OCHA Situation Report No. 67
Liberia
17 November 2003


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

GENERAL SITUATION

I. Highlights

The Executive Director of World Food Programme, Mr James Morris made a
brief visit to Liberia on Saturday, 15 November 2003. He met with Mr. C.
Gyude Bryant, Chairman of National Transitional Government of Liberia, the
UNMIL DSRSG, Mr. Souren Seraydarian and the UN Country Team. He also
visited IDP camps and observed Port Operations in Monrovia.

II. Assessment Missions undertaken

A follow-up inter-Agency mission was undertaken to Saclepea, on14 November
2003, with the aim of distributing NFIs and food to IDPs in Lovee, Nimba
County. The mission noted population movements on the road from Saclepea
to Lovee and reported critical concerns regarding the water and
sanitation, as well as the shelter situation. Food for a two-week ration
(20 MT) was distributed to 2,555 IDPs. The mission further reported 5
additional new IDP locations, with a total of around 12,000 IDPs with
urgent needs and another 20,000 IDPs in Ganta. There are 7 schools in
Saclepea, hosting 4,200 IDPs, which have reached their reception capacity.

III. Assessment Missions planned

i. A UNHCR Mission to Harper will take place on Wednesday, 19 November,
with the aim of distributing NFIs.

ii. A WFP Mission to Harper will take place on Friday, 21 November, with
the aim of distributing food.

iii. A UNHCR Mission to Saclepea will take place on Saturday, 22 November.
The mission will have a UNMIL military escort. The aim of the mission is
the distribution of NFIs.

IV. Camp Management

12 representatives of local and international NGOs attended a workshop on
Camp Management Guidelines and tool kit.  It aimed at preparing camp
managers to take on coordination roles in the various camps. The Norwegian
Refugee Council (NRC) facilitated the workshop, which was supported by
OCHA. On 14 November, local NGOs held a meeting, chaired by OCHA, in which
they presented a program indicating the organizational and management
structure for the formation of a local NGO Forum, the Liberia NGOs
Network. The meeting is part of an on going process of formalizing a
single local NGO structure with which the UN Agencies and other
international organizations could work, thereby promoting cooperation and
capacity-building.

V. Repatriation

UNHCR reported on 12 November that thirteen refugees were repatriated on a
WFP flight to various destinations in Sierra Leone including Kenema in the
eastern region, Pujehun in the south and Freetown in the West.
Pre-registration is on going in the three refugee camps.  The next
repatriation is scheduled for 17 November.

HUMANITARIAN ACTIVITIES BY SECTOR

1. Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)

Relocation of IDPs in Monrovia has been suspended until an assessment of
camps not covered under the program is completed by the LRRRC.  
Relocation is on going in Unification Town and is being implemented by
American Refugee Council and supported by UNHCR.

2. Education

Approximately 3, 200 teachers have received orientation in Emergency
Response to Education and effective use of the School-in-a-Box kits under
the UNICEF supported Back to School Initiative.  The participating
teachers came from Montserrado, Margibi, Grand Bassa and Bong Counties.

3. Protection

In continuation of the training of UNMIL peacekeepers UNICEF, on 11
November led an orientation on Child Rights and Child Protection for 30
Commanding Officers from the Bangladesh battalion.  This battalion
previously served in Sierra Leone, which allowed the officers to share and
build on their experiences.  UNICEF and member agencies of the Child
Protection Working Group are working to pre-position care and support for
the children associated with the fighting forces as they disarm and
demobilize.

COMMON SERVICES

7.  Humanitarian Information Centre (HIC):
www.humanitarianinfo.org/liberia

New products:

- A map showing the locations and means of transport for Inter-Agency
missions from August-November

- 2 new checkpoint maps, showing North-West and Central and East-West and
Central Liberia, respectively.

8. United Nations Joint Logistics Centre (UNJLC):
www.unjlc.org/home/liberia

The Humanitarian Operations Centre will be operational next week.
Representatives from UNJLC, FITTEST, Air Operations, HIC, UNSECCORD, Civil
Military Coordination, UNMIL and NGO Liaison focal point will be present
situated at WFP conference room. The HOC will provide information on
undertaken and planned missions.

For further information and contributions contact

Rosemary Musumba, Public Information Officer/Spokesperson OCHA Liberia
+ 377 47 53 00 48
Email: rosemary.musumba@undp.org

Hugo Karlsson, Reporting Officer, OCHA Liberia
+ 377 47 53 01 97
Email: hugo.karlsson@undp.org


distributed by
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Center for International                  web: www.cidi.org
    Disaster Information             listserv: www.cidi.org/listsub.htm
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
comments/suggestions/requests to incident@cidi.org