Action by Churches Together (ACT)
ACT Situation Report
Liberia 01/04
25 November 2004

Ivorian refugees in northeast Liberia


Information provided by A. Kai Jelly: Emergency Officer: Lutheran World
Federation/World Service (LWF/WS) Liberia

Humanitarian assessment (November 23 -25, 2004) of refugee movement during
visit to the border between Liberia and Cote d'Ivoire

Geneva, November 25, 2004-Ivorian refugees started arriving in Liberia on
November 10, following the conflict when an 18-month cease-fire was
shattered in their country. The conflict quickly escalated when the
Abidjan government bombed strongholds in the rebel-held north and moved
its troops into the buffer zone that separates areas controlled by the two
sides. Two days into the offensive, Ivorian planes bombed a French
peacekeeping base. France's swift retaliation sparked days of mob violence
on the streets of Abidjan.

Information gathered from host community residents, Liberia National Red
Cross and other humanitarian agencies in northeast Liberia indicate that
the Ivorian refugees arrived through seven major entry points: Loguatuo,
Butuo, Behwallay, Gborplay, Bleamplay, Gbian-Teayeaplay and Diaplay. To
date, 12,663 Ivorian refugees have crossed the border and are residing in
the above-mentioned towns and surrounding communities.

On November 18, a one-day joint assessment trip headed by UNHCR and
UN-OCHA in collaboration with Liberia Refugees, Repatriation, and
Resettlement Commission (LRRRC), took humanitarian organizations, of which
LWF/WS was one, to the entry points on the border to gather information on
the situation and to determine the level of emergency intervention needed.

LWS's second visit was aimed at gathering detailed information on the
composition of the refugees' families (and locations) that have been
identified to benefit from a distribution of non-food items (NFIs). The
distribution is to be carried out by LWF/WS on Monday, November 29. The
distribution package includes blankets/quilts, soap, mats, layettes,
health kits and assorted clothes. Besides the food distribution being
carried out by the UN's World Food Program (WFP) in Butuo, many refugees
are still to receive humanitarian assistance. The WFP, UNHCR and other
humanitarian agencies are making all efforts to reach those in need as
soon as possible.


Humanitarian situation

About half of the refugee population is without food. Basic, lifesaving
NFIs, such as blankets, mats, cooking utensils and jerry cans, are not
available. Refugees are presently surviving on daily earnings derived from
contracts with host community residents on their farms. Most of the
refugees' children are without clothes and footwear. One refugee head of
household (Ofai Johnas) in Gborplay told the LWF/WS team that he and his
family of six, as well as other families, had been without food since
their arrival.

Due to lack of food and basic survival items, most of the refugees are
entering host communities' villages for survival. The already inadequate
food in the host communities may be depleted soon if the situation remains
as it is for the next month.

Safe drinking water is becoming a very serious problem. Almost all of the
hand pumps installed in the host communities before Liberia's civil crisis
in 2003 are either looted or damaged. The few that are functioning need
repairs and cannot meet the demands of the population.


Security situation

The Ivorian refugees interviewed at the entry points said they had to flee
due to fear of reprisal by government forces for being in support of
rebels. Ivorian government forces control these entry points, except the
Loguatuo border areas. The refugees are arriving on a daily basis.


Major constraints

The roads and bridges to the entry points are posing a serious problem to
vehicles/trucks attempting to carry relief supplies to the refugees. These
roads and bridges have not been rehabilitated in 14 years. WFP is
presently airlifting food to the refugees in Butuo due to bad road
conditions.


For further information, please contact:
ACT Communications Officer Callie Long (mobile/cell phone
+ 41 79 358 3171) or
ACT Press Officer Stephen Padre (mobile/cell phone +41 79 681 1868)



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Action by Churches Together (ACT) is a worldwide alliance of churches and
their related agencies, meeting human need through co-ordinated emergency
response.  The ACT Coordinating Office is based with the World Council of
Churches (WCC) and the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in Switzerland.
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