OCHA Situation Report No. 45
Liberia
17 September 2003


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

General Situation

The inter-Agency and NGOs mission to Harper has ended its assessment and
is now returning to Monrovia. Preliminary findings show that the situation
is relatively calm. The airstrip and port remain in good working order,
although there is no formal logistical support. The city does not have
power and water is provided through some few wells and water pumps. In
Totota, the four IDP camps have reached their full capacity, with some
pressing needs on food, water, water containers and plastic sheeting. WFP
will start distributing food tomorrow to the four camps.

Humanitarian Activities by Sector

1. Food aid

Registration is on-going in Montserrado Camps to determine existing needs
including food requirements. On Tuesday, 16 September, WFP transported to
Buchanan about 96 MT of food targeted at a population of about 6,325 IDPs
to be distributed on Wednesday by its implementing partner, Catholic
Relief Services.

2. Health and Nutrition

Harper Hospital was extensively looted including doctors and staff
quarters. Majority of staff have not returned to work although there does
not appear to be any major outbreak of disease, malnutrition particularly
among children. Many homes are vacant, although badly damaged. The
Catholic Mission Clinic was also looted and is non-functional. A MODEL
clinic is operating in town.

In the town of Pleebo, 30 kilometres north of Harper, a booming trade of
local foodstuffs and goods from Cote D'ivoire was witnessed. Although the
hospital is in need of basic medicines, there is a working generator and
functioning water pump, a former UNHCR transit camp just past Pleebo town
formerly housing about 3,000 refugees was entirely abandoned. Population
between Harper and Pleebo appeared unencumbered.

On 17 September IRC will also launch a three-month campaign to vaccinate
about 180,000 Liberian children between the ages of six months and 15
years in IDP sites and their host communities in Montserrado, Margibi and
Bong Counties. Children under five will receive vitamin A.

3. Water and Sanitation

International Rescue Committee begun last week the construction of
latrines and bathing facilities for approximately 13,000 displaced persons
stranded in the former Science College in Fendel village in Bensonville
Township.

4. Back to School campaign

UNICEF has continued discussions and organise working groups for the 'Back
to School Campaign'. UNDP will support the rehabilitation of schools. WFP
will also support the campaign through Food-for-Work for teachers and
school feeding programmes. Assessments have also been made in Buchanan and
Salala-Totota areas which have become accessible due to deployment of
ECOMIL forces. Initial school supplies will be distributed on 20 October
2003.

Common Services

5. United Nations Joint Logistic Centre

UNJLC has facilitated transportation of IDPs from temporary shelters in
Monrovia for the vulnerable population to the regular camps in Montserrado
County.

6. Humanitarian Information Centre

Please visit the website www.humanitarianinfo.org/liberia

For further information:

Nicholas McGowan, Reports/Public information Officer
Rosemary Musumba, Public information/spokesperson
OCHA Liberia + (377 47) 53 04 33, + (377 47) 53 00 48
Email: nicholas.mcgowan@undp.org; rosemary.musumba@undp.org


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