OCHA Humanitarian Situation No. 48
Liberia
22 September 2003


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

General Situation

The protection of civilians remains a preoccupation for humanitarian
actors.  The continued intimidation and abuse of human rights by armed
parties, highlighted in recent missions to Buchanan and Gbarnga, must
stop. United Nations agencies, together with NGOs and INGOs will work to
ensure protection issues are brought to the fore, and that relevant human
rights and International Humanitarian Laws (IHL) are respected.  The
continued expansion of operations across Liberia is set to continue next
week, buoyed by the Harper Mission, another inter-agency assessment
mission will travel next week to Zwedru, close to the eastern border with
Côte d'Ivoire.

Humanitarian Activities by Sector

1. Zwedru Mission

A United Nations inter-agency Mission will travel to Zwedru (east of
Monrovia) next Monday to assess the security conditions for the resumption
of UN operations, including undertaking an assessment of the humanitarian
situation in the region and the surroundings environs.  The Mission will
comprise the UN World Health Organisation (WHO), UN Office for the High
Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), UN children's Fund (UNICEF), UN World
Food Programme (WFP) and UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian
Affairs (OCHA).

2. Food Aid

WFP commenced a general food distribution to four IDP camps in Totota.  
In total, 65,759 beneficiaries will receive 1085 Mt of assorted
commodities. The distribution will be managed by Lutheran World Federation
(LWF) WFP's implementing partner.  WFP food aid monitors will also
participate. Starting today, WFP convoys will be travelling daily to
Totota, carrying 66.6 Mt of assorted commodities to be distributed to
4,000 people daily. The first distribution is expected to begin on
Saturday, 20 September.

3. IDPs

In Liberia, registration is nearly completed in five camps for internally
displaced people (IDPs) in and around Monrovia. UNHCR and the
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) have been providing relief
supplies, while new data collected through registration will allow the
World Food Programme to start another round of food distribution.  Other
aid agencies have also been working to improve medical and sanitation
facilities at the IDP camps. The International Medical Corps has set up a
clinic in Wilson camp, World Vision will re-open another at Jahtondo camp,
while Save the Children Fund is running a clinic through all the camps
once a week. Work is also continuing on the camps' water and sanitation
facilities that were damaged either during the recent fighting or after
years of disuse. The transit shelters at these IDP camps are almost full,
and the relocation of displaced Liberians from Monrovia has been put on
hold until more shelters can be built.

4. Health and Nutrition

a) The first mass measles immunisation campaign for children six months to
15 years was held in Tubmanburg.  During the one-week campaign health
workers vaccinated over 3,000 children and administered over 1,400 Vitamin
A doses to children below five years of age.  A second campaign was held
in Grand Cape Mount and Gbarpolu Counties.  A total of 458 children were
vaccinated and 207 received Vitamin A supplements. The campaign will now
continue in Bomi County.

b) World Vision Liberia has secured US$ 192,502 from WV UK Disaster
Emergency Committee (DEC) fund for a six-month project that will promote
the health of traumatised internally displaced children and teachers.  
The project will train 100 teachers on methods of trauma healing.  The
project will also establish and operate a 24-hour primary health care
clinic at a displaced camp in Monrovia. This is expected to benefit 25,000
IDPS presently in and around Monrovia.  In addition to these efforts,
Fatima Cottage Orphanage (with over 200 orphans housed in temporary IDP
shelters in Monrovia) will receive assistance to help to re-establish
itself.

5. Protection

a) According reports from the humanitarian actors in the field, several
hundred civilians are being exploited by LURD as forced Labour in Gbarnga
(Bong County).  Many are hungry; some have reportedly died of starvation.
Women are being used to harvest rice from local farms for LURD generals
and commanders.  The use of drugs among the combatants was reportedly
widespread.  Serious human rights issues exist.  The Protection Group,
which includes United Nations participation, will undertake an assessment
mission next Wednesday.

b) The United Nations Office for the High Commissioner for Refugees
(UNHCR) in Guinea has reported the arrival in recent days of some 2,000
new Liberian refugees in the southern Guinean town of Fassankoni.  The
Refugees said they fled their homes in Liberia's Lofa County after the
departure of the Liberian army and takeover by LURD (Liberians United for
Reconciliation and Democracy).

Common Services

6. United Nations Joint Logistic Centre (UNJLC)

The fifth weekly Joint Logistics Meeting was held in the Humanitarian
Operations Centre (HOC).  A brief on the United Nations World Food
Programme Air Service was provided.  Concerns were raised regarding the
need for clarification of charges being levied at Monrovia Freeport.

7. Humanitarian Information Centre (HIC)

Please visit the website www.humanitarianinfo.org/liberia


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