OCHA Situation Report No. 21
Liberia: IDP Return
29 June 2005


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

1. Status of Return

As of the 20 June 2005, a total of 172,397 IDPs has been assisted to 
return, representing 33,740 families. Please find the various categories 
detailed below.

2. Field Movements

|----------------------+--------------------------------------------------|
|      Figures and     |            Type of Assistance Provided           |
|      Categories      |                                                  |
|----------------------+--------------------------------------------------|
|43,426 Facilitated by | This caseload of IDPs received transport         |
|IOM from the 8        |assistance from IOM to the transit/ distribution  |
|November 2004 through |center closer to their area of return and has also|
|17 March 2005         |received secondary transport allowance along with |
|                      |their 2 months initial WFP food ration and        |
|                      |non-food items.                                   |
|----------------------+--------------------------------------------------|
|45,279 spontaneously  |These IDPs received their return packages:        |
|return to their       |secondary transport allowance, food and non-food  |
|county/ district of   |items through their family head while they travel |
|return                |ahead with their families to their communities of |
|                      |return.                                           |
|----------------------+--------------------------------------------------|
|83,426 accelerated    | This category of IDPs received their primary and |
|movement phase of the |secondary transport assistance along with the two |
|returning beginning   |months food ration from WFP and NFIs from UNHCR   |
|the 11 of March 2005  |through their implementing partners.              |
|through 20 June 2005  |                                                  |
|----------------------+--------------------------------------------------|
|4,761 Vulnerable move |These vulnerable IDPs groups were transported to  |
|by IOM                |the nearest drop off point to their destination   |
|                      |and provided with secondary transportation        |
|                      |allowance, food and non-food items. The figure    |
|                      |indicated herein is cumulative of the accelerated |
|                      |movement                                          |
|----------------------+--------------------------------------------------|
|172,397 This figure   | These IDPs have received all their return        |
|represents IDPs       |assistances.                                      |
|assisted to resettle  |                                                  |
|to their respective   |                                                  |
|communities to date   |                                                  |
|since the beginning of|                                                  |
|the operation.        |                                                  |
|----------------------+--------------------------------------------------|


3. Movement in Montserrado County IDP Camps

Distribution of return assistance is ongoing in Mt. Barclay IDP camp. As 
of the 23 June 2005, out the targeted caseload of 10,566 IDPs: WFP 
through its implementing partner the Lutheran World Service has served a 
total population of 9,533 with resettlement cards while the total of 
number of 6,270 persons has been served with the first two month food 
tranche. UNHCR through its implementing partner GTZ has served a 
population of 8,021 IDPs representing a total of 1,618 families. The 
American Refugee Committee (ARC) has served a population of 2,085 IDPs 
with transportation allowance

4. Movement in Bong County IDP Camps

Distribution of return assistance started on 20 June, 2005 in Maimu II 
IDP camp for the IDPs returning to Voinjaman, Kolahun, and Foyah 
districts in Lofa County, Bong, Cape Mount, Gbarkpolu, Grand Bassa, 
Nimba, and Maryland Counties. The caseload targeted is 9,328 IDPs. From 
20 to 23 June, a total of 3,586 IDPs representing 621 families have 
received their 2 months food tranche and 3,557 IDPs representing 617 
families have received their NFIs and 2,851, representing 529 families 
have received their transportation allowance. This week in WFP 
distributed a total of 119 metric tons of food and NRC distributed 
transportation allowance during the reporting period. The distribution 
is continuing in Maimu II, next week. Additionally, the verification of 
IDPs who do not have their counties and/or districts listed continues.

5. Hut Demolition

During the period under review, 240 huts were demolished in Maimu 1, 297 
huts in Maimu II, 118 huts in Maimu III and 100 huts in Tumutu. 
Demolition of huts is also ongoing in Mt. Barclay IDP camp and as of the 
23 June 2005, a total of 1207 hut have been demolished. Thus, so far 
cumulatively, about 20,000 huts have been demolished. During the 
reporting period, UNHCR and CCC began the demolition of the transits 
units in Perry Way Station IDP camp, also several facilities in the 
former camp were handed over to the owner, as a token of appreciation 
for the temporary used of the land.

6. Trucking of Vulnerable IDPs

During the reporting period registration and trucking of vulnerable IDPs 
continues in Montserrado and Bong Camps by the International 
Organization of Migration (IOM). As of the 23 June 2005, IOM has 
registered a total of 10,276 and transported 4,761 vulnerable IDPs to 
their area of return.

7. Protection

Two field teams in Montserrado and one in Bong have monitored the 
distribution of return assistance throughout the week. The general 
security situation in the Mt. Barclay IDP Camp is seemed to be calm, 
though there was a burglary attempt on the WFP warehouse. WFP are 
reporting that a small number of fake WFP cards have, in cooperation 
with LRRRC, IDP Leaders and the Camp Management, been confiscated.

8. Visit of EU/USAID delegation

The EU/USAID delegation made a visit to four camps in Bong County on the 
23 June 2005. They were assisted and briefed by representatives of 
LRRRC, HCS, UNHCR Gbarnga and NRC (camp management agency). The 
delegation observed distribution of return assistance.

9. Staff Deployment

During the reporting period, two international staff members joined the 
IDP Unit to strengthen the field monitoring capacity. They are Ms. 
Veronica Herlofsen, Field/Protection Officer and Mr. Christe De Saram 
Larssen, Field/Protection Officer.

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