OCHA Situation Report Update 30
Liberia: IDP Report
31 August 2005


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

1. Status of Return As of the 26 August 2005, a total of 209,092 IDPs 
have received return assistance from the humanitarian community, 
representing 40,052 families. Please find the various categories 
detailed below.

2. Various Categories of Field Movement

|-----------------------+-------------------------------------------------|
|Figures and Categories |               Type of Assistance                |
|-----------------------+-------------------------------------------------|
|43,426 Facilitated by  |These IDPs received transport assistance from IOM|
|IOM from the 8 November|to the transit or distribution center closer to  |
|2004 through 17 March  |their area of return plus a secondary transport  |
|2005                   |allowance from UNHCR. They also received 2 months|
|                       |initial WFP food rations and non food items from |
|                       |UNHCR.                                           |
|-----------------------+-------------------------------------------------|
|45,279 Returned on     |These IDPs received their return assistance,     |
|their own and also     |secondary transport allowance, food and non food |
|linked to the          |items through one member of the family while     |
|International          |others traveled to their communities of return.  |
|Organization of        |These items were donated by the agencies         |
|Migration (IOM)        |highlighted above.                               |
|facilitated IDPs       |                                                 |
|movement above.        |                                                 |
|-----------------------+-------------------------------------------------|
|120,387 Accelerated    |This category of IDPs received their primary and |
|movement phase of the  |secondary transport assistance along with the two|
|return beginning the 11|months food ration from WFP and NFIs from UNHCR  |
|of March 2005 through  |through the agencies implementing partners in the|
|August 26 2005.        |camp.                                            |
|-----------------------+-------------------------------------------------|
|9,589 Total Vulnerable |These vulnerable IDP groups were transported to  |
|IDPs moved by IOM      |the nearest drop-off point to their destination  |
|                       |and provided with secondary transportation       |
|                       |allowance, food and non-food items.              |
|-----------------------+-------------------------------------------------|
|209,092 This figure    |These IDPs have received all their return        |
|represents IDPs        |assistance from the humanitarian community.      |
|assisted to resettle to|                                                 |
|their respective       |                                                 |
|communities.           |                                                 |
|-----------------------+-------------------------------------------------|


3. Movement in Montserrado County IDP Camps

Distribution of return assistance to backlog cases especially in the 
form of transport allowance in Mt. Barclay, Perrytown, Jahtondo and 
Wilson continued during this reporting period. Also, the remaining 
caseload of returnees from Sierra Leonean was also cleared during the 
reporting period. The movement of vulnerable IDPs continues in the 
Montserrado camps by IOM with the simultaneous distribution of return 
assistance and the gradual movement of convoys.

4. Movement in Bong County IDP Camps

Maimu I

Payment of transportation grant to the final batch of eligible IDPs was 
made during the reporting period. A total of 30 IDPs representing 26 
families received their transportation grant, thus ending the 
distribution of resettlement package to IDPs in Maimu I. Altogether, 21 
256 IDPs representing 3 946 families from Maimu I benefited from the 
resettlement package. Most of these IDPs have already left the camp and 
many more continue to leave daily.

IOM Movement of Vulnerable Groups

International organization for migration (IOM) also moved the last 
convoy of registered vulnerable IDPs and their families during the 
period under review. A total of 287 IDPs including 34 vulnerable were 
transported to destinations in Lofa. This brings the total number of 
vulnerable IDPs and their families transported by IOM since the process 
began in Bong County in April, 2005 to a total of 6,690.

The issue of missing tickets

The issue of what to do for IDPs who have lost their WFP ration cards is 
yet to be settled. At the time of distribution of return package, IDPs 
were told that the issue of missing cards will be investigated and 
resolved after those with WFP cards have been served. There are some 
IDPs in Maimu I, II, & III who have lost their cards and are now waiting 
for resolution of their cases. Most of these IDPs have their names on 
the WFP logs but could not find their cards. They are understandably 
frustrated at the delay in resolving their case. It is therefore 
recommended that a decision be made as soon as possible on this issue so 
that the IDPs can be informed of their fate.

Road assessment mission

A UNHCR/IDP Unit team went on a joint mission with WFP on August 22 2005 
to follow up on the state of the Totota -- Sanoyea road. As reported 
last week, an assessment mission identified 2 bridges to be repaired 
before WFP trucks can transport second trench food for distribution to 
returnee IDPs and refugee in Sanoyea district. That mission was assured 
by the district commissioner and the clan chief that the bridges will be 
rehabilitated on the 21 August. Hence the follow up trip to find out 
whether the bridges have been repaired. To our disappointment, none of 
the bridges was repaired. The district commissioner apologized for this 
and promised again that they will be repaired on August 23.

5. UNICEF programmes, activities and interventions in IDPs return areas 
Education

UNICEF has conducted educational assessment missions in Lofa and Nimba 
Counties, where large number of displaced people are returning to their 
home communities. With the involvement of the communities a number of 
schools were identified for rehabilitation and support, including the 
provision of essential learning packages.

Protection

UNICEF supported the training of 17 social workers and border monitors 
in Nimba County. The trainees will implement the Community Empowerment 
Investment Programme (CEIP) in schools and monitor child rights 
violation along the border. Meetings were held with four child 
protection agencies in Zwedru to strengthen coordination of the 
reintegration programmes by sharing caseloads, better use of the already 
established community structures and logistical coordination.

6. Trucking of Vulnerable IDPs by IOM

During the reporting period, registration and trucking of vulnerable 
IDPs continued in Montserrado and Bong Camps by the International 
Organization of Migration (IOM). Information on the total number of 
vulnerable registered and trucked during the reporting was not available 
from (IOM) prior to the reporting period. .

7. IDP Returnees Monitoring (Lofa County)

The Unit conducted monitoring in four communities in Salayea District. 
The majority of the inhabitants in these communities are returned IDPs 
and kpelle is the ethnic group with the highest population in the area. 
In the towns of Beyan, Ganglota and Telemu the lack of a health post is 
a concern as the inhabitants have to walk a long distance to reach the 
closest health facility. The distribution of the second tranche ration 
has not been addressed as former IDPs have been waiting for the past 2 
months since with no information on the date and time for the 
commencement of the second tranche food distribution. Some of the former 
IDPs have traveled on several occasions to Salayea town to collect their 
ration but to no avail. The unit has drafted a monitoring plan for the 
month of August and September and according to the plan, two monitoring 
visits will be conducted each week. The districts of Foya, Kolahun and 
Vahun are inaccessible by car; the unit will focus on the Districts of 
Voinjama, Zorzor and Salayea. These districts have also by far received 
the largest numbers of IDPs. The Unit has conducted monitoring in 15 
communities in the districts of Voinjama (10), Zorzor (4), and Kolahun 
(1)

8. Hut demolition

During the period under review, hut demolition figures were not 
reported. However, demolition of huts is progressing as transportation 
allowance backlog payment is being settled and the continuous movement 
IOM convoys uninterrupted. A full report on the demolition of huts for 
the last two weeks will be reflected in our next situational report.

9. WFP Distribution of second food tranche to returning IDPs

Of the population resettled, 21,316 returnees beneficiaries and 157,316 
IDPs beneficiaries have qualified (received the first tranche food 
ration two months ago or earlier). Of those qualified to benefit from 
the second food trance, 15,727 returnees beneficiaries (73.78%) and 
132,942 IDPs beneficiaries (84.50%) have received their food ration, 
which completes their four months resettlement food package. It should 
be noted that IDPs collect their second food tranche in their areas of 
return after two months have elapsed. This is normally a good indicator 
of the number of people who may have actually gone back to their former 
homes.

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