OCHA Situation Report
Liberia: IDP Returns
18 November 2005


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

1. Status of Return
>From November 2004 to date, a total of 239,049 IDPs have received 
their return assistance representing a total of 46,059 families.

2. Field Movement
|-------------------+------------------------|
|    Figures and    |   Type of Assistance   |
|    Categories     |                        |
|-------------------+------------------------|
|43,426 Facilitated |These IDPs received     |
|by IOM from the 8  |transport               |
|November 2004      |assistance from IOM to  |
|through 17 March   |the transit or          |
|2005               |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 |These IDPs received     |
|their own and also |their return assistance,|
|linked to the      |secondary transport     |
|International      |allowance, food and non |
|Organization of    |food items through one  |
|Migration (IOM)    |member of the family    |
|facilitated IDPs   |while others traveled to|
|movement above.    |their communities of    |
|                   |return.                 |
|-------------------+------------------------|
|150,344 Accelerated|This category of IDPs   |
|movement phase of  |received their primary  |
|the return         |and secondary transport |
|beginning the 11   |assistance along with   |
|of March 2005      |the two months food     |
|through 9 November |ration from WFP and NFIs|
|2005.              |from UNHCR through the  |
|                   |agencies implementing   |
|                   |partners in the camp.   |
|-------------------+------------------------|
|20,670 Total       |These vulnerable IDPs   |
|Vulnerable IDPs    |were                    |
|moved by IOM       |transported to the      |
|                   |nearest drop-off point  |
|                   |to their destination    |
|                   |and provided with       |
|                   |secondary transportation|
|                   |allowance, food and     |
|                   |non-food items.         |
|-------------------+------------------------|
|239,049 This figure|Total numbers of IDPs   |
|represents total   |who have received all   |
|number of IDPs     |their return assistance |
|assisted to        |from the humanitarian   |
|resettle to their  |community in            |
|respective         |Liberia.                |
|communities.       |                        |
|-------------------+------------------------|



3. Run-Off Elections

The run-off for the Liberian Presidential election was held on 8 
November 2005. It was reported by the IDP Unit field teams that 
campaigning and voting in the camps was calm and conducted in a well 
organized manner. 302 International Observers and 3,583 National 
Observers were present throughout the country to ensure election 
transparency. Despite the presence of these observers, the National 
Electoral Commission received a complaint from the Congress for 
Democratic Change (CDC) stating that the elections were fraudulent. A 
full investigation is being conducted by the NEC.

4. Movement in Montserrado, Margibi and Bong Counties IDP Camps

Distribution of the resettlement assistance package has ended at the 
Morris Farm IDP Camp and IDPs have begun to leave for their areas of 
return. Distribution of resettlement assistance is expected to commence 
on November 14, 2005 at the Catholic Compound IDP Camp. Registration of 
vulnerable IDPs has been completed at Wilson IDP Camp ahead of schedule 
and the manifest for the movement of vulnerable IDPs in Wilson camp for 
convoys 59 and 60 has been sent out.

An IDP Unit field team went to Baysama IDP Camp in Grand Bassa County 
during the reporting period. The camp has a WFP registered population of 
about 11,997 IDPs. WFP will begin distribution of the 2 month food 
ration for November and December by 16 November 2005. WFP has completed 
the deregistration exercise in Brown's Town for 98 IDPs whose ration 
cards were stolen or misplaced. The YMCA has also begun distribution of 
food for resettlement to Brown Town IDPs. IDPs in the 15th Gates IDP 
Camp have received their first food ration for resettlement and are 
awaiting NFI and transportation allowance distribution. On 10 November 
2005, WFP commenced the resettlement process in Civil Compound and 
Children's Home IDP Camps.

5. Protection - Soul Clinic IDP Camp, Montserrado

On 10 November, the IDP Unit facilitated a security meeting in Soul 
Clinic IDP Camp. Representatives from CIVPOL LNP, UNMIL Forces, UNHCR 
Protection, Oxfam, NRC, PU and IDP Unit Protection met with The IDP 
Leader and representatives from the Camp Watch Team (CWT). The IDP camp 
has approximately 15,500 registered IDPs and is located close to the 
Read-Light distinct, a 'high-crime' area in Montserrado. The meeting was 
held in order to increase and co-ordinate the security resources in the 
camp during the next 4 to 6 weeks when distribution of return assistance 
is scheduled. The security representatives were briefed by the IDP 
Leaders of the security situation in the camp, who stated that he wanted 
the presence of UNMIL Forces in the camp because of previous armed 
robberiesin the camp, and that CIVPOL and LNP were not able to respond 
to these types of crimes. Lastly, he stated that the CWTs should be 
increased from 40 to 100 members. It was agreed that next week an 
additional 60 members of the Camp Watch Team (CWT) would be trained by 
the LNP and supported by OXFAM.

6. Facilitated Return of Vulnerable IDPs by IOM

Registration for vulnerable IDPs is on-going in Montserrado and Bong 
IDPs camps respectively. During the reporting period, IOM registered a 
total of 26,630 vulnerable IDPs and transported 20,670 to their area of 
returns.

Protection Issues within IDP Camps

An IDP Unit field team reported that there are 10 vulnerable, orphaned 
children within VOA-1 IDP Camp that are not being supported by any 
humanitarian organization. The children are currently under the care of 
another IDP family. The IDP Unit will follow up on this issue. IDPs are 
still living in deplorable living conditions with leaking tarpaulins, 
poor sanitation facilities, little or no health services and the 
continued absence of camp management agencies.

7. Protection Reporting- Lofa County

The latest available numbers on IDP returns to Lofa County is 73,931. 
Information given to the Unit during monitoring in areas of return the 
last weeks indicates that the return-rate might rise sharply. The 
conclusion of the elections and improved road conditions due to the end 
of the rainy season are factors that may cause such a rise. The activity 
in the County has been low during the week due to the 2nd round of 
elections that took place during the reporting period.

2nd Food Ration Distribution

On Monday, the 7th of November the IDP Unit monitored the distribution 
of the 2nd food ration on 31 October 2005. 394 refugees and 401 IDPs 
were provided with humanitarian assistance at the Transit Center in 
Voinjama.

Child Protection

CIVPOL informed the IDP Unit that three children are presently in 
detention at Voinjama prison. In addition to the two girls (age 14 and 
17) mentioned in last week's situational report, a boy (age 13) is in 
detention for stealing scratch cards. Because of sub-standard conditions 
in the prison and the fact that there are no separate juvenile detention 
facilities, the UNHCR Voinjama protection staff with several NGOs and 
UNMIL are addressing this case to have the children released.

8. Protection Monitoring - Tubmanburg

General Situation

The re-run election between Mr. Weah and Ms. Johnson was held without 
any major disturbance. The Western Region did not experience any 
violence related to the election. Monitoring will continue to ensure 
that there are no disturbances after the elections in the return area.

Statistics and Registration

As of 5 November - A total of 20,710 family heads, and 117,042 family 
size IDPs originating from the Western Region (Bomi, Gbarpolo, Grand 
Cape Mount) have received return packages as of 28 November 2005 (source 
IDP Unit). This represents 93% of the total IDPs originating from 
Western region having received return assistance and representing an 
increase of 3,621 f/s since the last reporting period.

Protection and Durable Solutions

Two missions to Than Town, Golah Koneh were conducted this week, the 
mission included distribution of NFIs to spontaneous returnees and 
return monitoring in the community. LRRRC reports of a growing number of 
returnees to the area, and there is fear that the returnees will exhaust 
the carrying capacity of their return area. Efforts will be made to 
inform the community and authorities in the area of the advantages of 
having people returning to their communities and attention directed to 
the needs for basic services in the area.

The main access road from Lofa Bridge continues through Than Town and 
then further North. Three clans, Mana, Baroble and Laar, inhabit the 
area. The Mana clan lives along the main road. LRRRC reports that the 
condition for the Baroble and Laar are deplorable. There is no presence 
of NGOs, UN agencies, or government in those areas, and there are no 
basic services, and no access to fresh water, sanitation, or education. 
In general there are a number of vulnerable people in the communities. 
There are few NGOs, or UN agencies operating programs in the area. The 
vulnerable population consist mostly of single mothers, some very young, 
and elderly. Follow up missions will be conducted to assess the 
situation.

Food Security

The markets in Lofa and Than Town receive most of their food from 
Monrovia. There is very little agricultural production in the area, 
although people hunt bush-meat and catch fish in the rivers. The main 
source of food for many returnees is still the WFP food ration. The 
majority of the population has access to 1 meal per day, but not all. 
Although WFPs 2nd food rations are expected to run out within 4-8 weeks. 
The Physicians Assistant at Lofa Health Clinic reports of about 2.8% 
malnutrition in the population, and in most cases, they are young 
children. This number is likely to increase as WFP rations are depleted.

Income Generation

The main source of income in the Lofa Bridge region is derived from the 
"illegal" mining of diamonds and gold. Men often leave their family 
behind to go to remote regions to conduct mining; the IDP Unit 
interviewed several women who reported that they had not seen their 
husbands for months. Lebanese businessmen own the larger shops in the 
market in Lofa Bridge; they are alleged to be the buyers of the 
"illegally" mined diamonds and gold.

Education

The School Principal in Lofa Bridge reports that there continues to be a 
major influx of returning IDPs to the community. The primary school now 
hosts 3 classes of about 75 students each. The school has 6 teachers but 
cannot provide sufficient education to the growing community. The school 
lacks basic teaching material, although CCF provided some books. There 
are inadequate exercise books and the school building needs to be 
expanded to meet growing demand.

Health

WHO, UNICEF, USAID, Ministry of Health, and Rotary in the region is 
undertaking a polio vaccination program in November and December. The 
communities have been effectively sensitized and teams are traveling 
from community to community to vaccinate children. There are 3 health 
clinics, which have been rehabilitated recently, in the region which are 
not operating, The greatest obstacle is lack of drugs, most of the 
health personnel are available and have commenced work. The health 
clinic in Lofa Bridge is the only one in the region serving about 30,000 
people. The average number of patients is around 80 per day. However, 
referrals are extremely difficult because there are no means of 
communicating with Sinje Health Center, no transportation and very long 
distances. Some of the patients have walked for 11hrs or more to reach 
Lofa Bridge. The Health Clinic personnel state that the disease profiles 
are often complex and linked to poverty and lack of education and basic 
services. There are reports of extensive prostitution and the clinic 
cannot provide condoms because of supply problems. In order to test for 
HIV/AIDS the patients have to travel to Monrovia, which is not a 
realistic option.

Water and Sanitation

There are only two operational water points in Than Town (pop. 5,000), 
out of 12 that have been constructed. The main reason, according to the 
Town Chief is that the boreholes are not deep enough and they were 
constructed during the rainy season. People do not use the sanitation 
facilities, because of lack of maintenance and fear of diseases. Even 
health personnel recommend that people do not use the sanitation points 
for these reasons. The Community Maintenance Groups are not functioning 
in this area.

9. Hut Demolition and Camp Clean-up

During the reporting period, a cumulative number of 197 huts were 
demolished following the departure of its inhabitants. Since the 
demolition and camp clean-up process began in November 2004, a total of 
about 37,074 huts have been demolished, representing about 58% of the 
64,000 recognized huts.

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