OCHA Situation Report No. 62
Liberia
28 October 2003


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

GENERAL SITUATION

The Gbarnga-Ganta route is now open according to a report from the UN
Field Security Office/UNMIL assessment mission by air to Saniquelle.  Two
vehicles transported by an UNMIL helicopter successfully drove down to
Monrovia.  The mission also reported that there were Ivorian refugees in
Saniquelle and surrounding villages.

The international Committee of the Red Cross in a press release has stated
that twenty-eight persons detained for security reasons by the Movement
for Democracy in Liberia (MODEL) were released yesterday. All those freed
were given the choice of remaining in Zwedru, where they had been held, or
being transferred by ICRC to Buchanan or Monrovia. Prior to the detainees'
release, ICRC delegates held private interviews with them to check their
identities and assess their state of health.  The group was set free under
the terms of the Accra peace accord, signed in August 2003 by the Liberian
Government, Model and Lurd groups. ICRC has recently opened sub-delegation
in Zwedru, It is also planning to open sub-delegations in Voinjama, Lofa
County in the near future.

HUMANITARIAN ACTIVITIES BY SECTOR

1. Food aid

World Food Programme provided 8 MT of assorted food commodities including
sugar, Corn Soya Blend (CSB) and pulses to MSF-Switzerland, for
distribution to 1, 825 beneficiaries in Saclepea, Nimba (27 October).  A
rapid assessment conducted last week indicated malnutrition cases among
refugees and IDPs sheltered in the Saclepea camp.  Following a WFP field
mission to Salala, Fendell, Totota, Kakata and Tumutu, registration of the
population in the camps would begin on 30 October.  WFP began off loading
2, 520 Metric Tons of Bulgur Wheat from the MV "Wilson" ship since her
arrival in Monrovia on 26 October.

2. Internally Displaced Persons

In Totota, an IDP Relocation Committee comprising ACF, LWF/WS, CONCERN,
ICRC and LRRRC was constituted to urgently address the relocation of IDPs
from schools and transit centres earmarked for emergency education
programs.  A field team monitoring the Monrovia-Totota Highway reports a
spontaneous return of people back to Gbarnga (23 October).  In response,
UNHCR has deployed monitors to record the numbers of returnees and their
places of destination.

3. Water, Sanitation, Shelter & NFIs

 A Bong County camp management meeting of (28 October) reports the
extension of camps is on- going in Totota.  CONCERN and ACF are
collaborating in the layout of a new annex in Maimu 1 and 2.  A
verification of the population in the transit centres in the Totota camps
is also taking place to determine the number of shelter requirements in
the extension plan.  ICRC has laid out 308 plots and issued 90 plots to
IDPs in Maimu 3 as at (28 October).  Incidents of theft of humanitarian
assets in the Totota camps have been reported (150 mitre water pipe
belonging to MSF-France and tarpaulins on latrines)..

4. Health & Nutrition

WHO weekly surveillance activities report for (13-19 October) indicates a
reduction in incidence of Cholera around Monrovia.  The report indicated
the need for the intensification of public health measures such as mass
chlorination and public awareness in areas like Paynesville and Bushrod
Island where severe cases had been reported. UNICEF provided EQUIP Liberia
(the only NGO operating in Nimba County in the health sector) with both
health and nutrition supplies.  The items delivered by UNMIL helicopter
included 5,000 doses of Measles vaccine, 2000 capsules of Vitamin A, BP5
biscuits and F 100 milk.

5. Education

By (27 October), UNICEF in collaboration with other partners in support of
the 'Back to School program had distributed 943 School-in-a-Box kits
within Montserrado, Margibi, Bong and Grand Bassa Counties, providing
school supplies for a total of 75, 440 children.  As soon as security
conditions permit, 126 School-in-a-Box kits containing materials for some
10, 090 children will be delivered in Bomi County.

COMMON SERVICES

6. Civil-Military Coordination

7. United Nations Joint Logistics Centre (UNJLC)

THE UNJLC WEBSITE: www.unjlc.org/home/liberia

8. Humanitarian Information Centre (HIC)

The HIC can be contacted through: hic.Liberia@undp.org and the website
address: www.humanitarianinfo.org/Liberia

For further information and contributions contact Rosemary Musumba, Public
Information Officer/Spokesperson OCHA Liberia + (377 47) 53 00 48 Email:
rosemary.musumba@undp.org


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