNAMSIL,
Sierra Leone Central Statistics and UNHCR. The User Group consists of
organizations currently engaged in using GIS or intending to begin GIS
projects and it aims to serve as a geographical data coordination unit.
Meanwhile the SLIS has compiled statistical information, collected by the
District Recovery Committee, in August 2002 into District and Sectoral
data packs.  These will be available on the SLIS website
http://ochadata.un.org/SLIS, from the HIC and on the CD-Rom Encyclopedia
of Sierra Leone.


NRS Monitoring System

Another major task for the OCHA SLIS ahead is the development of the
monitoring system of the National Recovery Strategy (NRS). The NRS
Monitoring System is developed under the Technical Committee of the
National Recovery Committee (NRC). It bases itself on the District
Recovery Committees (DRCs) who report on a wide range of data collection
forms every 6 months. The data from these forms are processed by the SLIS
and entered into the Recovery Database, which produces Data Packs for each
district and sector. Every third months, data from these data packs will
contribute to the compilation of the Monitoring and Evaluation Analysis,
which measures progress according to the benchmarks set in the National
Recovery Strategy.



REFUGEE RESPONSE

Inter-agency mission to the border region

On 20 February, a joint mission between OCHA, NaCSA, UNHCR, WFP and UNICEF
was conducted in Kenema to monitor the situation in the border area
between Cape Mount County in Liberia and the Zimmi axis in Sierra Leone.
The overall objective was to get a better picture of the situation on the
ground in order to enable the agencies to plan for appropriate actions.
The delegation met with local authorities and refugees.  Based on the
delegation's findings, the UN agencies will, at this point, focus on the
issues with security screening, standardised-reporting mechanisms (i.e.
regarding influx numbers), mass information and sensitisation campaigns
and monitoring of the host community conditions.


UNHCR moves refugees away from the border to camp locations

>From 23 February to 01 March, UNHCR, with the help of UNAMSIL shuttled a
total of 730 individuals (440 families) from various crossing points on
the Zimmi axis, including Jendema, Bombohun, Gbaa, and Dar-Es-Salaam. Out
of this figure, 670 individuals (318 families) were refugees and the
remaining were returnees. UNHCR and its partners have intensified their
mass information campaign along the border areas, which has resulted in
the willingness of some of the refugees to relocate into camps.

UNHCR anticipates that the 2,000-absorption capacity of the Zimmi Way
Station will shortly reach full capacity, as more refugees are showing a
desire to be relocated to camps. As at 28 February, the Way Station had a
caseload of 1,596 persons, including 1,420 refugees and 176 returnees. The
Yengema Way Station in Kono District has currently 25, 954 individuals,
7,169 families.

Within 24 hours following increased refugee movements from Liberia into
Sierra Leone via the Pujehun- Zimmi axis, WFP provided 12.8Mt. of food for
wet feeding for up to 3,000 refugees en route to the Zimmi Way Station.
Additionally, they provided high-energy biscuits to UNHCR for refugees who
would eventually be on convoy movements from the border towns, through the
way stations and on to the camps in the Kenema District. The humanitarian
community monitored the influxes, which at times were clocked at 300
people an hour, with particular concern for child combatants and separated
civilian family members.

Child protection agencies continue with family tracing and reunification
of separated children in Guinea. The International Rescue Committee (IRC),
Save the Children-UK (SC-UK), the Ministry of Social Welfare, Gender and
Children's Affairs (MSWGCA) and UNICEF undertook sensitisation exercises
in camps hosting Sierra Leonean refugees in Guinea. UNHCR has identified
72-separated children at the Zimmi Way Station and border entering points.
Of this number, 32 (17 males and 15 females) have been transported to
Dauda Way Station for relocation to camps.

UNHCR reports two cases of rape at the Taiama and Gondama Camps. These two
cases involved a 13 and 15 year-old-girl respectively with 47 and 38 years
old men as perpetrators. They both have received medical examinations and
treatment. The Taiama case is now in court while the Gondama one is still
under police investigations. Ongoing counselling is being provided for
both parents and survivors. They provided assistance such as soap and
sanitary kits for the survivors. UNHCR has allocated a booth to IRC for
SGBV purposes at the Zimmi Way Station. IRC organised a two-day GBV
workshop at the Largo Camp. MSF/B has presented certificates to 40
participants from Gerihun, Gondama and Jimmi Bagbo camps on successfully
completing a four-day workshop on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence.

IRC supplied the Bandajuma refugee camp school with books for the library.
They also distributed stationeries to 38 refugee teachers to run the
Taiama Camp School and supplied mathematical sets to pupils in the
examination classes of both the primary and secondary schools in Taiama
Camp.

NRC is constructing a food warehouse and distribution centre for the Jembe
Refugee Camp, with funds provided by WFP.

|-------------+-------------|
| Camp        |  Population |
|-------------+-------------|
| Bandajuma   |       5,979 |
|-------------+-------------|
| Gerihun     |       6,640 |
|-------------+-------------|
| Gondama     |       7,362 |
|-------------+-------------|
| Jembe       |       6,703 |
|-------------+-------------|
| Jimmi Bagbo |       6,467 |
|-------------+-------------|
| Largo       |       5,632 |
|-------------+-------------|
| Taiama      |       7,534 |
|-------------+-------------|
| Total       |      46,317 |
|-------------+-------------|

Camp population, as of February 28



REPATRIATION & RESETTLEMENT

Resettlement packages for returnees

WFP provided resettlement packages to 365 returning Sierra Leonean
refugees from Guinea at the Kailahun Way Station. They provided food
assistance for two days wet feeding of 1,110 Sierra Leonean returnees
repatriated from Guinea, in transit at the Port Loko Way Station.  
Additionally, WFP provided 0.04Mt. of biscuits for convoy movement out of
Kailahun.  WFP also provided 3.18Mt. of resettlement rations for 100
returnees in the Port Loko and Kambia Districts.



SEXUAL EXPLOITATION & ABUSE PREVENTION

Working towards the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse

The various working groups of the OCHA led Coordination Committee to
prevent Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (CCSEA) are making progress in their
work. The training-working group has assembled a core group of trainers
from various agencies to create a training schedule that will provide a
monthly, centralised GBV orientation in Freetown and periodically in the
provinces for the humanitarian agencies.  The procedural working group
continues with Manual II of the HR manual. Current discussions include the
use of contracts, and different types of contracts, as a preventive
measure. The empowerment-working group is yet to commence work in the
camps. The overview of the UNCT response to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse
has been completed which includes a review of the community reporting
mechansims.


SGBV training

The UNOCHA based Coordinator for Abuse and Exploitation Prevention
organized a SGBV workshop for all OCHA staff in the Southern and Eastern
regions. A total of 18 OCHA and NaCSA representatives participated in the
days exercise. Employees had basic training on International Human Rights
Instruments, Gender, Gender Based Violence, Sexual Exploitation and Abuse,
and the Code of Conduct and the Standards of Accountability.



REGIONAL HIGHLIGHTS

EASTERN PROVINCE

Coordination

In a bid to strengthen the Inter Agency Forum in Kenema, NaCSA and OCHA
assessed the regional coordination structure and are now seeking ways in
which they could develop schedules and reporting routines. They came up
with several recommendations, which they are now working on.


Education

NRC's reconstruction of the UMC Primary School in Tombodu village, Kamara
Chiefdom, Kono District is ongoing. NRC is reconstructing two KLDEC
Primary Schools at Gbalahun and Mendekeima Village in the Kailahun
District. Reconstruction of the District Education Office in Kailahun town
continues, with funds provided by UNICEF and UNHCR.

NRC has established 15 new CREPS classes in Kono in consultation with the
Inspector of Schools.  They are looking into possible ways of expanding
the CREPS programme in the Kissy Chiefdom, Kono District due to the large
influx of refugees and returnees in the district. IRC is to conduct an
SGBV workshop for the CREPS teachers in Kono, next month.

WFP, in collaboration with the MEST has completed a baseline survey of 20
selected schools in the Kailahun District.


Health

IMC continues with the medical screening of refugees at the Kailahun way
station, giving vaccination for children ranging from 9 months to 12 years
for measles, Vitamin A and Yellow fever. MSF/B confirmed four Lassa Fever
cases among refugees at the Jimmi Bagbo camp. Refugees have expressed
concern over the identification of the disease in their camp and are being
sensitised on its prevention.

UNICEF supported a five-day refresher training for 40 MCH Aides in Kono
District. The focus was on early referral of high-risk pregnancies as well
as inclusion of yellow fever vaccine as part of routine EPI, multi dose
vial policy and injection safety. Facilitators were drawn from members of
the District Health Management Team and other partners operating in the
district.


Families affected by heavy storm

On 06 February a heavy storm affected some 125 families in the villages of
Yibeima and Woyama villages. As a response, a joint NaCSA, OCHA and WFP
delegation, undertook a mission to the Langrama Chiefdom to assess the
damage. The delegation found that 70 out of 150 houses in Yibeima and 55
out of 120 houses in Woyama were affected but only a few houses were
totally destroyed in the storm. The most serious damage was found on the
seed storage building in Yibeima, which also serve as the storage for
planting seeds for both Yibeima and Woyama. All the planting seeds for
both villages have been totally damaged and many families had lost most of
their household equipment in the storm. WFP is monitoring the food
security situation in the area while considering a seed distribution in
the area. NaCSA has requested assistance from ICRC to distribute NFI to
the most vulnerable families that were affected.



NORTHERN PROVINCE

Agriculture

WFP conducted a Food Processing Workshop for 165 female farmers in the
Mambolo, Samu, Gbele Dixon, Madina and Tonko Limba Chiefdoms, Kambia
District. The workshop covered improved indigenous food processing and
preservation techniques, including diversified recipes of WFP food aid
commodities.

Concern Worldwide carried out a training programme of farmers on food
preservation in Tane Chiefdom in Tonkolili District. The organization is
presently supervising the construction of a grain store and drying floor
in Kholifa Mabang Chiefdom. With funding from FAO, a local NGO, ABC
Development, is constructing two-grain stores in Kukuna, Bramaia Chiefdom,
and Kalainkay, Mambolo Chiefdom, Kambia District. ABC Development is
reconstructing a Farm Service Centre in Kukuna, Brimaia Chiefdom.

A local NGO, Sierra Leone Youth Empowerment Organisation has set up an
environmental awareness campaign to minimize the problem of indiscriminate
bush burning. The SLYEO conducted refresher training on grasshopper and
bush fire control and prevention in Mile 91 area, Mara Malal, Kholifa
Mabang and parts of Yoni Chiefdoms, Tonkolili District, and in all 60
participants drawn from NGOs and CBOs attended the training

CRS is providing agricultural support, including FFAg, to 700 farm
families in Biriwa Chiefdom; 351 Safroko Limba Chiefdom and 500 in
Lebeisaygahun Cheifdom, Bombali District. CRS is supporting the
rehabilitation of the Kamakwie-Makeni road with tools and Food For Work.

An agricultural show was held in Makeni town from 20 - 23 February for the
first time in 21 years.


Education

The MEST and UNICEF jointly organised two workshops on CREPS in Lungi. The
first workshop, which focused on strengthening, monitoring and supervision
of the CREPS programme, was attended by 30 participants. They reported
that from the second workshop, attended by 50 participants, that Level III
teachers needed urgent, additional training to enable them to adequately
prepare their classes for the National Primary School Examination (NPSE)
scheduled in May.  The MEST has established 17 Adult Literacy Centres
within Port Loko District and has completed the distribution of learning
and teaching materials in the area.

DFID supported 491 primary school-going children in Port Loko town with
uniforms. DFID donated five sets of computers with accessories to the Port
Loko Teachers College. DFID/CRP donated five sets of computers to the
Education Office in Port Loko.  The Yugoslav Consul donated assorted
stationary items to selected primary schools in Port Loko town. UNICEF
donated a four-wheel drive vehicle to the Inspectorate Office of the MEST
for monitoring and supervision. UNAMSIL NIBATT 12 handed over a newly
constructed three-classroom block fitted with blackboards to the Port Loko
Teachers College.

NRC's reconstruction of the KDEC Primary Schools, at Menicurve, Magbema
Chiefdom and Bayande, Tonko Limba chiefdom is ongoing. NRC plans to
rehabilitate the Church of God Prophecy Primary School at Rokel village,
Mambolo Chiefdom, Kambia District. This project will involve the
rehabilitation of an existing three-classroom block, reconstruction of a
new three-classroom block with office and store, construction of two-
three-compartment VIP toilets, construction of a water well fitted with
hand pump and the provision of school furniture and a maintenance package.
They are also planning to rehabilitate 15 Primary Schools and 2 Junior
Secondary Schools in the Kambia District. ABC Development with funding
from DFID is rehabilitating the DEC Primary School in Kambia Township.

NRC has completed distribution of educational materials and used clothing
to CREPS centres in the Kambia District. NRC in collaboration with Action
Aid Sierra Leone will implement the skills component of the Youth Pack in
the Kambia District. Teacher training is scheduled for March after which
classes are to commence.


Health

UNAMSIL is supporting the MOHS with the provision of essential drugs to
the Government hospital in Magburaka. UNICEF supported the MOHS to conduct
a ten-day refresher-training programme for 100 TBAs in the Kambia
District. Most of the TBAs are returnees from Guinea who had not received
basic refresher training since 1995. The training centres were Kawula,
Sella Kafta, Numea, Kamassassah, Kukuna, Kamagbeu, Mathuraneh, Senthai,
Bamoi and Masseleh.

WFP provided the newly approved Public Health Units (PHUs) for
supplementary feeding in Port Loko with their first shot of food
assistance, along with the existing PHUs in the district.For the exercise,
a combined total of 1,460 beneficiaries were supported with over 13Mt. of
food items. WFP is planning to conduct trainings for the staff of some of
the newly supported PHUs in Port Loko and Kambia District.


Watsan

Action Aid, has completed test drilling of 15 wells in various communities
in the Magbema, Gbinleh Dixion, Bramaia and Tonko Limba Chiefdoms. Plans
are underway for the digging of 471 household latrines in these same
communities. ABC Development is constructing 100 household latrines in the
Braimai Chiefdom.

With support from UNICEF, Rural Aid Sierra Leone is implementing watsan
projects in Magbaima Ndorwahun and Gbendembu Ngowahun Chiefdoms in the
Bombali District. Activities include construction of pit latrines and,
training of community health workers, latrine technicians and 20 health
clubs.  Rural Aid, with support from DFID/CRD, will also begin the
rehabilitation of the Fitonia gravity-fed water system for ten communities
in Sella Limba Chiefdom, Bombali District. They hope to carry out similar
interventions in the Koinadugu District.

MSF-H continues to supply the Makeni Government Hospital with water
through water trucking as water scarcity continues to hit the township.
Meanwhile, with only two kilometres left to cover the SALWACO water
connection project from Matotoka gravity-fed water system, the project is
nearing completion. The project will serve the Matotoka, Magburaka, Makeni
and all villages en-route Matotoka-Makeni.



SOUTHERN PROVINCE

OCHA continues to monitor the refugee situation along the Zimmi-axis in
collaboration with UNHCR and their partners. OCHA is also working closely
with UNAMSIL civil affairs to address the DRC in the region, in
preparation for the forthcoming NRC meeting. OCHA continues to work with
NaCSA to strengthen the Inter-Agency Forums, advocating for the need of
improved camp management to provide better facilities in the various
refugee camps.



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