OCHA Situation Report No. 51
Liberia
29 September 203


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

General Situation

Monrovia is calm but there have been reports of shooting and armed robbery
around Dupont area in the past week. Multiple sources reported continued
hostilities and new displacement of over 2,000 people in Bong and Nimba
Counties. Unconfirmed reports spoke of a number of people killed recently.

Troops from all ECOMIL contingents currently serving in Liberia will be
re-hatted as UN peacekeepers on Wednesday, 1 October 2003, the first day
of the mandate of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL). The
decision affects some 3,500 troops from eight West African countries. The
troops will be the first of up to 15,000 UN troops that will eventually be
deployed to Liberia as part of the peacekeeping operation authorized by UN
Security Council resolution 1509 of 19 September 2003. The troops were
deployed to Liberia beginning in August 2003 as a vanguard force in
advance of the UN operation. Since then they have been instrumental in
improving the security situation particularly in Monrovia and helping
stabilize the areas of its deployment and humanitarian access to civilian
population.

The inter-agency mission returned to Monrovia from Zwedru via Guiglo, Cote
d'ivoire over the weekend after assessing the humanitarian situation of
the town and its surroundings.  The mission found Ivorian refugees as well
as IDPs.  Some came from as far as Lofa Country.  MODEL rebel group
encouraged UNHCR and WFP to return to Zwedru and expressed support in that
regard.  The overall impression so far is positive, however the biggest
challenge in re-establishing presence will be the access by road.

The mission recommends the downgrading of the Security Phase from current
V to IV to allow for humanitarian operations.  In a separate mission, a
MSF team successfully reached Zwedru via Buchanan in 8 hours.  A follow-up
inter-agency mission via this route or via Greenville is being planned.

According to the Red Cross, the population of Zwedru is estimated at about
13,000 at present, as compared to a pre-war population of 27,000 (February
2003). There are 3-4,000 returnees and some 200 Ivorians in the town.  
Many refugees along with local residents are still in villages in border
areas. Food is available in Zwedru but for extremely high prices, and
people are reportedly looking for food in bushes. The following immediate
actions have been recommended: 1) assessment mission to clear road
Monrovia-Buchanan-Zwedru; and 2) With the view to resuming an operation in
the area, both UNHCR and WFP will require their premises back. The
compound has most essential items like a generator and telecom equipment,
and can be immediately operational. The mission was dissuaded not to
travel beyond Tapeta town for security reasons.

Humanitarian Activities by Sector

1. Food aid

WFP and its implementing partner, Catholic Relief Services has completed
food distribution in Buchanan over this past weekend, reaching about
31,607 beneficiaries. WFP has completed the registration of IDPs in the
greater Monrovia area and through their implementing partner (ADRA) has
started food distribution in Jartondo Camp. Other places food is being
distributed are Kakata by ADRA, Bensonville and Ricks by World Vision
international.

2. Health and Nutrition

The latest report released by WHO indicates that week 38 (15-21 September)
shows a drastic drop in the incidence of cholera, though health facilities
in Paynesville and West Point reported most cases. The decline in the
incidence is stated as a result of intensive chlorination of wells carried
out these last weeks and the movement of IDPs out of Central Monrovia to
Montserrado areas. The report further stated that the incidence of acute
low respiratory infections was still high. Nonetheless, this is the wet
season favourable for occurrence of the infections. The number of malaria
cases was reported as high.

Following a couple of assessment missions by the humanitarian community to
Bopolu town, Gbarpolu county and Lofa bridge town, Grand Cape Mount in
September 2003, the possibility of re-establishing basic health services
was explored. One unit of basic kit was donated to each of the places
visited. Curative care was also started at Bopolu health centre.

The International Rescue Committee is continuing with measles vaccination
campaign. The organization has vaccinated an estimated 50,000 children for
measles in its three-month campaign to give 180,000 Liberian children
protection against the disease. The campaign is being carried out in IDP
sites and their host communities in Montserrado, Margibi and Bong Counties

3. Internally Displaced persons

IDPs continue to return to the regular camps in Montserrado. The taskforce
on relocation of IDPs is currently working with agencies and camp managers
to assist IDPs construct additional shelters to accommodate the remaining
caseloads still in irregular shelters. Meanwhile a survey is being
conducted to establish the numbers of IDPs, ascertain their places of
origin in the 189 identified shelters.

>From 25 September 2003, IRC started distribution of large quantities of
non-food items in IDP camps in the surroundings of Monrovia. Almost 9,000
items, such as blankets, buckets, straw mats and pots were given out at
the New Land IDP camp near Careysburg. This week, mass distribution will
continue in the main IDP camp at Salala and in 12 Monrovia orphanages.

Relocation of IDPs from schools and clinics resumed today with the
assistance of UNHCR, after a brief suspension to review the whole process
and address immediate needs.  A meeting chaired by OCHA and LRRRC brought
together concerned agencies in order to identify alternatives to current
irregular shelters.  It was agreed that LRRRC would provide consolidated
statistics of the remaining population in schools and clinics.  LRRRC also
presented the possibility of moving the residual residents to Mt Barclay,
Fendell, and Careysburg. An assessment of security in refugee camps
(Samukai, Banjor, and VOA) was conducted.  General situation is
satisfactory, while ECOMIL has yet to establish a post at Samukai.

Identification of refugees to take part in the Security Watch Group is
ongoing.  Their presence, including night patrols, should enhance physical
protection in the camps.

They will be fully operational once equipment such as torches and whistles
have been provided.  UNHCR is trying to ensure involvement of women to
ensure gender-specific needs are met.

The assessment in the refugee camps also confirmed the presence of some
Ivorian refugees and third-country nationals among Sierra Leonean
refugees: one person from Burkina Faso and a few Ivorians in Banjor, as
well as 4 Ivorians in Samukai.  These were persons who may have escaped
from the fighting in eastern Liberia.

Common Services

United Nations Joint Logistics Centre (UNJLC)

For more information on the services offered by UNJLC please visit their
website (www.unjlc.org).

Humanitarian Information Centre (HIC)

In readiness for the CAP 2004, HIC is gathering data and information to
meet the mapping requirements for the humanitarian community. Reports sent
to the HIC are made available on the HIC website, raising awareness of
both sectoral needs and organisation activities. Please submit to the HIC
office or to HIC-ME-01@un.org


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