OCHA Situation Report No. 64
Liberia
4 November 2003


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

GENERAL SITUATION

A sigh of relief has been received by the media fraternity in Liberia over
the directive and lifting of over 3 years ban on the independent Star
Radio by the Chairman of the National Transitional Government, C. Gyude
Bryant on 3 November during the ' Back to School' Launch. The Star radio
station was owned by the Swiss-based NGO foundation Hirondelle.

HUMANITARIAN ACTIVITIES BY SECTOR

1. Food aid

WFP signed a letter of Understanding with Adventists Development Relief
Agency to implement the Emergency School Feeding programme in parts of
Montserrado and throughout Margibi Counties.  ADRA will implement the
programme in 800 primary schools, reaching 146, 000 children by the end of
the school year 2003/2004.  ADRA would provide schools with non-food items
donated by the German government.  ADRA distributed 83.6 Metric Tons of
assorted commodities to 5, 574 IDPs in Jahtondo in Montserrado (31
October).  Registration of IDPs in the Totota camps has been completed
while the process is on going in Salala and Kakata camps.  LRRRC reports
that the results from the enumeration exercise are expected this week

2. Internally Displaced Persons

Relocation of IDPs from the Monrovia irregular shelters is on going.  (27
-31 October), 699 people from 6 irregular shelters were moved to IDP camps
in Fendell and Montserrado. UNHCR reported in the camp coordination
meeting today (4 November) in Totota, that there was a large movement of
IDPs back to their homes in Bong County along the route to Gbarnga.  
UNHCR and LRRRC have positioned monitors at UNMIL checkpoints in Bong,
especially in Totota to gather data on population movements.

3. Health & Nutrition

At a regular camp coordination meeting today (4 November) in Totota, an
international NGO, Concern reported that along with MSF-F and IRC, they
have began spraying camps in Bong with insecticides.  Spraying of
insecticide began in Salala, with plans to move into Totota.  Curan
Hospital that operated in Zorzor, Lofa County prior to the escalation of
hostilities began an assessment of its facilities in Zorzor on 3 November.

The Methodist hospital in Ganta is badly damaged.  This was observed by
MSF -Holland and MSF-CH while on an assessment to Nimba in the week of 26
October.  The hospital's store, pharmacy and laboratory were all looted
including an electric pump and the three generators, one of which was
looted while the other two have parts missing.  In Sanniquellie, the
Catholic Mission Clinic was functioning with seven staff members that have
continued the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) activities with
supplies that were available in the MOH hospital.  The new vaccine
supplies were flown in on a UNMIL helicopter on an earlier assessment to
Sanniquellie.  According to their report, the diseases observed were
diarrhoea, shigella and kwashiorkor.  The mission to Nimba also reported
that the Ministry of Health (MOH) Hospital and the Out-Patient Department
(OPD) in Sanniquellie was also functioning and was found to be in good
condition.  According to the report, the hospital is able to observe 10-15
patients per day.  There were six (6) patients, three surgical cases
(Amputation arm/Abdominal/Bladder obstruction).  While in Yekepa, the
mission observed that the hospital that had received MOH support prior to
the war was functioning with sixty-one staff members.  OPD has capacity
for about 25-30 patients per day.  The rampant diseases seen are Malaria,
Anaemia, Malnutrition and diarrhoea. WHO, in its weekly surveillance
activities report for (October 20 -26) indicated that from 31 health
facilities operating in Monrovia and some parts in Margibi, Grand Bassa
and Bong counties, Cholera cases are continuously decreasing with no
Cholera-associated death for the week.

4. Education

As at (3 November), UNICEF School-in-a-Box kits were delivered to five
accessible counties, providing school supplies for a total of 327, 680
children.  Distributions would continue as more kits arrive and other
areas of the country become accessible.  In support of Back to School, the
Chairman of the National Transitional Government, Gyude Bryant, at the
formal launching of the BTS in Kingsville, Montserrado, directed the
payment of USD100, 000 for the payment of teacher's salaries and USD150,
000 for the reopening of the University of Liberia.  The UNICEF supported
Back to School initiative includes provision of clean drinking water,
adequate sanitation, school feeding and de-worming.  In carrying out these
activities, UNICEF is collaborating with UNDP, WFP and UNHCR.

5. Protection

UNICEF led an orientation on child protection for 12 Military Observers on
31 October, whose functions will be key in child protection and in the
disarmament and demobilisation of former combatants, including women. An
assessment of the camps in Totota, Salala and Kakata has recommended
improvements in camp management, including protection arrangments for
vulnerable groups. The Core Protection Group is currently examining the
Camp Management Guidelines and assessing practices with a view to
strengthening protection in Camp Management.

COMMON SERVICES

8. Civil-Military Coordination

9. United Nations Joint Logistics Centre - UNJLC
(www.unjlc.org/home/liberia)

10. Humanitarian Information Centre - HIC
(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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