OCHA Situation Report No. 118
Liberia
17 -24 September 2004


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

A. General Situation

Highlights

United Nations Mission in Liberia gets another year's mandate moves into 
RR

A unanimous adoption of resolution 1561(2004) by the United Nations 
Security Council, at its 5036th meeting in New York on 17 September, 
extended the United Nations Mission in Liberia to 19 September 2005.  The 
resolution called for among other things, response by the international 
community to the continuing need for funds for the critically important 
rehabilitation and reintegration phase of the DDRR process and to fulfill 
pledges made by donors at the International Reconstruction Conference in 
February this year.  The UN Security Council requested the 
Secretary-General, Dr. Kofi Annan, through his Special Representative, 
Jacques Paul Klein, to continue to report periodically to the UNSC 
progress on the implementation of UNMIL's mandate.  The extension of 
UNMIL's mandate comes after the Secretary General's report to the UN 
Security Council this month.  The Secretary General stated progress by 
UNMIL in stabilizing Liberian and creating the necessary security 
conditions for the full implementation of the Comprehensive Peace 
Agreement.  UNMIL's new phase of operation will focus mainly on: 
rehabilitation and reintegration of ex-combatants and community 
development; the restoration of State administration nationwide; the 
strengthening of the rule-of-law institutions and restructuring of the 
security sector; promotion of the process of recovery and reconstruction; 
and the organization of free and fair elections in October 2005.

United Nations Secretary General's Report to the UN Security Council

Apart from extending the mandate of the United Nations Mission in Liberia, 
UNMIL, for another year, Dr. Kofi Annan, UN Secretary General, highlighted 
in his report concerns about the problems that the National Transitional 
Government is encountering in functioning as a cohesive administration. 
He attributed protracted disputes over the nomination of factional 
representatives to key positions in the government as hindering the 
effective functioning of the NTGL.  Moreover, the continued division 
within Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy LURD, that has 
led to violent incidents between opposing elements in Monrovia and 
elsewhere, as destabilizing factors that need to be resolved urgently. The 
UN Secretary General urged parties concerned to put the national interest 
above their personal interests, urging them to work together in a spirit 
of cooperation and reconciliation to ensure the consolidation of 
much-needed peace in Liberia.  Mr. Annan noted in his report the high 
level of cooperation between UNMIL and leaders of the Economic Community 
of West African States, ECOWAS, in assisting the parties overcome problems 
that threaten to hinder the peace process.  The Secretary General finds 
the ongoing collaboration between UNMIL and ECOWAS as significantly 
contributing to the progress that has been achieved to date.

ICGL welcomes World Bank Meeting on RFTF

The International Contact Group on Liberia, ICGL, at its 7th Working 
Session at the United States Department of State in Washington D.C. on 
17th September, welcomed the convening by the World Bank a review process 
for the implementation of the Results Focused Transitional Framework, 
RFTF. The meeting will be held on 24 September to identify bottlenecks in 
the flow of resources pledged at the International Conference on 
Reconstruction for Liberia in February.  The ICGL urged the international 
community to accelerate disbursements of pledges made at the Conference, 
particularly with regard to reintegration efforts and humanitarian needs. 
In a related development, at the first meeting of the National 
Transitional Government of Liberia, the UN and the Economic Community of 
West African States, ECOWAS, the UN and West African officials declared 
after a joint session at UN Headquarters in New York that budget 
shortfalls of US$267 million threaten the reintegration of ex-combatants, 
the return of refugees and the resettlement of internally displaced 
persons among other programs. Donors were called upon to contribute the 
necessary funds in a timely manner, noting that only US$253 million of 
US$520 million pledge in February had so far been received.

Information Support for RFTF Review Meeting

The Humanitarian Information Center, HIC, has created a special edition 
cd-rom for participants in the RFTF review meeting at the World Bank in 
Washington D.C. on 24 September.  The cd includes the Joint Needs 
Assessment, Progress Report, background documents on the Results Focused 
Transitional Framework Monitoring Implementation Committee, RIMCO, and 
information related to each of the nine RIMCO "clusters".  All information 
from the cd is also available through the HIC website at 
www.humanitarianinfo.org.liberia

County Recovery Information System

The Humanitarian Information Center, in collaboration with the UNMIL Civil 
Affairs unit, has developed the County Recovery Information System to 
track the progress of recovery throughout the country and provide 
information and planning tools for local authorities.  The multi-faceted 
database includes information on the status of administrative and other 
infrastructure, the presence of district and county authorities and the 
functional status of educational, health and market facilities.  Pilot 
information-gathering exercises have been launched in Bomi and Grand Cape 
Mount counties (priority areas for refugee and IDP return) with expansion 
to the rest of the country anticipated by the end of the year.

B. COORDINATION

HCS holds meeting with LRRRC monitors on IDP return

In a meeting with LRRRC monitors in the Besayma IDP camp in Buchanan, the 
HCS was informed about potential problems associated with the forthcoming 
return of IDPs. Transportation difficulties and community absorption 
capacity with regards to the willingness of the current caseload of IDP to 
return were paramount in the discussions.  Currently there are 6,144 IDPs 
in the official IDP camp and transit center combined. The LRRRC monitors 
noted their inability to go out to the interior to assess community 
accessibility and absorption capacity for return as they lack 
transportation to convey them to these areas.  They appealed to the UN 
agencies and the NGOs to help them access difficult to reach locations. 
It was also recognized that some communities are completely inaccessible 
due to the bad road conditions.  The LRRRC also raised the concern about 
former Children Associated with the Fighting Forces, CAFF, returning to 
communities without prolonged counseling and education in order to change 
their anti-social behavior. LRRRC believes this could hamper reintegration 
efforts within communities, as the children could serve as a destabilizing 
factor in the smaller communities.  The reason being that many of these 
children have known a life of fighting and they could have major 
difficulties becoming productive members of society. The LRRRC appealed 
for formal education for the CAFF and called for further discussions with 
their reintegration.

The JPT expresses concern about lack of shelter on return

The Joint Planning Team for IDP return considers that return may be phased 
based on the community's ability to accept return. This is in light of 
deep concern for the unavailability of shelter resources and other 
services in areas of return.  The JPT has observed that return must be 
sustainable if it is to succeed. The JPT is working directly with NGOs in 
the four counties safe for return to establish distribution points, 
procedures and mechanisms.

Humanitarian gaps in spontaneous settlements persist

The IDP Unit of the HCS continues to flag at various fora, humanitarian 
gaps in spontaneous settlements. Currently, there are around some 25,000 
IDPs living in non-formal IDP camps in 13 settlements in Montserrado and 
Margibi counties.  IDPs in these spontaneous settlements have little or no 
service providers or camp managers working for them.  A proposal is being 
sent to the Emergency Response Fund for review and possible consideration.

IDP Committee meets on damaged IDP huts

The IDP Committee, a national IDP policy steering group, met this week to 
consider policy options to deal with the large and growing number of 
damaged huts that are reported by camp managers in many camps.  IDPs from 
these damaged huts are moving into other huts to seek shelter from the 
heavy rains.  Repairs needed to these huts cannot match the extent of the 
damage, largely brought on by heavy rains, due to extremely limited 
funding availability and the dearth of plastic sheeting and other shelter 
materials.

Tripartite agreement signed in Accra

On 22 September, the tripartite agreement between the governments of 
Ghana, Liberia and the UNHCR was signed in Accra, Ghana. The tripartite 
agreement is a legal and operational framework for the voluntary return of 
Liberian refugees in Ghana. The repatriation of some 42,000 registered 
Liberian refugees in Ghana is expected to commence next month.

Road Rehabilitation Committee formed

Local authorities in collaboration with UN agencies, International and 
non-governmental organizations have formed a Road Rehabilitation 
Committee, to strategize in solving the current deplorable road 
conditions. The Committee is to oversee the collection of materials 
requested by the local authorities to help rehabilitate the roads. The 
committee held its first meeting recently and stakeholders present pledged 
equipment, materials and manpower to carry out the road rehabilitation 
project in Lofa.  In a related development, GTZ, a UNHCR implementing 
partner for road rehabilitation, has disclosed that road machinery 
equipment such as bulldozers, grader, loader, dump trucks, water tanks and 
low loader for the rehabilitation roads and bridges are being put into 
place for the rehabilitation of roads earmarked for repatriation routes. 
In Lofa county UNHCR will provide road construction engineers to support 
the GTZ team.  In the Southeast, GTZ, UNHCR, and WFP convened a road 
working group meeting to design strategy on the rehabilitation of the 
road. The road leading to Janzon, a border town in the north and Toe Town 
to B'hai Border Entry linking Ivory Coast and Liberia in Grand Gedeh 
County are becoming impassable. The reconditioning of this road will 
reduce the travel time and enable returning Liberian refugees to have 
direct access into Grand Gedeh County.

UNHCR Community Service Unit takes stock of its activities

A meeting to review activities and strategize for the upcoming 
repatriation exercise was held recently in Gbarnga, Bong County. The 
objectives of the meeting were first to assess progress made on key 
priority areas highlighted in the last Community Services workshop held in 
Saclepea on 15, July 2004 as well as develop plans for effective 
interventions during the repatriation exercise. Some of the issues 
reviewed included Women and Gender Equality, Children and Adolescents, 
Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV), HIV/AIDS and Person with Special 
Needs. The meeting aimed at developing a common approach to Community 
Services role, activities in managing transit centers, as well as to 
develop a shared understanding of Gender Mainstreaming in UNHCR 
programming.

GTZ constructs transit centers in Lofa, Nimba, Grand Gedeh, Cape Mount and 
Bong Counties

In Lofa, GTZ, an implementing partner of UNHCR, is constructing transit 
and drop off points in two districts of Voinjama and Zorzor. The centers 
have 9 habitable structures, offices of camp management, dining area, 
digging of 16 pit latrines ongoing and generator nearly completed. The 
Salayea drop off point is presently undergoing brushing and demarcation in 
preparation for the commencement of construction work. Transit Centers are 
primarily established to provide accommodation and protection to returnees 
that are being voluntarily repatriated by UNHCR.

In Grand Gedeh County, two transit centers are under construction. In Toe 
Town, GTZ has commenced site brushing, de-stumping, fencing and 
construction of the transit center. Site clearing for the Zwedru transit 
has also commenced.  This was done in close collaboration with the local 
authorities that offer the parcel of land to UNHCR. A transit center has 
been reconstructed in Gbarnga with a capacity to receive between 500 to 
1,000 people. In Grand Cape Mount County where the first repatriation 
convoy will kick off the exercise, two transit centers have been completed 
in Bo-waterside and in Sinje. The estimated capacity is 500 people. In the 
transit center, returnees may spend a maximum of between one-two nights 
depending on the situation.

Three INGOs to receive 110,170,000 yen funding

World Vision Japan, Peace Winds Japan and Adra Japan are to receive 
35,5113,628 yen, 44,670,753 yen and 29,987,053 yen, respectively, from the 
Japan PlatForm (JPF), as emergency grant assistance.  The money totaling 
110,170,000 yen, would be used to construct wells, toilets and 
rehabilitate schools in three counties of Liberia, namely, Nimba, Lofa and 
Cape Mount.


C. HUMANITARIAN ACTIVITIES BY SECTOR

Food Aid

WFP anticipates pipeline break next month in the wake of EC contribution

WFP Liberia expects to face a critical pipeline break next month. 5,407 
tons of cereals and half of the required vegetable oil are needed. Unless 
resources are immediately received, WFP will not be able to support 
Emergency School Feeding at the start of the 2004-2005 school year that 
begins in October. Food support for local initiatives and training aimed 
at helping to build communities toward self-subsistence would also 
continue to be scaled back.  The recent contribution of 7 million euros 
from the European Commission has helped put WFP on course for the month of 
November. However, WFP pipeline for December indicates the following 
shortages: 3,538T of cereals, 281T of pulses, 576T of oil, 42T of salt, 
and 236T of CSB. Immediate cash resources of US$ 6.6 million are required 
to purchase the necessary food commodities for October and December 2004.

General Food Distribution

During the reporting period, more than 150,000 displaced persons and 
returnees have been supplied with 1,552 tons of assorted food commodities. 
Food distribution was completed in all four camps in Totota, one camp in 
Margibi County and 4 camps in Montserrado where another 4 camps are being 
served food rations. Food distribution in Blamasee was postponed to allow 
stakeholders to resolve issues raised by some claiming to be residing in 
the camp but not receiving WFP food ration. All stakeholders agreed that 
the claim was not authentic and that the distribution be based on the 
result of the WFP hut verification exercise.  Sensitization activities 
continue at various General Food Distribution sites in light of the 
changes in the ration due to pipeline constraints. There was no incident 
of confusion reported in any camp as a result of sensitization carried out 
prior to distribution, even though food distribution in few of the camps 
excluded salt.

Results from WFP Verification process for IDPs

WFP, the Liberia Refugee, Repatriation and Resettlement Commission, camp 
management agencies and camp leadership conducted the hut count exercise 
from 28 August-14 September 2004. The exercise covered 29 IDP camps in 
Montserrado, Bong and Margibi Counties. As a result, there was a decrease 
of 12,600 beneficiaries from the accumulated consolidation caseload of 
330,783. During the count, unoccupied, under-construction, 
damaged/abandoned and non-existent huts were disqualified from the feeding 
log. Rain-damaged huts considered for feeding in September 2004, will be 
revisited to ascertain whether they have been reconditioned and are 
eligible for further feeding. The exercise did not cover Fendell, VOA-1 in 
Montserrado, Buchanan, in Grand Bassa and Saclapea, in Nimba County.

Agriculture & Food Security

LNGOs & FAO collaboration on food security

The Beekeepers and Apiculturists Association (BEEKAA) with support from 
the Telefood/FAO program embarked on a sustainable beekeeping project 
designed for 25 beneficiaries in the Barnersville Old Field area 
(Montserrado County).  The project aims at introducing and encouraging the 
art of beekeeping as a livelihood activity toward self-employment and a 
promising and viable livestock in the farming sector and also to adopt 
appropriate bee husbandry in an attempt to increase agricultural yields 
through increase pollination by bees.  Beekeeping projects of this nature 
may be a turning point in bio diversity, as it tends to arrest the saga of 
bee extermination by traditional honey hunters who kill entire bee 
colonies annually with fire and poisonous plants when harvesting wild 
honey.  The Sustainable Development Promoters (SDP) with support from FAO 
distributed bird nets to 325 farm families under a TCP project designed 
for peri-urban and urban communities.  This was followed up by education 
on the proper usage of the nets to foster environmental friendly concepts.

CESEEP and CONCERN collaborate

The Center for Socio-Economic Empowerment and Environmental Protection 
(CESEEP) in collaboration with Concern has begun the restocking of animals 
to rural communities.  Present activities are concentrated on the 
restocking of goats.  So far 20 goats (14 nanny and 6 billy) have been 
given out.  Such gesture will help in restoring animal husbandry to the 
rural communities.

CSDP and farmers move toward sustainability

The Community Sustainable Development Program (CSDP) organized farming 
groups consisting of 49 members, on 65 acres of land, are engaged in 
vegetable production, lowland rice cultivation, root and tuber production. 
In addition to training in home economics, CSDP is also working out 
possible training of ex-combatants and is engaged in the manufacturing of 
local farm tools and operates blacksmithing workshops in Gbarnga and 
Virginia (Bong and Montserrado Counties respectively

Education

WFP and partners discuss closer cooperation in school rehabilitation and 
support activities

WFP, UNICEF, UNDP, USAID, IRC, OTI and Creative Associates discussed 
closer cooperation in school rehabilitation and support activities. UNICEF 
is targeting 50,000 children from 100 schools in 11 counties for the 
Accelerated Learning Programme in the 2004-2005 academic year as well as 
training of teachers. WFP agreed to provide food support to Accelerated 
Learning Program, ALP, and beneficiaries if its pipeline situation 
permits. WFP also signed an agreement with five Emergency School Feeding 
(ESF) implementing partners to cover six counties for 2004-2005 academic 
year. These partners are: ADRA, LIURD, LWF/WS, GAA and YMCA. WFP is unable 
to assist with ESF in October 2004 due to its lack of resources for the 
month. Activities will resume in November 2005.

School rehabilitation underway in the counties

The Danish Refugee Council, DRC, a UNHCR implementing partner operating in 
Maryland reported that some 145 schools in the county, Grand Kru and River 
Gee are targeted for rehabilitation.  Due to poor road conditions the 
rehabilitation has only been underway in Maryland County.  Similarly, in 
Grand Gedeh, UNHCR and its implementing partners, GTZ and Merlin are 
helping with the rehabilitation and construction of schools in nine towns. 
The assistance also includes the provision of educational materials, 
training of teachers, rehabilitation of water pumps and installation of 
new ones.  Some 22,940 community inhabitants, 1,642 students and over 42 
school teachers are beneficiaries of this assistance.  In Lofa, Peace 
Winds Japan, with funding from UNHCR, has completed the construction of 
three schools in the county and is currently rehabilitating the Zorzor 
Central High School.  Deplorable road conditions is however hampering the 
delivery of materials to the area.

Health and Nutrition

WHO supports MOH

The WHO is continuing its support to the Ministry of Health, MOH, to 
assume its coordination role and reactivating some of the essential health 
care programs such as disease surveillance, Expanded Program on 
Immunization (EPI).  Over 1.6 million children have so far been immunized 
against measles and have also received Vitamin A supplementation. 
Technical, financial and logistical support are also being provided for 
the forthcoming Synchronized National Immunization Days (SNIDs).  The WHO 
has identified several gaps in health care delivery that include: poor 
funding for the CAP for the rehabilitation of the six strategic hospitals 
especially in the southeast where the health situation is most precarious; 
the absence of the County Health Teams especially the County Health 
Officers and extension of surveillance and other coordination functions; 
and lack of equipment, drugs and trained health manpower at the county and 
community levels, all of which are affecting the rapid reactivation of 
essential health care services such as basic health care, referral care, 
HIV/AIDS and reproductive health care and other health promotional 
activities.  WHO needs urgent funding to enable it support the Ministry of 
Health in order to limit gaps in the delivery of health and services.

IMC/UNHCR rehabilitate clinics in Lofa

The International Medical Corps (IMC), with funding from UNHCR, is 
operating the Borkeza clinic in Lofa County with a six- member staff after 
rehabilitation works were completed last month.  Currently, rehabilitation 
of the Luyema and Bolahun clinics is nearing completion and may become 
operable in the coming weeks.

UNMIL holds medical camp in Robertsport

During the period, the United Nations Mission in Liberia conducted a 
three-day free medical camp for the local population in Robertsport, Cape 
Mount County.  So far, some 3960 patients have been treated.  Common 
ailments included waterborne diseases, malaria, worm infestation, upper 
respiratory infections, malnourishment and maternal anemia.  The latest 
medical camp brings to five, the number of camps being provided to the 
population by the Pakistani and Namibian peacekeepers. The medical camp 
aims to provide health and hygiene awareness among the local people and to 
mobilize the health staff of Liberia.  The medical camp has a team of six 
doctors from the Pakistani Contingent and a female doctor from the 
Namibian Battalion with the rest of the staff being ICRC and Liberian 
nurses.

Mano River Union Countries cooperation on Lassa fever control

Health Ministers of Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia have agreed to adopt 
a joint sub-regional strategy to curb Lassa fever in the sub-region.  A 
four-year plan for their countries and potentially affected countries 
within the West African region is to be put in place.  Annual meetings on 
a rotational basis would also be held among the three countries, a forum 
for the exchange of scientific information and materials, and patient 
management initiatives in such areas as standardized clinical case 
definition and common treatment guidelines. The Ministers also agreed to 
set up "Strategically placed Lassa fever treatment centers within each 
Sub-region", a sub-regional panel of experts and an "Epidemic Response 
Team".  They also encouraged the area of surveillance "to respond to the 
needs of Lassa fever", logistics management and support for emergency 
preparedness as well as an information, education and communication 
component of the strategy.  The Ministers met in Sierra Leone in the week 
of 17th September under the auspices of the WHO.

Protection

NTGL Chairman Bryant signs/ratify/accedes to 17 protocols and conventions

On 22 September, Chairman Gyude Bryant of the NTGL signed, ratified and 
acceded to 17 Protocols and conventions that provide for the protection of 
civilians. The signing ceremony took place at the "Focus 2004" Treaties 
Event held in New York.  The theme for this year's Focus meeting is 
protection of civilians, with the objective of urging Members States to 
accede to or sign international treaties that guarantee citizens rights. 
The signing ceremony is a significant landmark both for consolidating 
peace and ensuring better future protection for the Liberian people 
emerging out of 15 years of civil war.  Mr. Jan Egeland, the UN Emergency 
Relief Coordinator and the Under Secretary-General for Humanitarian 
Affairs commended the Liberian Transitional Government for efforts to 
establish a framework of protection in order that the atrocities of the 
past would not be committed again. The five treaties signed by Chairman 
Bryant include: the Optional Protocol- the International Covenant on Civil 
and Political Rights; the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of 
Discrimination Against Women, CEDAW; the Convention on the Rights of the 
Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict; the Convention on 
the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and 
child pornography; and the International Convention on the Protection of 
the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families.

NTGL Chairman Gyude Bryant also acceded to ten Treaties:  the Convention 
Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or 
Punishment; the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture and 
Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment; the Convention 
on the Reduction of Statelessness; the Convention on the Safety of United 
Nations and Associated Personnel; the United Nations Convention against 
Transnational Organized Crime; the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and 
Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, the 
supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational 
Organized Crime; the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrant Works by 
Land, Sea and Air, supplementing the United Nations Convention against 
Transnational Organized Crime; the Protocol against the Illicit 
Manufacturing of the Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components 
and Ammunition, supplementing the United Nations Convention Against 
Transnational Organized Crime; the Basel Convention on the Control of 
Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal; and the 
Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain 
Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade.

Chairman Bryant also ratified the International Covenant on Economic, 
Social and Cultural rights; the International Covenant on Civil and 
Political Rights and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.

WATSAN

WHO, UNICEF & MOH hold COMBI workshop

In order to reduce morbidity and mortality due to water-borne diseases, 
the WHO, UNICEF and the Ministry of Health organized a 3-day workshop on 
Communication for Behavioral Impact (COMBI) and Local production of 
Chlorine.  Participants were drawn from UN agencies, requisite government 
line Ministries, Monrovia City Corporation, NGOs, marketing associations 
and the media.  When the process is completed, chlorine will be produced 
and distributed in the counties and household chlorination will be 
introduced in the whole of Liberia.

Tubmanburg water system installed

With the support from the WHO Regional Director's Developmental Fund, WHO 
rehabilitated the Tubmanburg hospital's water system and there is now a 
continuous flow of potable water in the hospital.  Tubmanburg hospital is 
presently the only functioning secondary health care hospital with this 
water system.

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