OCHA Situation Report No. 49
Liberia
24 September 2003


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

GENERAL SITUATION

The UN Special Humanitarian Coordinator, Mr Ross Mountain, returned to
Liberia today after attending the Security Council meeting in New York
last week, at which the Council resolved to deploy a UN stabilisation
force to Liberia.  In addition to support for the ceasefire and the peace
process, the UN mandated force will include protection of United Nations
staff and civilians, as well as support for humanitarian and human rights
initiatives. Assistance for national police training and formation of a
new, restructured military is also foreseen.  In establishing UNMIL, the
Council, called on all parties to pay special attention to gender issues
and the protection of children - including an immediate end to use of
child soldiers.

HUMANITARIAN ACTIVITIES BY SECTOR

1. Food Aid

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) continued with the general
food distribution in Totota through its implementing partner, Lutheran
World Federation (LWF).  Presently the distribution is reaching
approximately 4,000 people daily, with an overall target of 65,000.
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) continues its distribution work in Buchanan
(about 32,000 targeted population), while World Vision has started
distribution of food in Wilson Corner, Montserrado, today.  Other camps in
Montserrado will begin to receive food once their registration process is
complete.  In Salala, 37,000 IDPs have been registered, with a food
distribution planned later this week.

2. Health and Nutrition

According to figures published by the UN World Health Organisation (WHO)
Week 37 has roughly the same number of cholera cases as the previous three
weeks, although the number of reporting sites has increased.  Despite
increased chlorination, Paynesville and Central Monrovia present the
highest caseloads.  Monitoring chlorination and household chlorination
should be established as well as inspecting street vendors and expanding
IC messages emphasising food hygiene.

3. Water and Sanitation

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) started construction of latrines
in the New Land IDP camp near Careysburg over the weekend.  The New Land
camp is the second largest IDP site that the IRC has fitted with sanitary
facilities so far.  Construction of 50 latrines and 20 bathing facilities,
serving some 13,000 IDPs, was completed last week in Fendel village in
Bensonville Township.

4. Protection

The Protection Group met today and identified a number of critical issues
that require follow-up in the sub-working groups on child and gender
issues.  These issues pertained to the situation inside IDP camps and
shelters, the terms of reference of UNAMIL, and child soldiers.  These
issues will be further developed as a matter of priority at this week's
Steering Committee scheduled on Thursday.

COMMON SERVICES

5. United Nations Joint Logistic Centre (UNJLC)

As part of the continuing study into Customs and Immigration, UNJLC are
looking into the issue of visa charges for NGOs at Roberts International
Airport.  UNJLC continue to oversee the transportation aspect of the
relocation of IDPs from shelters in Monrovia back to restored camps
outside of the city.  UNJLC are to commence the systematic gathering of
information on key supply routes. Road, Bridge and Airport quick
assessment forms are available from UNJLC or downloadable from the UNJLC
website at www.unjlc.org A survey of fuel stations in Monrovia has been
completed by UNJLC and a map of the results is available.

6. Civil Military Coordination

The first joint (civil-military) weekly UN Civil-Military Coordination
meeting convened on 20 September, with participation from ECOMIL and UN
agencies.  Including discussion related to the ECOMIL deployment and WFP
air service, the forum discussed the relocation of IDPs from shelters to
camps in Monrovia, the deployment of ECOMIL checkpoints and follow-up on
the location and recovery of looted vehicles.  It is anticipated that the
first nucleus of the UNMIL force headquarters will arrive in Monrovia this
week.

7. Humanitarian Information Centre (HIC)

Two new staff have arrived to take up position in the Humanitarian
Information Centre (HIC) office, located in the UNDP office in Monrovia.
Slava Danilyan (viacheslav.danilyan@undp.org) will take over from Bill
Bell as HIC Manager, while Paul Currion (paul.currion@undp.org) is
beginning work as Liaison Officer for the HIC.  The HIC would like to
invite all humanitarian actors to visit their office to discuss the
products and services that will become available in the coming weeks.  
Please visit the HIC website www.humanitarianinfo.org/liberia


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