OCHA Situation Report No. 73
Liberia
5 December 2003


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

3-5 December 2003
GENERAL SITUATION

I. Assessment Missions undertaken

An inter-agency assessment mission to two irregular shelters, Massaquoi
and Hutton Farm in Margibi County was carried out on 3 December to
ascertain the humanitarian needs of IDPs reported to be sheltered in both
settlements.  During the mission, members of the Team met with camp
leaders who indicated that there was a population of some 2,880 and 1,590
IDPs in both settlements, respectively. The team recognized the need to
verify the population prior to planning intervention in the area.  A
one-time food distribution was recommended.  This was based on the
reported erosion of coping mechanisms, such as the provision of labour on
private farms and commercial rubber plantations, a process that provided a
few cups of rice per day to the IDP population during the rice-harvesting
season, which is now ending.  The mission recognized that assistance would
be arranged and a decision was taken to relocate the IDPs to a recognized
camp.

The Inter-agency mission to Robertsport, Cape Mount County, on board the
M/V Ship "Rotterdam are reported to have started their assessment of the
area. According to an initial report, food distribution was carried out to
all registered refugees and IDPs, in total 240 family heads. WHO
distributed emergency kits to the Red Cross clinic, which was emptied and
had been looted. The mission observed 6 schools, however none of which was
functioning. Around 2,500 people are now living in the town, compared to
around 500 some weeks ago. Robertsport is about 269 km from Monrovia.

Assessment Missions planned

A mission on the M/V Ship "Rotterdam" is planned for Harper, Maryland,
10-14 December, to distribute food and Non-Food Items (NFIs).

II. Coordination Sector Groups

The Agricultural Coordination Committee met on 4 December. A Seed and Tool
Technical Working Group, which had been established earlier, have
identified the seed varities and tools and their respective specification
as well as determined distribution rate for farmers, with the aim to
ensure uniformity in the distribution carried out by agricultural
agencies. The meeting also presented an "Agricultural Assessment of
Planting Materials Results" assessment, the purpose of which was to
evaluate and document the agricultural situation relative to security,
farming activity, the implications for rehabilitation 2004, as well as
other incidental information.

The IDP Committee met on 4 December. The members discussed the ongoing
relocation exercise from Harbel and D-Tweh irregular shelters in Monrovia,
to regular IDP camps, Unification camp in Margibi County, Mount Barclay
and Ricks camp both in Montserrado. The registration [for the relocation
exercise] started on 3 December in Harbel areas and was completed 4
December at D-Tweh High school. As of 5 December all the IDPs had been
relocated from Harbel, in total 1,630 persons. MERLIN reported that the
expansion of Mount Barclay is underway and that the camp is planned be
ready to receive additional IDPs by 8 December. The issue of
expansion/absorption capacity at Ricks is still pending. It was further
reported that SKD stadium an irregular site would be the next priority for
relocation, given the disturbing protection situation there. OCHA is to
invite all agencies involved to assist in sensitisation. Another irregular
site for which relocation is considered is the Masonic Temple. LRRRC is to
check whether the 15 December deadline will hold.

The meeting took important policy decisions on the Selection Criteria and
Terms of Reference (ToR) for Lead Agencies, in the area of Camp
Management. The IDP Strategy/Action Plan was also agreed upon. This
document serves as a working framework, which will be revised periodically
as return/reintegration plans are firmed up.

HUMANITARIAN ACTIVITIES BY SECTOR

1. Education

The UNICEF supported Back to School Teacher orientation was completed 2
December.  So far, a total of 7, 211 teachers benefited from Rapid
Educational Response.  Orientation of teachers is to be resumed January
2004.

2. Water and Sanitation

The collection and disposal of garbage in Monrovia continued to be
supported by UNICEF and OXFAM, collaborating with the Monrovia City
Corporation in ridding the City of some 7, 000 cubic meters of garbage
since September 2003.

As part of the Liberia Needs Assessment for Reconstruction, UNICEF led a
daylong consultative workshop on the WES sector on 4 December.  85
participants from national and international NGOs, UN agencies and
government ministries were represented.

3. Health and Nutrition

A review of Measles activities since June 2003 was conducted in a UNICEF
supported Ministry of Health workshop on 3 December.  The workshop aimed
to plan for upcoming interventions.  The 40 participants in the workshop
included implementing NGO partners, WHO and the Ministry of Health County
Health Teams.

4. Protection

UNHCR has documented cases of young Sierra Leonean refugees who were
conscripted during the recent internal conflict, by the various armed
factions. In collaboration with ICRC, UNHCR traced and facilitated the
reunification of six Liberian refugee unaccompanied minors from Guinea.
Also, a group of 136 individuals, including 11 third country nationals
(TCNs) are reported to have crossed into Liberia from Ghana on 18 November
through Thuo crossing point into Nimba County. Means of monitoring these
movements are hampered by the fact that security phase V is in place in
the area.

Improvements have been made of the camp security in both refugee and IDP
camps pursuant to the establishment and training of the Community Watch
Teams, together with Liberia Refugee, Resettlement and Repatriation
Commission (LRRRC) and the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC).

18 Sierra Leonean refugees repatriated on 24 November. Another group of 11
refugees were expected to fly out on 1 December.

Training of Trainers is in progress for social workers who will serve
Interim Care Centres for separated children and children going through the
demobilization process.  From 2-6 December 20 trainees from 8 agencies are
being trained in Communication with children, children's rights and
protection for children affected by armed conflict.

UNICEF led a workshop on 3 December for 16 UNMIL Officers and Military
Observers on child protection and child rights issues.

5. Food aid

WFP distributed food to an additional beneficiary caseload in following
IDPs camps on 1 December

|------------------+-------------+----------+-----------------|
| Camps            | Location    | Caseload | Qty distributed |
|                  |             | served   |       (Mt)      |
|------------------+-------------+----------+-----------------|
| Blamasee (IDP)   | Montserrado |    4,646 |            77.3 |
|------------------+-------------+----------+-----------------|
| Jartondo (IDP)   | Montserrado |    2,360 |            41.2 |
|------------------+-------------+----------+-----------------|
| Perry Town (IDP) | Montserrado |      826 |            13.7 |
|------------------+-------------+----------+-----------------|
|                  | TOTAL       |    7,832 |           132.2 |
|------------------+-------------+----------+-----------------|



COMMON SERVICES

6. Humanitarian Information Centre (HIC)

New products:

Information showing agricultural activities on district level

A FAO database on Who's Doing What Where

On-line resources for the DDRR process, e.g. lessons learnt

For details go to: www.humanitarianinfo.org/liberia

7. United Nations Joint Logistics Centre (UNJLC)

For details go to: www.unjlc.org/home/liberia


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