OCHA Situation Report No. 34
Liberia: IDP Return
3 October 2005


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

1. Status of Return

>From November 2004 to 20 September 2005, a total of 219,830 IDPs have
received their return assistance representing a total of 42,463 
families.

2. Field Movement

|------------------------------+------------------------------|
| Figures and Categories       |      Type of Assistance      |
|------------------------------+------------------------------|
|43,426 Facilitated by IOM     |These IDPs received transport |
|from the 8 November 2004      |assistance from IOM to the    |
|through 17 March 2005         |transit or distribution center|
|                              |closer to their area of return|
|                              |plus secondary transport      |
|                              |allowance, plus 2 months      |
|                              |initial WFP food rations and  |
|                              |non food items                |
|------------------------------+------------------------------|
| 45,279 Returned on their own |These IDPs received their     |
|and also linked to the        |return assistance, secondary  |
|International Organization of |transport allowance, food and |
|Migration (IOM) facilitated   |non food items through one    |
|IDPs movement above.          |member of the family while    |
|                              |others traveled to their      |
|                              |communities of return.        |
|------------------------------+------------------------------|
|128,335 Accelerated movement  |This category of IDPs received|
|phase of the return beginning |their primary and secondary   |
|the 11 of March 2005 through  |transport assistance along    |
|August 19 2005.               |with the two months food      |
|                              |ration from WFP and NFIs from |
|                              |UNHCR through the agencies    |
|                              |implementing partners in the  |
|                              |camp.                         |
|------------------------------+------------------------------|
|17,818 Total Vulnerable IDPs  |These vulnerable IDP groups   |
|moved by IOM                  |were transported to the       |
|                              |nearest drop-off point to     |
|                              |their destination and provided|
|                              |with secondary transportation |
|                              |allowance, food and non-food  |
|                              |items.                        |
|------------------------------+------------------------------|
|219,830 This figure represents|These IDPs have received all  |
|IDPs assisted to resettle to  |their return assistance from  |
|their respective communities. |the humanitarian community.   |
|------------------------------+------------------------------|


3. Food distribution

Monthly food distribution

During the last week, it was observed that WFP has distributed food for 
September and October in the camps. This is to secure food during the 
month of October. The monthly food distribution to IDPs still in camps 
is planned to restart in November 2005. It was observed that food 
distributions has been completed according to the schedule in the camps 
and spontaneous settlements.

Second Trench Food Distribution in Bong and Lofa Counties

Distribution of second trenche food to former IDPs in Bong County was 
carried out by WFP through their implementing partners on 19 and 20 
September 2005 at Gbarnga UNHCR Transit Center, Jorquelleh district. 
1,954 former IDPs representing 410 families received their second trench 
food package during this period.

The IDP Unit field team in Voinjama reported that last week, WFP 
replenished their food stocks in the Voinjama UNHCR transit center and 
second trenche food distribution recommenced on Friday 23 September.

4. Distribution of Return Assistance completed in two camps and two 
spontaneous settlements

This week, distribution of return assistance was completed in Sinje-3 
and Newland IDP Camps, located in Montserrado County. The Newland camp 
had an initial population of 3,992 and Sinje-3 camp had an initial 
population of 3,169 IDPs.

Additionally, distribution of Return Assistance in Horton Farm and 
Massaquoi Town Spontaneous Settlements located in Margibi County was 
finalized this week. The initial population in Horton Farm was 1,212 
while Massaquoi had an initial population of 1,073 IDPs.

5. Distribution of Return Assistance - ongoing and for the coming weeks

After informing and sensitizing the IDPs, distribution of return 
assistance started in two camps this week, including Ricks and Siebgeh 
IDP camps, both of which are located in Montserrado County. Distribution 
in these two camps are planned to be completed in the coming weeks. 
Additionally, distribution of return assistance is planned to start in 
Morris Farm IDP Camp next week.

6. Trucking of Vulnerable IDPs by IOM

During the reporting period, registration and trucking of vulnerable 
IDPs continued in Montserrado County in Ricks, Seigbeh and Plumkor IDP 
camps by IOM. As of 16 September 2005, IOM had registered 26,310 
vulnerable IDPs and transported 17,818 to their areas of return.

7. Protection and Security

Protection and Security - Soul Clinic IDP Camp - Montserrado County

An incident was reported in Soul Clinic IDP camp last week which was 
then confirmed by LNP and CIVPOL that three persons were wounded and one 
person died in an armed robbery. It is still unclear whether the people 
involved were IDPs or persons from the nearby Red-Light District. The 
Camp has some 15,500 IDPs and is located nearby the Red-Light District, 
which has a high level of crime.

The Protection/IDP Unit had a meeting in the camp this week with the IDP 
Leader, Civil Affairs/UNMIL, LNP and CIVPOL. The IDP leader informed 
that the camp is now patrolled regularly and that there has been no 
incident during the last week. Nonetheless, to further improve the long 
standing deterioration of security in the camp, it is recognized that a 
permanent presence of the LNP would drastically improve the situation. 
Hence, the IDP leader and the community have now identified an abandoned 
house in the camp and asked the IDP Unit if a roof and doors could be 
provided. It is also recommended from CIVPOL that the house should have 
basic cell structures. The Protection/IDP Unit has also recommended that 
UNMIL Security could establish a check-point nearby the camp, something 
that was asked for and fully supported by the IDPs in the camp.

Salala IDP Camp -- Bong County

Regular monitoring activities were conducted in Salala camp during the 
reporting period. Relative calm is prevailing in the camp and IDPs 
reported feeling safe and secure. Officers from LNP have been conducting 
regular patrols in the camp. According to the camp leadership, the IDPs 
have now accepted the measures announced by NEC concerning voting in the 
camp and are no longer threatening to cause confusion during the coming 
elections. Issues relating to leaking shelters and over filled toilets 
were raised again by the IDP leadership.

8. Monitoring in Return Areas

IDPs returning to Bong County

This week, the UNHCR Protection and the IDP Unit Protection visited 
three villages including Belefanai, Naama and Shankpalai, located in 
Zota District in Bong County. The objective of the field trip was to 
monitor the situation for population returning after a long period of 
displacement. The protection staff met the Village Chiefs, Women 
Representatives and other Community Leaders. Although there is a general 
lack of social facilities and employment opportunities, no security or 
protection concerns were reported.

IDPs returning to Lofa County

The IDP Unit field team in Voinjama performed protection monitoring work 
within villages in Voinjama Town, Lofa County, last week. Of the several 
people the team interviewed, the majority were single mothers supporting 
their children alone as their fathers were either killed in the war or 
abandoned them. It was reported that the journey from the IDP camps to 
Voinjama has been reported to take as long as a week, and several IDP 
families have had to sleep outside which creates health risks, as 
sanitation facilities are nonexistent.

Several of the returned IDPs stated that they would not return to their 
villages because there are no basic services such as schools and 
sanitation facilities. This has led returned IDPs to stay with friends 
or family and have resorted to petty sales specifically of charcoal and 
food.

Due to the large number of returnees to Voinjama town and the outlying 
areas, many IDPs have been forced to assume temporary residence within 
the town. Many of the returned IDPs are single mothers and are presumed 
to be in danger of sexual exploitation while waiting to return to their 
villages. IRC and ICRC are regularly monitoring the situation, together 
with UNHCR Protection. The Pentecostal Mission Unlimited (PMU) has 
generously offered that churches within the town be used for temporary 
residence for IDPs while waiting to be returned.

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