Liberia - OCHA: 30-May-05
OCHA Situation Report
Liberia: IDP Return
30 May 2005
Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
1. Status of Return
This month, the IDP return programme has finally reached over 141,000
IDPs. This means that more than half of all the IDPs in the formal camps
have now been provided with humanitarian assistance to help them
resettle in their return areas. This task has been accomplished in the
last seven months in the spirit of the inter-agency collaborative
approach. Key agencies such as IOM, WFP, UNHCR, NRC, ARC, etc. have
contributed significantly to this operation i.e. WFP has provided food
to the returnees and seconded staff to help in the implementation
programme. UNHCR has provided all the non food items required by the
IDPs such as plastic sheets, blankets kitchen sets, mosquito nets,
sanitary kits etc. UNHCR has further provided a transport allowance for
the returning IDPs to enable them to reach their home destination, and
supported the mass information campaign efforts. In addition, they have
also hired and seconded staff to the implementation process. IOM has
registered and transported IDPs both regular and vulnerable groups to
their areas of return. On the other hand NRC like many other partners
has provided camp management services, disbursement of transportation
allowances and is also engaged in returnee monitoring. In the Liberia
context, NRC through UNHCR has also seconded two international staff to
work solely on the IDP return issue
2. IDP Field Movements
|--------------------------------------------------+------------------------------------------------------------|
| Figures and Categories | Type of Assistance Provided |
|--------------------------------------------------+------------------------------------------------------------|
|43,426 facilitated by IOM from the 8th November |These caseloads of IDPs received transport assistance from |
|2004 through 31st March 2005 |IOM to the transit/distribution center closer to their area |
| |of return and have also received secondary transport |
| |allowance along with their 4 months initial food ration and |
| |non-food items. |
|--------------------------------------------------+------------------------------------------------------------|
|45,279 Spontaneously returned to their |The IDPs received their return assistance and secondary |
|county/District of return |transport allowances, food and non-food items through their |
| |head of household. |
|--------------------------------------------------+------------------------------------------------------------|
|52,943 accelerated movement phase of returning |This category of IDPs received their primary and secondary |
|beginning the 11th March through 16th May 2005 |transport assistance through UNHCR/IP and WFP in their |
| |respective camps before departure. |
|--------------------------------------------------+------------------------------------------------------------|
|1,568 Vulnerable IDPs has been transported by IOM |These vulnerable IDPs were transported to the nearest drop |
|out of the 3,715 registered since the beginning of|off point in their area of return and provided with |
|this part of the operations. |secondary transportation allowances, food and non-food items|
| |by IOM. |
|--------------------------------------------------+------------------------------------------------------------|
|141,648 The total numbers of IDPs assisted to |These IDPs received all the return assistance. |
|resettle to their respective communities to date | |
|since the operation began in November 2004. | |
|--------------------------------------------------+------------------------------------------------------------|
3. FOCUS ON MONTSERRADO CAMPS
Distribution of food, non-food items is still on going in Unification
Town and will be followed by the disbursement of transportation
allowance. Transportation allowance for this caseload is been
preposition by ARC. Distribution of food, non-food items and
transportation allowance is also ongoing in Perry Town IDP camp,
Montserrado County. Distribution of backlog cases of transportation
allowances continues in the Montserrado and Bong camps by CCC. The Mt.
Barclay IDPs camp caseload will commence shortly, meanwhile food and
transportation allowance is already prepositioned.
4. FOCUS ON BONG CAMPS
Tumutu IDP Camp: Distribution of return package (NFIs) at Tumutu IDP
camp continued from 17 May and was completed on the 19 May, 2005. A
total of 1,261 family heads with a family size of 5, 542 have received
their return package. A visit to the camp on the 20 May revealed that
about two thirds of the inhabitants have already left and many more are
in the process of leaving. To date, 720 huts have been demolished, 200
huts abandoned (i.e. inhabitants left but not yet demolished) and 314
huts are still occupied.
5. E. J. Yancy IDP Camp:
IDPs continue to leave E. J. Yancy camp and as of 17 May 2005, the whole
of Block E was completely empty. Finding transport back to their home
counties is still a problem due to the bad road conditions. Many of the
IDPs going to Sanoyea and Gbarporlu are having to resort to going by
foot. Some of the IDPs have also decided to settle in the community and
have privately acquired land just about 2 kilometers from the camp where
they settled. A visit to the site revealed that about 20 families are
now settled there and a new community is being established. Different
reasons were given why they decided to stay, including inability to go
back to home County due to the bad state of the road, children's
schooling and having a local spouse. One feature of the houses being
built here is that, they are bigger and of better quality than the huts
they were living in at the camps. This could suggest a long term plan
stay in this area.
Security problem appear to be on the increase in the camp. Some IDPs
were caught stealing some materials used for the toilets. The case was
reported to the police and they were arrested. Due to security problems,
the LRRRC regional representative requested that the materials used in
the construction of public amenities in the areas that have been
deserted should be removed and kept by the local authorities for future
use in the community. Though this decision may be taken in good faith,
there is health and hygienic concerns that need to be taken into
account. Materials used in building toilet and bath houses should be
carefully disinfected before being stored but this is not being done.
This issue will also be taken up with the LRRRC representative.
6. Protection - Monitoring Report from Sanayea District, Bong County
First hand reports from the field indicated that, despite hardships, the
IDPs that have returned are "feeling free" and "happy to be home and are
optimistic about the future". In regard to the reintegration activities
there is a need for shelter kits and reconstruction of public buildings
(schools etc) and of houses. Also, there is a need for basic services
such as health and water/sanitation.
7. Trucking of Vulnerable IDPs
Registration and transportation of vulnerable IDPs continues in Bong
County during the reporting period by the International Organization for
Migration (IOM). As of the 12th of May 2005, IOM has trucked a total of
1,568 out of the 3,715 registered. Registration of vulnerable IDPs has
commenced in the Montserrado camps.
8. Mass Information Campaign
Mass information campaign messages are on going. Live interviews on
various aspect of the return process by PI officers from WFP, UNICEF and
IDP Unit are continuing. This week Mr. James F. Youquoi, IDP Officer of
the IDP Unit was interviewed on the return process update and the
message was broadcast on UNMIL radio. The Public Information Mass
Theater group of UNMIL visited the camps during the reporting period and
carried out mass information on the return and elections process. Public
service announcement on the commencement of the second trench food
ration distribution is continuing on UNMIL Radio.
9. IDD Delegation to Liberia
A delegation from the UN Interagency Internal Displacement Division
(Geneva) headed by Mrs. Laketch Dirrase, Deputy Director, IDD, are
visiting Liberia from 8 May to 22 May.
10. Huts previously occupied by IDPs
Total number of huts and other structures demolished after being vacated
by departing IDPs now total 15,926 structures from 15 of the 22 formal
camps and 13 Spontaneous Settlements that awaits resettlement
assistance. From 8 November to 15 April 8, 850 Huts were demolished and
from 16 April to 21 May 7,116 Huts were demolished. Below is a summary
table. Please find tables below. There is a need to change the
approach of hut demolation to increase the rate of hut demolition.
UP date # 01
Summary of demolished structures for the period 8th November-15th April
2005
In the Bong and Montserrado camp
|---------------+-----------+------------+------------+-------------|
| Name of Camp | # of | Demolished | Existing | Location |
| |Structures | | | |
|---------------+-----------+------------+------------+-------------|
|Wilson | 3,720 | 1,428 | 2,292 | Montserrado |
|---------------+-----------+------------+------------+-------------|
|Perry | 701 | 309 | 397 | Montserrado |
|(Returnee) | | | | |
|---------------+-----------+------------+------------+-------------|
|Perry (IDPs) | 1,890 | 580 | 1,310 | Montserrado |
|---------------+-----------+------------+------------+-------------|
|Jahtondo | N/A | 1,572 | N/A | Montserrado |
|---------------+-----------+------------+------------+-------------|
|Blamacee | 2,656 | 1,441 | 1,215 | Montserrado |
|---------------+-----------+------------+------------+-------------|
|Seigbeh | 2,973 | 413 | 2,560 | Montserrado |
|---------------+-----------+------------+------------+-------------|
|Plumkor | 1,786 | 589 | 1,197 | Montserrado |
|---------------+-----------+------------+------------+-------------|
|Ricks | 3,541 | 2,118 | 1,428 | Montserrado |
|---------------+-----------+------------+------------+-------------|
|Fendell | N/A | N/A | N/A | Montserrado |
|---------------+-----------+------------+------------+-------------|
|E.J.Yancy | N/A | 400 | N/A | Bong |
|---------------+-----------+------------+------------+-------------|
|Maimu I | N/A | N/A | N/A | Bong |
|---------------+-----------+------------+------------+-------------|
|Maimu II | N/A | N/A | N/A | Bong |
|---------------+-----------+------------+------------+-------------|
|Maimu III | N/A | N/A | N/A | Bong |
|---------------+-----------+------------+------------+-------------|
|Tumutu | N/A | N/A | N/A | Bong |
|---------------+-----------+------------+------------+-------------|
|TOTAL | 17,267 | 8,850 | 8,417 | |
|---------------+-----------+------------+------------+-------------|
Up date # 02
Summary of demolished structures for the period
April 16 - May 21, 2005
In Montserrado, Bong and Margibi Counties
|---------------+-----------+------------+------------+--------------|
| Name of Camp | # of | Demolished | Existing | Location |
| |Structures | | | |
|---------------+-----------+------------+------------+--------------|
|Wilson | 2,292 | N/A | N/A* | Montserrado |
|---------------+-----------+------------+------------+--------------|
|Perry | 397 | N/A | N/A | Montserrado |
|(Returnee) | | | | |
|---------------+-----------+------------+------------+--------------|
|Perry (IDPs) | 1,313 | N/A | N/A | Montserrado |
|---------------+-----------+------------+------------+--------------|
|Jahtondo | N/A | N/A | N/A | Montserrado |
|---------------+-----------+------------+------------+--------------|
|Blamacee | 1,215 | N/A | N/A | Montserrado |
|---------------+-----------+------------+------------+--------------|
|Seigbeh | 2,560 | N/A | N/A | Montserrado |
|---------------+-----------+------------+------------+--------------|
|Plumkor | 1,197 | N/A | N/A | Montserrado |
|---------------+-----------+------------+------------+--------------|
|Ricks | 1,428 | N/A | N/A | Montserrado |
|---------------+-----------+------------+------------+--------------|
|Fendell | 2,829 | 2829 | 0 | Montserrado |
|---------------+-----------+------------+------------+--------------|
|Brown's Town | 887 | 111 | 776 | Margibi |
|---------------+-----------+------------+------------+--------------|
|Unification | 1,280 | 91 | 1,189 | Margibi |
|Town | | | | |
|---------------+-----------+------------+------------+--------------|
|E.J.Yancy | 1,896 | 1,156 | 734 | Bong |
|---------------+-----------+------------+------------+--------------|
|Maimu I | N/A | 391 | N/A | Bong |
|---------------+-----------+------------+------------+--------------|
|Maimu II | N/A | 719 | N/A | Bong |
|---------------+-----------+------------+------------+--------------|
|Maimu III | N/A | 1,096 | N/A | Bong |
|---------------+-----------+------------+------------+--------------|
|Tumutu | N/A | 720 | N/A | Bong |
|---------------+-----------+------------+------------+--------------|
|TOTAL | 17,276 | 7,116 | 10,160 | |
|---------------+-----------+------------+------------+--------------|
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