OCHA Situation Report Update 31
Liberia: IDP Return
6 September 2005


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

1. Status of Return

The return figure remains the same as of the preceding week, from 
November 2004 to date a total of 209,092 IDPs has received their return 
assistance representing a total of 40,052 families.

2. Movement in Montserrado County IDP Camps

Distribution of transport allowance in Mt. Barclay, Perrytown, Jahtondo 
and Wilson is ongoing. Sensitization and mass information campaign has 
begun for the commencement of the return process in Newland IDP camp, 
which has a population of 4,044 IDPs.

The movement of vulnerable IDPs continues in the Montserrado camps by 
IOM with the simultaneous distribution of return assistance and the 
steady movement of convoys. De-registration of resettlement cards 
continues for the repatriation of the vulnerable population by WFP in 
collaboration with the IDP Unit.

3. Movement in Bong County and Margibi IDPs Camps

Sensitization and mass information campaign has commenced in Massaquoi 
and Hutton's Farm IDPs spontaneous settlement in preparation to start 
distribution of return assistance next week.

4. 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). As of 26 August 2005, IOM had 
registered a total of 25,080 vulnerable IDPs and transported 13,183 to 
their area of returns.

5. IDP Returnees Monitoring (Western Region)

Statistics and Registration

As of August 26, a total of 18,726 family heads, and 106,160 family size 
IDPs originating from the Western Region (Bomi, Gbarpolo, Grand Cape 
Mount) have received their return packages. This represents 89% of the 
total IDPs originating from Western region having received return 
assistance.

The following crime statistics where reported by LNP, Tubmanburg for the 
month of July;

|--------------------+----------|
|        CRIME       | REPORTED |
|--------------------+----------|
| Simple Assault     |     5    |
|--------------------+----------|
| Aggravated Assault |     3    |
|--------------------+----------|
| Disorderly Conduct |     2    |
|--------------------+----------|
| Theft of Property  |     1    |
|--------------------+----------|
| Criminal Mischief  |     1    |
|--------------------+----------|
| Misapplication of  |     1    |
| entrusted          |          |
| properties         |          |
|--------------------+----------|
| TOTAL              |    13    |
|--------------------+----------|


All alleged perpetrators are males over the age of 18. However, the 
statistics does not fully reflect the situation on the ground, thus few 
SGBV cases are reported by NRC and they are not reflected in the 
statistics. At the sector coordination meeting in Tubmanburg it was 
agreed that LNP will contact IRC when SGVB victims come to report cases. 
This NGO will support the judicial process, the interest of the victim, 
and build LNP capacity to handle such cases. It must be highlighted that 
there are few female police officers being recruited and trained by LNP. 
This issue will be raised with CIVPOL. LNP in all three counties have 
been requested to report cases to UNHCR on a monthly basis.

Protection and durable solutions

There is improved coordination among agencies and NGOs. Efforts are on 
their way to review and streamline the dynamics and decision making 
process in coordination meetings. Major protection concerns continue to 
be linked to law and order issues. Access to return areas are severely 
impeded due to road conditions. A task force has been established in the 
Western Region to highlight the issue and to direct resources to be 
utilized to improve access to return areas.

Income generation -- skills training

NFI distribution for blind people -- 45 NFI packages was distributed at 
the Don Bosco Homes (local NGO). Individual follow-up linked to skills 
training programs was conducted. In order to support the individuals 
further additional follow-up meetings with community groups was 
conducted.

Health

There is a newly renovated health clinic in Than Town done by the 
Liberian National Red Cross Society. The clan chief states that after 
the renovation the LNRS have not returned and there is nobody to run the 
clinic. The nearest functioning clinic is at Lofa Bridge, but this 
facility also lacks both drugs and personnel. The UNHCR Protection found 
the clinc near Lofa Bridge closed.

Law and Order -- Judicial

Christian Children Fund (CCF), an International NGO have followed up two 
rape cases, which took place in Tumukole and Bopolu. The agency will 
deploy social workers in Gbarma to monitor and follow up child 
protection and SGBV related issues in that area, including a rape case 
that took place on July 3 previously reported by NRC. This case is 
currently pending at the Provisional Monthly Probate Court in Gbarma 
town.

6. IDP RETURN -- LOFA COUNTY( NORTHERN REGION)

Out of the estimated 314.000 IDPs qualified for assistance, an estimated 
114,000 IDPs are expected to return to Lofa. This is more than 1/3 of 
the retuning IDPs, hence Lofa County is the county in Liberia with the 
highest number of expected return of IDPs. To date, 66,416 IDPs from 
Lofa have received their return assistance.

WFP distribution of second food trenche in Lofa

Food distributions for returned IDPs in Voinjama are conducted on 
Mondays and Fridays, while the same is conducted in Zorzor on Tuesdays 
and in Salayea Wednesdays. The IDP Unit did a follow up on the 
information last week, thus distributions have not taken place after the 
schedule causing a backlog in the distribution of the second food 
trenche since 17 August in Zorzor and Salayea Districts. This 
information was confirmed by WFP and was due to logistics

Food distribution was planned for Wednesday 31 August in Salayea, and 
Thursday 1 of September in Zorzor. According to WFP the food are now 
distributed according to schedule.

Road conditions Voinjama -- Zorzor

The UNMIL Pakistain Battalion is currently carrying out road maintenance 
of the heavily damage roads about 24 km from Voinjama. The PAKBATT will 
continue maintaining this road. Last year this road was closed from 
August to November and to date, the road is still open for truck 
traffic. PAKBATT is seeking assistance in an inter agency approach to 
keep the roads maintained over the rainy season in the area. Peace Wind 
Japan (PWJ), WFP and UNHCR are contributing.

Road conditions Voinjama -- Kolahun, Foya and Vahun

The movement of traffic towards Kolahun, Foya and Vahun are still 
inaccessible due primarily to the deplorable state of the roads. Refugee 
convoys from Guinea and Sierra Leone has been suspended by UNHCR to 
these areas of return for the last three weeks. At a joint inter-agency 
meeting, ICRC reported that commercial trucks were plying the 
Kolahun,Vahun and Foya routes.This statement was rebutted by the 
Pakistain Battalion stating tat no commercial trucks carrying IDPs has 
passed this route since the last 4 weeks. However, people are tracking 
these roads by foot and motorbikes from Voinjama town.

7. PROTECTION

Save the Children UK has reactivated its children recreation club in 
Perry IDP camp. The objective of the club is to carry on awareness among 
the children in order to prevent child abuse and teenage pregnancy.

SGBV Training

A joint training on Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV), was 
organized by the HCS/IDP Unit, UNHCR and IRC on 30- 31 August. The 
participants came from government, INGO and NGOs. The trainers mainly 
from UNHCR and IRC, considered SGBV as a global challenge and precisely 
in post conflict Liberia. Topics were, SGBV as a human rights issues, 
categories of SGBV, types, referral networks, guiding principles, 
preventive and response mechanisms. The lectures were argument by case 
studies and group work. This will enable participants to incorporate 
SGBV awareness, preventive and response mechanisms in their humanitarian 
work.

Ms. Angela Kearny UNICEF Country Representative stated in her opening 
remarks that she fully supported all efforts to prevent sexual violence 
against children and hoped that legal instruments should also be put in 
place to combat this problem. She noted that the majority of the 
returning population are of women and children.

In her closing remarks, the Minister for Gender and Development, Hon. 
Varbah Gayflor encouraged the International Community and the Government 
of Liberia, to pay more attention to the survivors. She further 
recommended that, institutions should be established to provide support 
to survivors of this terrible social ill. Also, she reported a positive 
development, the draft rape bill is before the national legislature for 
debate and positive change will follow when the new law is adopted.

Also present at the opening and closing ceremonies, were a 
representative of the out-going Deputy SRSG and the UNHCR County 
Representative.

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