OCHA Situation Report No. 61
Liberia: IDP Return
4 April 2006


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

1. End of IDP return process

All IDPs within the return envelop (314,095) who have availed 
themselves, have been provided with all of the assistance packages 
except a small number of families who are still receiving food in 
Basayma camp as well as absentees and those with missing tickets. These 
cases are expected to be completed by April 3, 2006. Below, is a 
breakdown in terms of categories of IDPs that have been assisted.

|---------------------+---------+----------------------------|
|  Category of IDPs   | Numbers |          Comments          |
|---------------------+---------+----------------------------|
|Total number of all  | 314,095 |This  figure  represents the|
|IDPs prior to the    |         |consolidated  figures of all|
|commencement of the  |         |the bona fide IDPs in the 35|
|IDP return process in|         |formal and spontaneous camps|
|November 2004        |         |agreed     on     by     the|
|                     |         |humanitarian  community  and|
|                     |         |endorsed   by  the  Liberian|
|                     |         |authorities   prior  to  the|
|                     |         |start   of  the  return  and|
|                     |         |reintegration process.      |
|---------------------+---------+----------------------------|
|Total IDPs provided  |312, 015 |This figure represents those|
|with return and      |         |IDPs    who   have   availed|
|reintegration        |         |themselves and provided with|
|assistance as of 31, |         |the  return assistance. This|
|March 2006           |         |figure   also  includes  the|
|                     |         |vulnerable  IDPs  that  were|
|                     |         |moved by IOM and NRC.       |
|---------------------+---------+----------------------------|
|Total "displaced     |  9,732  |This    figure    represents|
|returnees" from      |         |Liberian  returnees who fled|
|Sierra Leone assisted|         |from  Sierra  Leone  but who|
|(provided with Food, |         |could not readily go back to|
|NFI, Primary and     |         |their counties of origin due|
|Secondary transports)|         |to   the   fact  that  these|
|in the current       |         |counties  had  not  yet been|
|exercise.            |         |declared    safe/ready   for|
|                     |         |their return.               |
|---------------------+---------+----------------------------|
|IDPs from all the 35 |  2,080  |Some   of   these  IDPs  are|
|camps and spontaneous|         |gradually   coming   forward|
|settlements who are  |         |from   different  camps  and|
|in the WFP feeding   |         |availing  themselves for the|
|logs; but have not   |         |return   assistance.  It  is|
|availed themselves   |         |also estimated that some had|
|for deregistration   |         |already             returned|
|and subsequent       |         |spontaneously  prior  to the|
|provision of the     |         |start of the process and may|
|return assistance.   |         |not come forward.           |
|---------------------+---------+----------------------------|
|Total number of IDPs | 321,747 |This  figure  represents the|
|and "displaced       |         |total  number  of  IDPs  who|
|returnees" from      |         |availed     themselves    to|
|Sierra Leone provided|         |receive  the return packages|
|with return packages |         |plus      the     "displaced|
|as of March 31, 2006.|         |returnees" from Sierra Leone|
|                     |         |who   were  also  given  the|
|                     |         |return  package  during  the|
|                     |         |IDP return process.         |
|---------------------+---------+----------------------------|


2. Movements in Montserrado, Bong, Margibi and Grand Bassa County IDP 
Camps

General

With the winding down of the return process, field staffs from the IDP 
unit have been ensuring that bona fide IDPs are not left out of the 
assistance process. This they continue to do in collaboration with the 
key partners (LRRRC, UNHCR, WFP, GTZ & NRC) involved in the return by 
identifying backlog cases and ensuring the settlement of the same. The 
field staff was also responsible for the removal of IDP signboards that 
were installed in camps that have been declared completed and officially 
closed by the government/LRRRC.

The security situation during the week under review was reported to be 
calm and stable according to the IDPs, security personnel in the areas 
and NRC protection monitors contacted by the IDP Unit field teams. UNHCR 
and WFP through their implementing partners continue to provide the 
return assistance packages to those IDPs who are within the return 
envelop and have come forward from various camps.

Camp Assessment Task Force

During the week under review, the IDP Consultative Forum endorsed the 
Terms of Reference (TORs) for the proposed Camp Closure and Assessment 
Task Force. The questionnaire to be used in the field as well as the 
date for the start of the assessment, which is April 11, was also agreed 
upon. The Task Force will be an inter-agency one and will conduct 
assessments in all the 35 former IDP camps and come out with a report of 
the findings which will be presented to the ICF.

Mapping of occupants in the Public Buildings

The IDP Consultative Forum also agreed during their last meeting to set 
up a committee which will have the responsibility to come up with a 
strategy to map out the public and private buildings in Monrovia that 
are occupied by "displaced" people. This committee was formed and the 
first meeting was held during the week. A draft interview guide to be 
used in the mapping has been prepared and circulated to members of the 
ICF for inputs.

3. Food, NFI and transport grants distribution

Distribution of return packages consisting of food, NFI and 
transportation grant to the deregistered IDPs in Conneh camp has been 
completed. There are, however, few cases of IDPs with missing tickets 
which have been validated by WFP during the week. Distribution of return 
packages is ongoing for these IDPs in the camp and is expected to be 
completed by April 3 2006.

In Basayma IDP Camp, distribution of NFIs and transportation grant has 
been completed whereas distribution of food is expected to be completed 
by April 3. A few cases of missing tickets have also been validated and 
those involved will receive their packages.

4. Situation in the Camps

Salala, Maimu I II & III IDP Camps

In Salala, 98% of the IDPs have left the camp. There are currently 201 
huts in the camp some of which are abandoned and some are occupied. 
Occupants of these structures reported that they or their children are 
either in school in Salala, involved in farming or belongs to the host 
community. During the week, the IDP Unit field staff began the 
destruction of the abandoned huts in the camp through burning. A total 
of 2000 abandoned huts were set ablaze and burned down to avoid 
reoccupation. Some members of the host community are also using the 
woods to burn charcoal as well as for domestic firewood.

In the former Maimu camps, the residents (host communities & former 
IDPs) are now referring to the camps as Maimu communities with an 
elected chief to steer the affairs of the communities.

Conneh IDP Camp

IDPs in Conneh continue to move in large numbers after receiving their 
return packages, leaving behind more than one thousand abandoned huts. 
The IDP Unit field teams in collaboration with LRRRC have started the 
demolition of the abandoned structures in the camp. The security 
situation remains calm as reported by the LNP and CIVPOL who are 
conducting regular patrol in the camp. Some IDPs in block "A" are 
negotiating with the landlord to remain on the premises for a longer 
period.

Basayma IDP Camp

As was the case in Conneh and Salala camps, IDPs who have received their 
return packages have began leaving the Basayma camp in large numbers. As 
of 30 March, 2006, 224 of the initial 543 huts have been demolished, 
indicating that the occupants have left the camp for their counties of 
origin.

5. Second food ration distribution ( in return areas)

As of March 31, 2006, a total of 243,787 former IDPs have received their 
second food ration in the areas of return. This figure represents 78.13% 
of IDPs that have been assisted to return since the commencement of the 
repatriation exercise in November, 2004. This is a good indication that 
these IDPs have returned to their home counties in order to begin the 
rebuilding of their lives.

6. Demolition of huts/camp clean-up

Demolitions of abandoned huts/structures in the various camps are 
ongoing. During the reporting period, a total of 3,069 huts were 
demolished; bringing the cumulative figure of huts demolished to 52,788 
or 82% of the total number of huts in the 35 formal and spontaneous 
settlements prior to the start of the return process.

7. Monitoring activities and situation in the Western Region

SGBV related cases

During the reporting period IRC and UNHCR FOT Community Services 
received and followed up two cases of domestic violence in two 
communities in Tubmanburg. One of the cases involved a 22 years old 
lady, who was referred to the hospital for medical attention due to 
injuries sustained during the assault. The alleged perpetrator was 
arrested and is currently in the custody of the police.

IRC handed over the Tubmanburg Women Center to the women of Tubmanburg 
on Monday March 27. The center was constructed by IRC and contains a 
reception-room and office facilities. The ceremony was attended by the 
SGBV taskforce, local authorities and local women groups. IRC is folding 
up their activities in Bomi County and therefore appealed to the 
humanitarian agencies present to assist with empowerment projects.

Child Protection

During the child protection meeting for Bomi, Don Bosco Homes reported 
an incident where an eight months old baby was abandoned by the parents. 
A guardian brought the child from its home within the Guthrie plantation 
to Tubmanburg where UNMIL HR, CCF and Don Bosco Homes got involved. The 
child was taken to the government hospital for treatment and is now in 
the care of the guardian. CCF is following up the incident by assigning 
a social worker to visit the child and foster parent. In the same 
meeting Don Bosco Homes informed that they have identified six 
street-children in Tubmanburg. They are without parents and are sleeping 
outdoors at various locations in the town. Don Bosco committed to do a 
profile on the children to see how best they can be assisted.

During the protection coordination meeting for Grand Cape Mount County 
World Vision Liberia (WVL) stressed the fact that 40% of children in 
school going age in Gola-Konneh district do not have access to any 
educational facility. These children are involved in mining activities 
in the area. There is the need for stakeholders in the educational 
sector to intervene in this district. UNHCR FOT will conduct assessment 
in the area to ascertain the scope of the problem. During the reporting 
period the NRC profile monitors reported on an incident of forced 
underage marriage in Grand Cape Mount County. The Protection Section at 
UNHCR FOT will follow up on the case.

Road Conditions

On Tuesday March 28, the Bomi County Road Task Force made an assessment 
of the road from Klay to Dehdaylai and the road from Be Lekpai Town to 
Manjama (all within Bomi County). Participants of this assessment were 
UNMIL Civil Affairs, UNMIL RRR, WFP, UNHCR, a representative for the 
Superintendent of Bomi, representation from the ministry of public works 
and the LRRRC.

On the road from Klay to Dehdaylai the team stopped in 3 communities. In 
all three communities the inhabitants identified a focal person and made 
a list of persons who would be able to participate in 
road-rehabilitation as a part of the food for work program. The road 
from Klay to Jah Konnah is not in a very good state and will need 
rehabilitation before the rainy season. The road between Jah Konnah and 
Zordee is better but with a bad spot at 9.3 km from Klay. The road from 
Zordee to Dehdaylai Town is seriously overgrown and will need brushing. 
A number of bridges on this road will need minor rehabilitation.

On the road from Be Lekpai to Manjama the team stopped in 6 communities. 
In all communities the inhabitants identified a focal person and made a 
list of persons who would be able to participate in road-rehabilitation 
as a part of the food for work program.

The Taskforce conducted the same exercise for the roads 
Brewerville-Mecca and Mecca-Guie Town (all within Bomi County) on Friday 
31 March. Particularly the road about 15 km after Brewerville towards 
Mecca needs attention before the rainy season.

IDP Unit
01/04/06

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