OCHA Situation Report No. 41
Liberia
11 September 2003


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

GENERAL SITUATION

Fighting between Government militia and LURD combatants in Kakata - 50
kilometres northeast of Monrovia city, endangered the lives of IDPs and
civilian populations in the early hours of Tuesday morning. Preliminary
reports indicate as many as 3,000 civilians fled into neighbouring areas,
taking with them what few belongings they could carry. The instability
comes as the humanitarian community was beginning to make inroads into
meeting the needs of these vulnerable people. It is imperative that all
armed combatants immediately cease hostiles. It is also vital that all
humanitarian actors are allowed to undertake their work, unencumbered by
intimidatory tactics, including the theft of their equipment, by armed
combatants in direct contravention of the Agreement on the Distribution of
Humanitarian Aid and Assistance, signed by all parties to the conflict on
17 August 2003.

HUMANITARIAN ACTIVITIES BY SECTOR

1.  Food aid

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) together with UNICEF and Catholic Relief
Service (CRS) today distributed 4MT of assorted commodities to 700
vulnerable people (15 days rations) in Buchanan. Out of 60 children in the
two hospitals in Buchanan, 90 per cent are malnourished, while 10 per cent
are severely malnourished according. Approximately 75% on women are
malnourished.

2.  Health and Nutrition

World Vision will open at least four feeding centres for malnourished
people in Monrovia this week. A centre at Morris Farm is operational and
has admitted 25 children. Registration is continuing in other targeted
areas. In New Kru Town, about 70 children will be admitted shortly.
Malnutrition in New Kru Town is considered to be serious. "Our target is
to open at least four centres in Monrovia with at least 100 children
each," said Fracois Batalingayi, Health and Nutrition Manager. The
programme has also finished the rehabilitation of Jahtundo clinic, which
will be opened in the course of the week to offer curative services to the
displaced population.

3.  Water and Sanitation

The cholera epidemic continues in Buchanan. The number of cases has risen
from 85 to 213 cases this week, with the deaths of eight people recorded.
The international NGO, Merlin, has delivered cholera kits, surgical kits
and some hygiene equipment for the Buchanan hospital, targeting their
assistance toward pregnant and lactating mothers. Additional water pumps
are required to assist in the chlorination of wells (UNICEF and LWS/F have
pledged assistance). Merlin, WFP, UNICEF, Concern, LWS/F and MSF-Holland
will continue their work in Buchanan on Wednesday.

4.  Shelter and Non-food items

On Monday, UNHCR delivered blankets, jerry cans, kitchen sets and mats for
613 families (about 3,000 people) living in Seigbeh displaced camp in the
Montserrado area, north of Monrovia. These people had already received
shelter material from the ICRC. The UNHCR-chartered MV Overbeck arrived
from Freetown last week with more relief material for 3,000 persons.

5.  Protection

Two international NGOs (Merlin - health, shelter, water and sanitation
sectors, and Concern - sanitation sector) working in Harbel, on the
outskirts of Monrovia, will assess the security and humanitarian situation
tomorrow following the possible influx of IDPs who fled renewed fighting
in Kakata this morning. ICRC will also undertake ongoing activities in the
area.

A joint inter-agency UN and NGO security assessment mission is scheduled
to visit Harper this Friday (to establish a humanitarian operational base
in southern Liberia) and Zwedru. The Office of the Special Humanitarian
Coordinator for Liberia is coordinating these efforts with the cooperation
of the Acting Humanitarian Coordinator and WFP Representative in
neighbouring Côte d'Ivoire. UNHCR is actively seeking ways to gain access
to Ivorian refugees in the east of Liberia. Discussions have been held
with MODEL (Movement for Democracy in Liberia) representatives, who have
shown a willingness to provide access. Options to gain access to the east
could include cross-border operations from Côte d'Ivoire, or by boat from
Monrovia to Harper. The UNHCR office in Tabou, Côte d'Ivoire, has received
credible reports that Harper town has been severely looted. There are also
worrying reports of various kinds of harassment and sexual violence.
Before the most recent fighting, UNHCR was taking care of over 38,000
Ivorian refugees who fled the war in Côte d'Ivoire.

COMMON SERVICES

6.  United Nations Joint Logistic Centre (UNJLC)

In the period between 26th August and 7 September UNJLC has facilitated
the receipt of 175.034MT of humanitarian aid (132.534MT food aid, and
42.5MT NFIs). Inbound cargo has consisted of daily deliveries of both
sugar and CSB. Full details of both cargo service fees and storage charges
along with all other tariffs at the Freeport of Monrovia will shortly be
available at www.unljc.org.

7.  Humanitarian Information Centre (HIC)

The HIC, an interagency common device of the UN that encompasses UN
Agencies, NGOs and donor entities, serves as the hub for collection,
integration and dissemination of information and data. The HIC provides
coordination tools and provides technical support management to the
humanitarian community. Please visit the new website
www.humanitarianinfo.org/hicliberia


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