OCHA Situation Report
Liberia Humanitarian Situation 
Update No. 126
15 - 21 November 2004


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

A. GENERAL SITUATION

Highlights

The Humanitarian Coordination Section led an interagency technical 
assessment mission to Butuo, Nimba County from 16 - 18 November. The team 
included representatives from UNHCR, WFP, UNICEF, WHO, UNFPA, UNDP, IOM, 
IRC, Africare and Zoa Refugee Care.

Based out of Butuo, the border crossing point that has seen the highest 
number of Ivorian refugees, team members visited accessible border points 
to interview refugees and assessed emergency and infrastructural needs in 
these communities. UNHCR has so far registered over 10,000 refugees but 
expects the number to be far higher.

In the mean time, WHO and health partners have been meeting in Nimba to 
put in place a response mechanism for refugees arriving at the border. 
This includes the airlifting of health equipment and other support to the 
Ministry of Health to build its capacity for surveillance for health 
workers in the area, conduct rapid health and nutrition assessments, 
provide technical support for MOH in case of disease outbreak 
investigation and response. The health needs of the refugee and host 
community include: capacity building for the health workers in the area 
for basic health care delivery, surveillance, outbreak investigation and 
response, health promotional activities in basic hygiene, sexually 
transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS, sanitation etc., provision of 
medical kits.

WHO held a post assessment meeting on 20 November with the health Partners 
and NGOs providing health care services in the area. Participants included 
UNHCR, UNICEF, UNFPA, EQUIP, IRC, AFRICARE, and MOH.  A draft response and 
contingency plan was initiated for the area.

Given the current refugee population levels, Liberian host communities are 
providing a high degree of food and shelter support, which is maintaining 
a stable social environment. Should the refugee population increase or 
their stay be prolonged, extra pressure on the already limited food, water 
and shelter resources could strain the good will and capacity of the host 
communities to continue providing support.

During an earlier joint UNHCR/WFP assessment mission, the authorities of 
hosting towns appealed to WFP to support construction of the required 
facilities through Food For Work activities for both citizens and refugees 
in the affected areas.

WFP has pre-positioned over 100 tons of food in its sub-office in Saclepea 
for on-ward delivery to Butuo.  However, due to the bad road conditions 
between Saclepea and Butuo (184 Km stretch), WFP is exploring ways to 
working with UNMIL in airlifting food commodities. UNMIL has considered 
conducting emergency repair of key roads and bridges to facilitate the 
delivery of humanitarian aid to the vulnerable population.

The WFP/UNHCR joint mission observed that although the need for food and 
NFI is evident, distribution of relief aid to the refugees from the border 
towns might act as a pulling factor of more refugees in to Liberia. The 
mission therefore, recommended relocation of refugees from the border 
towns to restrict any unnecessary border crossings. The feasibility of 
relocation is still under discussion.

UNHCR has set up two transit centers along Liberia's northeastern border, 
one at Butuo and the other in Logatuo.  Majority of the Ivorian refugees 
are coming from western Cote d'Ivoire with large numbers originating from 
the towns of Guiglo and Danane, near the so-called "Zone de Confiance" 
that is patrolled by UN troops to maintain the peace between rebels in the 
north and government troops in the south.

As part of the government's contribution in facilitating provision of 
relief to refugees, the Superintendent of Butuo town has provided storage 
facilities to WFP and UNHCR in a well-secured building without any initial 
cost to the Agencies. Only partitioning of the building between WFP and 
UNHCR will be required. The store has a capacity of 30-40 metric tons.

So far there are no Ivorian refugee movements reported in other border 
counties apart from Nimba. However, UNHCR confirmed there are 900 Liberian 
refugees from Cote d'Ivoire that have crossed back into Liberia.  The HCS 
Maryland office reported observing limited numbers of returnees in Pedebo 
and Deketown borders during a monitoring exercise by LRRRC and HCS.

The humanitarian dimension of the crisis in Cote d'Ivoire, and its 
potential impact on Liberia, is of grave concern to UNHCR. Collaborative 
efforts are being made among UN agencies, NGOs and the Liberian 
authorities to put in place a sound contingency plan that will meet the 
needs of the refugees, host communities an ensure the safety of the 
service providers and strongly hopes that a peaceful resolution the crisis 
in Cote d'Ivoire will quell a potential influx of Ivorians into Liberia, 
and allow refugees to return home rapidly.

The WFP Regional Director for West Africa Mr. Mustapha Darboe was in 
Liberia for a three-day visit from 15-18 November where he held 
discussions with government and donor officials, implementing partners, as 
well as members of the UN on how best to support the efforts being made to 
create an enabling environment for the resettlement of IDPs and refugees. 
Mr Darboe stated that WFP would support the resettlement of hundreds of 
thousands of Liberian refugees and displaced Liberians with food package 
of four months while focusing on basic social services, particularly 
primary schools and agricultural rehabilitation for communities. WFP plans 
in 2005 to provide school meals daily to 450,000 children,"

The Regional Director also visited WFP supported activities in the Country 
including IDP camps, FSLI Agricultural projects and schools benefiting 
from the feeding programme.

B. COORDINATION

The humanitarian situation

Liberians returning to their communities have begun utilizing services 
provided under UNHCR Community Empowerment Projects.

In the Southeast region, continuous progress is being made in the 
rehabilitation of schools, health, and water and sanitation sectors. Three 
communal latrines in Big Town, Harper city, have been completed, while a 
well has been dug and is awaiting materials for completion. The Cape 
Palmas High School Water Project in Harper has been completed and work on 
the sanitation project is in progress. Health services are being provided 
at all the seven health centers to include Pleebo Health Center and Rock 
Town clinic covered under the agreement with UNHCR.

So far, a total of 16 projects, both CEPs and non-CEPs are either 
completed or nearing completion in Maryland and Grand Kru Counties. Eight 
Community Empowerment Projects are ongoing in Maryland County and similar 
number has been approved in Harper and Pleebo.  In addition, residents are 
benefiting from skills training program under the CEP. Eighty - (80) women 
have completed training in the areas of baking and sewing implemented by 
UNHCR's implementing partner, World Vision International, in Maryland.

In the north, UNHCR's Implementing Partner, Peace Winds Japan (PWJ) has 
completed renovation work on Voinjama Public School. It is anticipated 
that UNICEF will shortly supply furniture through PWJ. The school along 
with other completed projects will be officially turned over to UNHCR. In 
the area of agriculture, UNHCR and GTZ assessed several CEP activities 
initiated in Zorzor and Salayea Districts. An assessment of schools and 
clinics previously rehabilitated by UNHCR/GTZ prior to the recent crisis 
in Liberia was also conducted. It was discovered that some facilities are 
still standing and would need to be rehabilitated.

The Zorzor District Women Care Incorporated and Mission Incorporated 
organizations in Lofa County have in the meantime benefited from the 
UNHCR/GTZ revolving loan launched in the area. Some of the beneficiaries 
are involved in petty business such as table marketing, cook shop, 
entertainment centers and restaurants.

In central Liberia, Gbarnga, Bong County, UNHCR's implementing partner, 
African Concern International, is conducting a one-day small-scale 
business management training session for the Gbarnga Zonal Women. Gbarnga 
Field Office will serve as the facilitator. In addition, LUSH a national 
NGO is continuing renovations of schools in Zota, Kpai and Sanoyea 
districts. LUSH has also distributed eight hand pumps according to the 
districts of return.

UNHCR anticipates that these services and skills-training programs would 
enhance the living conditions of the people and strengthen their capacity 
to generation income for better livelihoods.

Community-Based Recovery

UNDP and UNHCR held a Project Appraisal Committee (PAC) meeting during the 
reporting period to discuss 20 potential micro-projects in Grand Cape 
Mount. The PAC approved 20 micro-projects, including 8 schools and 12 
water and sanitation projects, totaling USD167,327. UNDP and UNHCR will 
next identify implementing partners to focus on national partners for 
capacity building and plan for when the implementation phase is expected 
to start which has preliminary been set for the first week of December.

Under the Capacity Development Initiative project, national capacity 
self-assessement for Global environment management, consultations and 
workshops are being held on the capacity of Liberia to implement the three 
Rio Conventions (United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, United 
Nations Convention to Combat Desertification and the United Nations 
Framework Convention on Climate Change).

During the reporting period UNDP Liberia held the third workshop in the 
series for the Southeastern Liberia Counties of Grand Gedeh, Maryland, 
River Gee, Sinoe and Grand Kru.  The workshop was held in Zwedru, Grand 
Gedeh County at the UNMIL Sector 4 Headquarters.

UNDP is also holding discussions with Conservation International and UNEP 
Post-conflict Assessment Unit to explore collaboration in the 
implementation of the NBSAP.

Gender

UNIFEM Regional Programme Director for West Africa, Ms. Florence Butegwa 
based in Abuja, Nigeria is visiting Liberia for two weeks. The aim of the 
mission is to introduce the acting UNIFEM programme manager for Liberia. 
She has planned to hold consultations with members of the national and 
international humanitarian and political community. This includes 
consultations with the SRSG Ambassadour Jacques Paul. Klein, the Resident 
Coordinator Abou Moussa, the UN Country team and gender representatives of 
the UN Agencies as well as various ministers of the NTGL, in particular 
the Minister of Women's Affairs Ms Vabah Gayflor. UNIFEM will also 
finalise a cooperation framework with UNDP and UNHCR.

Governance

The UNDP continues to support the GRC in its Public Interactive Forum 
(PIF) initiative. These workshops will allow civil society to enter the 
discourse on good governance. The first workshop, held in Congo Town, 
Monrovia, focused on corruption, transparency and accountability. Future 
discussions will cover a variety of issues including decentralization and 
government reform. PIFs will be taking place across Liberia involving all 
communities in this discourse. The GRC will deliberate the outcomes of the 
workshops.

Parallel to this initiative, UNDP supported census of the Civil Service is 
due to commence in the first week of December as per RFTF outcomes under 
cluster 4.

UNV

The UNV Support Units in UNDP and UNMIL are jointly organizing the 
celebration of the International Volunteer Day (IVD), scheduled for Sunday 
5th December at the SOS Children's Village, Matadi, Monrovia. IVD is a 
great opportunity to promote volunteerism in Liberia and to raise 
awareness about the important work that volunteers are doing in the 
country, globally and to facilitate the cooperation between the volunteers 
and the community.

C. HUMANITARIAN ACTIVITIES BY SECTOR

Food Aid

WFP pipeline situation

WFP Liberia plans to feed an average of 700,000 beneficiaries with 8,000 
Mt. of food per month for the next six months from December 2004 through 
April 2005. The current available resources will meet food needs up to 
December 2004.  WFP Liberia requires additional pledges and resources 
estimated at US$ 18.7 Million to avert shortfalls of 18,373 Mt. of 
cereals, 1,428 Mt. of Pulses, 1374 Mt. of Veg Oil, 3399 Mt. of CSB, 49 Mt. 
of Salt and 33 Mt of Sugar from December 2004 through April 2005.

General food distribution

Distribution of general food rations to IDPs continued during the week 
with delivery of 375 Mt. to some 37,624 beneficiaries. Distribution of 
November food ration was completed in the Catholic Compound, Kingsville, 
Bernard's Curve and fifteen Gate IDP camps all located in Monteserrado 
County. Food distribution is in progress in Jah-tondo, Blamasee, Fendell 
and Perry Town IDP camps. Food distribution to spontaneous returnees in 
Sawegbeh camp that had been halted due to the disturbances in Monrovia in 
October was also completed during the reporting period.

In support of the resettlement process of returning Liberian refugees to 
the country, WFP distributed a total of 3.2 Mt. of assorted food 
commodities to some 99 refugees repatriated from Nigeria to Monrovia, as a 
two-month resettlement food package. The remaining two months package will 
be distributed at the level of the communities they will be resettled in.

During the reporting period, WFP also deregistered a total of 1,293 IDPs 
(284 families) from the monthly feeding log and issued them with 
resettlement cards, preparing to be resettled in Cape Mount County. The 
de-registration exercise is being conducted in Perry, Sawegbeh and 
Blamasee IDP camps.

Agriculture & food security

The Danish Refugee Council, FAO's implementing partner, is assisting some 
2,500 rural vegetable farmers in the districts of Kaluway, Barrobo and 
Pleebo and Harper in Maryland County.  The HCS field office in Maryland 
reported that the DRC has distributed farming tools to some 9,000 farmers 
in Grand Kru, River Gee and Maryland Counties in a further boost to 
restarting agricultural activities in the three Counties.

Education

Community outreach for ALP

UNICEF provided financial and technical support for a training session for 
Community-to -Community outreach teams. The teams consist of community 
members from 7 Counties (Bomi, Bong, Grand Gedeh, Lofa, Maryland, 
Montserrado and Nimba.) where UNICEF is supporting the Accelerated 
Learning Program (ALP). The ALP compresses six years of primary schooling 
into three, thus enabling children who missed out on educational 
opportunities as a result of the conflict to catch up.

An 8-day training for ALP teachers began on Friday, 12 November in 
Montserrado County. The training supported by UNICEF, will enable the ALP 
in 30 public schools benefiting about 2,000 ALP students and 30,000 
non-ALP students.  Almost all of the benefiting schools have a large 
student enrollment of IDPs, CAFF and former refugees. The training marks 
the start of the implementation of advanced learning to the huge number of 
Liberian children who have missed out on educational opportunities because 
of the conflict.

Hope project graduate 100 girls

An additional 100 girls have graduated from the UNICEF sponsored Girls in 
Hope Project, after 6 months skills training in basic quilt making, 
psychosocial counseling, HIV/AIDS prevention and STD information. The 
project supported for almost two years by UNICEF, has trained a total of 
300 girls so far.

Resumption of food aid to schools

WFP resumed delivery of food aid to schools during the reporting week. 
Schools in and around Monrovia had closed due to unrest in the city in the 
month of October.  A total of 41.68 Mt. of various food commodities was 
delivered to benefit some 9,500 children.  In November 2004, WFP plans to 
support a total of 179,367school children with some 789 Mt. of food. The 
school feeding programme will be expanded in 2005 if the food pipeline 
situation improves.

DRC support to education

The Danish Refugee Council in its emergency school repair program has 
completed the rehabilitation of 33 makeshift schools and another 12 are 
ongoing in Maryland County.

Health and Nutrition

WHO donates equipment

The WHO, with funding from the Norwegian Government donated a set of 
office and conference room furniture, one emergency trauma kit, a 
typewriter, stationery and other office equipment to the Lofa County 
Health Team.  This is in line with WHO's objective of strengthening and 
reactivating the County Health Teams in the Country.

MOH receives support for implementation of Vitamin A supplementation

UNICEF supplied the following items to the Ministry of Health & Social 
Welfare, MOH, for the implementation of Vitamin A supplementation in the 
Liberia.  The items include 210 packs containing 100 pieces of plastic 
bags to hold Vitamin A capsules, 4,200 pieces of cutting scissors to open 
Vitamin A capsules, 4,200 pieces of hand towels, 4,200 waste plastic bags, 
3,000 Vitamin A posters for vaccination teams in the field and 1,200 
Vitamin A posters for county and district levels social mobilizers.

UNICEF supports training in preparation for NIDs

UNICEF provided financial and technical support to a three-day training 
for 30 County level social mobilization Supervisors and 15 National 
Monitors at the Liberian Institute for Biomedical Research in Margibi 
County. The training was in preparation for Round Two of the National 
Immunization Days (NID) from 18-22 November and dealt with planning, 
social mobilization strategies, inter-personal communication techniques, 
monitoring and evaluation techniques of social mobilization and 
communication activities.

WFP and UNICEF collaborate on nutrition education

UNICEF facilitated modules at two separate workshops organized by the 
World Food Programme and the UNICEF Education Unit. Sixty five 
participants from 7 Counties received education on nutrition and growth, 
and on exclusive breastfeeding at a 3-day workshop for community 
animators. Fifty-five received information on anthropometrics measurement 
of malnutrition in children under five years old at a WFP sponsored 
workshop.

UNHCR HIV/AIDs awareness campaign for Liberian Refugees, IDPs and local 
communities

In order to minimize the impact of HIV/AIDS, UNHCR has launched an 
awareness campaign aimed at preventing infections and to change public's 
attitudes toward HIV/AIDS.  The UNHCR is training health workers from 
partner agencies as well as community health workers, peer educators and 
community leaders to build their capacity in managing the spread of 
sexually transmitted infections.  UNHCR has provided visual equipment as 
well as educational videos and printed materials on HIV/AIDS to its 
implementing partners.  Under the overall supervision and coordination of 
UNHCR, these partners will join the County health teams to convey the 
message in the seven priority Counties of Lofa, Grand Gedeh, Cape Mount, 
Maryland, Nimba Bong and Montserrado.

Protection

Workshop on Child Rights for nation outreach

UNICEF provided facilitation support to a workshop held by members of the 
Liberian Children Parliament on the Convention on the Rights of the Child. 
A total of 25 children, including new recruits of the parliament 
participated. The workshop aims at preparing the children for a national 
outreach to children on child rights.

CAFF update

The total caseload of demobilized Children Associated with Fighting Forces 
(CAFF) and other separated children, December 2003 inclusive, is 10,680. 
Of this total, 8,273 are boys and 2,407 girls, including 17 pregnant girls 
and 88 babies. To date, 10,144 children (8,273 boys and 2,249 girls) have 
been reunified with their families; 464 children (376 boys and 88 girls) 
are awaiting reunification in UNICEF supported Interim Care Centers 
(ICCs).

UNICEF is currently supporting 12 Interim Care Centers with a population 
of 464 (376 boys and 88 girls). The centers provide educational, health, 
recreational, psychosocial and tracing and reunification services to 
demobilized CAFF.

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