Liberia - DHA-43: 3-10 October 1996
Liberia - DHA-43: 3-10 October 1996
LIBERIA
HUMANITARIAN SITUATION REPORT - No. 43
Period covered: 3 - 10 October 1996
The information contained in this report was provided by the
Office of the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for
Operational Activities in Liberia UN Agencies,
International Organisations and NGOs
HIGHLIGHTS
The humanitarian community met with Mr. Douglas Stafford,
USAID Assistant Administrator of the Bureau for
Humanitarian Response and Ms. Nan Borton, Director of
USAIDs Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance. The USAID
delegation toured NGO project sites in and around Monrovia
and in Tubmanburg.
A World Vision International delegation led by its
President Mr. Dean Hirach and accompanied by Vice-President
Russ Kerr, the Director for Relief, John Yale, and the
Director for Agriculture, Joe Devries, called on the
UNDHA-HACO where they discussed various issues relating to
the complex emergency situation in Liberia. Subsequently,
the delegation visited WFP on 8 October 1996. WFP informed
the delegation about the availability of adequate relief
food stocks in-country for the rest of this year. WFP has
pledged to support World Vision programmes within the
framework of existing LOUs with reference to South-Eastern
Liberia and ongoing feeding programmes in Western Liberia.
The Ministry of Planning is circulating draft guidelines
for registering and monitoring the operations of NGOs in
Liberia. When finalised, the document is expected to
facilitate the process of accrediting and regulating the
operations of NGOs.
POPULATIONS-AT-RISK
Continued fighting between ULIMO-J and ULIMO-K in the area
between Sinje and Bo Waterside in Grand Cape Mount county
has forced the displacement of over 3,000 persons.
Civilians are advising against delivering food aid for fear
of attracting further abuse. At the request of NGOs,
UNDHA-HACO is carrying out daily patrols in Grand Cape
Mount to monitor the security of humanitarian operations
and also to create opportunities for access to other areas
of the county where large numbers of civilians are believed
to be living.
FOOD AND LOGISTICS
Grand Cape Mount
Responding to NGO reports that over 3,000 persons, fleeing
renewed fighting, had arrived in Madina, the World Food
Programme (WFP) sent a Food Aid Monitor and a member from
one of its implementing partners to assess the situation.
Following return of the mission, an inter-agency meeting
was held at UNDHA-HACO office to discuss the emergency
needs of the area. WFP, in collaboration with the Liberian
Islamic Union for Reconstruction and Development (LIURD),
has set up registration points at Sinje, Vonzula and Madina
to record new arrivals. Ration cards will be issued to
registered families while WFP continues to monitor the
security situation on a daily basis to determine the
feasibility of food distribution.
WFP has provided 5 Mts (corn soya blend, vegetable oil,
high energy biscuits and canned fish) to World Vision
Internationals (WVI) Therapeutic Feeding Centre (TFC) for
an estimated 500 beneficiaries based in Madina and
allocated another 24.5 Mts (bulgur wheat, oil and corn soya
blend) for the month of October.
Montserrado
On 12 October, WFP will start lifting a consignment of
1,619 Mts (1,475 Mts bulgur wheat and 144 Mts vegetable
oil) to feed 240,971 IDPs being sheltered in and around
Monrovia. This distribution will be implemented by a local
NGO, the Special Emergency Life Food (SELF) in conjunction
with the Lutheran World Federation World Service (LWF-WS),
the Liberia National Red Cross (LNRC) and the local
Concerned Christian Community (CCC). Implementing partners
and WFP Food Aid Monitors will conduct population
verification exercises in all shelters.
WFP has allocated 12.3 Mts (11.3 Mts b-wheat and 1.0 Mts
vegoil) to feed 3,682 persons (2,970 in Seigbel and 712
persons in Zwanstown) who sought refuge at the two shelters
during the fighting in Bomi and Grand Cape Mount without
passing through the designated transit points. The
Concerned Christian community and the Liberia National Red
Cross have been asked to carry out a night check in all
their shelters to reverify population data.
Two new consignments of food have been received in Monrovia
recently. The M-V SKY BIRD arrived on 3 October 1996, with
2,900 Mts of assorted food commodities now being unloaded,
while the M-V Vinland Saga arrived on 9 October 1996, with
1,247 Mts of bulgur wheat from Conakry and berthed the same
day.
Margibi
WFP has lifted a total of over 300 Mts to SCF-UK for
distribution to over 3,900 of the over 20,000 people in
Upper-Margibi.
Bong
LWF-WS is doing a registration of targeted beneficiaries
between Gbarnga and St. Paul Bridge (Lofa County border)
and Totota - Gbarnga.
WFP reports the 8 October market prices of basic
commodities as follows:
COMMODITYPRICE-BAG COMMODITY PRICE-GAL
Indian Long Grain RiceUSD 20.63Gasoline
USD 0.94
American Long Grain Rice USD 23.75Fuel Oil
USD 1.13
Bulgur WheatUSD 15.00Engine Oil
USD 3.50
Vegetable OilUSD 4.06Kerosene
USD 1.88
The rate of exchange on the parallel market is
LDD 80.00 to USD 1.00
WFP stock balances as of 8 October were:
Bulgur wheat 2,632MTs
Vegetable oil 410MTs
CSB495MTs
Pulses524MTs
Canned Fish10 MTs
BP54 MTs
Others11 MTs
TOTAL 4,086MTs
HEALTH
The Minister of Health held discussions with international
and national NGOs at the Ministry of Health last week and
requested them to observe the following conditions:
- All NGOs are to register with the Ministry of Planning
within 30 days,
- All International NGOs are to register with Ministry of
Foreign Affairs within 30 days,
- All technical (i.e., health professional) heads of health
facilities are to register with the Ministry of Health by
presenting their credentials as well as their CVs, and
- International NGOs were advised to work in partnership
with local NGOs.
The new Chief Medical Officer has disclosed that the MOH
has re-oganised health activities to enable County Health
Officers play a more active role in health care delivery.
He called on NGOs to cooperate with County Health Officers
and to report any health situation through them.
Montserrado
Reports coming from referral hospitals in Monrovia show
that while cholera cases were generally on the decline, the
trend in the communities themselves appears to be unstable.
This was particularly true for cases involving children
over five years of age. Hence, there is a need for caution
against relaxing the anti-cholera campaign. WHO is also
investigating a report from Tear Fund about a measles
outbreak at the Coffee Farm displaced camp.
UNICEF has signed an agreement with the St. Josephs
Catholic Hospital to support a supplementary feeding centre
for 500 children in the borough of New Kru Town.
Grand Bassa
Following an assessment visit to Buchanan by UNICEF and a
representative of the Ministry of Health (MOH), a County
Health Officer will be assigned to begin the process of
revitalising the countys health services.
Bong
UNICEF and Phebe Hospital are discussing plans for the
revitalisation of the Bong County Health Teams and the
training of hospital and clinic personnel. Phebe Hospital
will submit a comprehensive proposal to cover minor
renovations of clinics, acquisition of drugs and staff.
Grand Cape Mount
WVI reported having started feeding programmes in Madina
on 4 October. The representative said that 124 patients
(15 percent whom have kwashiorkor) were admitted for
therapeutic feeding (TF). A 12-hour feeding programme
with six feedings daily is being carried out. The
recovery rate has been dramatic -- 72 of the children
have already been transferred to the recovery care phase
after three days. Since there are no health facilities in
the vicinity, serious cases are being referred to MSFs
Swedrelief Hospital in Monrovia. WVI is also supplying
drugs for the treatment of infections and other minor
aliments.
Oxfam has just begun operating a feeding centre in
Vonzula for 200 patients in TF and another 700 in SF
units. It has already received more than 600 patients,
including 15 elderly persons.
UNICEF visited Grand Cape Mount County to assess the
health situation. It is working on a plan to support the
local health NGO, Medical Emergency Relief International
(MERCI), run a mobile medical and EPI programme int he
area. MERCI is already operating mobile clinic services
with a six-person team shuffling daily between Kl9
Junction and Sinje. The team will cover up to Bo
Waterside, if the security situation permits. It will
provide both immunisation and curative treatment services
until the security situation improves sufficiently to
support the opening of a clinic(s).
Bomi
WHO has reported an outbreak of cholera in Bomi. Two
specimens taken from patients tested positive. Some 300
cases, including 25 deaths, were recorded as of 24
September, WHO and MOH have agreed to jointly monitor the
situation in Bomi.
WATER AND SANITATION
Montserrado
the EU continues to operate four tankers supplying water
to Monrovia. Two of the trucks have a capacity of 8000
gallons, while the other two carry 2500 gallons from the
gantry and borehole page 1. Together they deliver 70,000
gallons of water per day. Meanwhile, operations have
continued at the LWSC water treatment plant at White
Plains with 1.5 million gallons of pipe-borne water being
delivered to Bushrod Island for 10 hours each day, except
Sundays.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and
the Liberia National Red Cross (LNRC) repaired two hand
pumps in Dixville and chlorinated 200 wells in Vonzonhn,
Jah Tondo, Virginia, Brewerville and New Kru Town. The
Ministry of Rural Development (MRD) and the Ministry of
Lands, Mines and Energy (MLMandE) and Community Groups,
with support from UNICEF, chlorinated 55 open wells in
Monrovia and its environs. Life Water, a local NGO,
repaired one hand pump in Jacob Town, Paynesville.
Sessions on environmental sanitation and personal hygiene
were held at Jah Tondo shelter by a local NGO known as
COHDA. As a self-help initiative, the residents of Jah
Tondo have commenced the digging of one pit latrine.
POCAL, another local NGO, has done an assessment of food
sanitation with street peddlers and marketeers, and
disseminated messages to food vendors in the Sinkor to
Congo Town areas.
The task force responsible for sanitation at displaced
peoples centres in the Po River area reports that a total
of 15 latrines have been dislodged since the project
recommenced on 29 August 1996. The Red Cross and UNICEF
have assessed sites for the construction of additional
latrines at the centres. Red Cross plans to provide tools
for some shelter sanitation teams and status for latrine
pits already dug on a self-help basis. The Monrovia City
Corporation and a new local NGO known as HERB, have
assessed areas for latrine construction in Monrovia.
Bong, Margibi and Grand Bassa
The local NGO, Liberians United to Serve Humanity (LUSH),
reports that UNOPS has resumed supplying materials for
its well and latrine constructions project in Bong
County. Another local NGO, POCAL, has sent a team to
Buchanan and Harbel to assess sanitation facilities.
SHELTER
UNOPS and Tear Fund have completed family structures at
the Plumkor and Coffee Farm displaced centres. Movement
of the first relocated IDPs into their own structures has
created space in the transit shelters for the relocation
of IDPs being sheltered at the Cathedral School and St.
Marys School compounds.
A local NGO, HOPE, has begun work on a well and latrine
project in the township of Lousiana outside Monrovia.
HOPE has also undertaken the renovation of the Richards
School in Sass Town and the Fendall Elementary School. In
conjunction with the Bassa Alumni Work Brigade of the
Liberia Opportunities industrialisation Centre (LOIC).
HOPE is to resume work this month on the renovation of
the Owens Grove Elementary and Jr. High School along the
Buchanan highway. UNOPS continues to provide fuel for the
JFK Medical Centre and the National Drug Service (NDS),
in addition to providing materials to repair the roof of
the JFK hospital.
AGRICULTURE
FAO has posted an Emergency Coordinator in Monrovia as
part of its plans to resume operations in Liberia as of
11 September 1996. The main objective of the FAO
emergency operation are to improve the coordination
mechanisms in the agricultural sector and to design a
strategy to enhance the food security of urban and rural
populations thereby reducing dependency of food aid. The
programme will also target direct assistance to some
18,000 vulnerable families by providing agricultural
inputs. The weekly agricultural coordination meeting
involving NGOs interested in agricultural programmes, has
been revived.
A joint needs assessment mission has been undertaken by
LWF-FAO to Bomi County. Results will be used to implement
a short term assistance programme.
Assistance to artisanal fishermen along the Liberian
coastline is underway. Currently, fisherman will be
helped through the provision of equipment and training.
The main objective of this project is the resumption of
small scale fishing activities disrupted by the civil war
in order to contribute to national food security and to
increase the income of the beneficiaries. Training of
extension workers and fisherman in improved fishing
methods, maintenance and repair of the equipment as well
as management methods will ensure the sustainability of
the project. Fishing gear and equipment are already in
the country and activities for identification of
beneficiaries are well under way. An FAO team is
assessing 13 villages in Grand Bassa, Margibi,
Montserrado and Nbomi counties as potential project
sites. Security situation permitting, this activity will
be expanded to 4 fishing sites in Grand Cape Mount.
PUBLIC AFFAIRS-ADVOCACY
UNDHA-HACO issued a press release on 8 October, on behalf
of the Humanitarian Community, condemning the abuse of
civilians in violation of International Humanitarian Laws
and the Rights of the Child in Grand Cape Mount County.
The Humanitarian Community called on faction leaders to
halt the fighting in all regions of the country, it urged
the Force Commander of ECOMOG to use all means at his
disposal to create a security environment that would
ensure freedom of movement, and appealed to ECOWAS
officials to bring pressure on ECOWAS states to impose
sanctions on non-cooperative factions and their leaders.
The SRSG is to bring the situation to the attention of
the Secretary General and through him, to the Security
Council.
The release attracted international coverage via the
Associated Press, Agence France Press, German Press
Agency, etc. The inquirer and The News used the release
in articles on the situation. The inquirer backed it up
with an editorial lauding the statement and ECOMOGs
removal of checkpoints. The editorial concluded, -We
welcome this move and stand ready to support it as it is
a positive step in the peace process.
The press release was followed with an interview with
BBC: Focus on Africa which highlighted the key points and
concerns of the Humanitarian Community as addressed in
the release. Subsequently, Councilman Alhaji Kromah
stated publicity that the Spokesperson for the
Humanitarian Community was distorting the truth to the
world about the situation in Liberia and was in fact a
-plant- by the BBC. But this was quickly counter-acted by
a statement from Councilman Oscar Quiah who advised
fellow Councilmen not to harass or intimidate
international relief workers in any way. The Humanitarian
Community considers itself obligated by its mission to
continue to monitor and report on the humanitarian
situation in its usual accurate, and evidently effective,
manner.
On 3 October. The News re-printed the UNDHA-HACO press
release of 25 September, reporting the arrival of the
humanitarian communitys needs assessment mission in Grand
Cape Mount County after having been denied access for six
months.
UNDHA-HACO facilitated a media visit to Cape Mount and
Bomi counties for a photo-journalist working for the
Daily Observer newspaper and helped to facilitate media
coverage of the region for a BBC and Dutch television
crews. Meanwhile, a videographer and photographer have
been covering WVI activities in Bomi and Grand Cape Mount
Counties.
A press release on the observance of the International
Day for Natural Disaster Reduction was issued to media
institutions on 9 October by UNDHA.
Production and daily broadcast of the Liberian
Humanitarian Community Radio Report was produced and on
the national radio station, ELBC. Each of the broadcasts
featured 4 five-minute reports, each broadcast twice. The
reports covered updates on humanitarian activities
conducted in Grand Cape Mount, cholera prevention and
treatment efforts in the area, and other issues of
humanitarian concern. Some of the local and International
Humanitarian Community members featured included: WHO,
CCC, WFP, LIURD, MERCI, UNHCR, UNICEF, ACF, NDS, MSF and
UNDHA.
DEMOBILISATION
The Secretariat of the Disarmament, Demobilisation and
Reintegration (DDR) Task Force continues to revise the
DDR plans. One such revision has resolved the question of
whether or not an initial assistance package should be
given to ex-combatants. It has been decided that there
will be no initial assistance package, except food
assistance which is to be delivered in collaboration with
on-going WFP food programmes. Instead of assistance
packages, the ex-combatants will benefit from special
programmes designed to -bridge- the period between the
completion of demobilisation and the beginning of long
term reintegration. The programme comprises skills
training, agriculture activities, scholarships, public
works projects and small scale enterprises.
The public works projects will be labor-intensive and
will target those ex-combatants who have no immediate
plans for themselves. It is expected that these projects
will not only improve the success of the DDR flow of
activities but also consolidate the fragile peace
process, creating a conducive environment for national
reconciliation. This is expected to facilitate the
holding of elections and lay the foundation for a sound
rehabilitation programme. It is estimated that over half
of the combatants will benefit from these projects which
will cost approximately USD 5.6 million. The projects
will be implemented by UN Agencies, NGOs, UNDHA-HACO and
various relevant government departments.
On 27 September, UNDHA-HACO met with the joint DPKO and
DHA mission to Liberia headed by Brigadier General M.
Bhagat. Various topics covering disarmament and
demobilisation concepts were discussed and the urgent
need for developing the concept was stressed so as to
enable UNDHA-HACO to plan and particularly to reformulate
the budget. UNDHA-HACO underscored the need to accelerate
staff recruitment so as to start the Demobilisation Unit.
It is to be recalled that following the 6 April crisis,
most of the staff of the Unit were either repatriated or
laid off except for two international staff and 13 local
staff.
On 1 October, the joint DPKO-DHA mission met with the
humanitarian community where the leader, Brig. Gen.
Bhagat, explained the concept of disarmament which the
team were discussing and evolving with ECOMOG. The
humanitarian community aired their concerns which
included commitment of the faction leaders to the
agreement, security, and the lack of resources for
undertaking an effective disarmament programme.
A new concept of disarmament has now been put forward by
UNOMIL and ECOMOG. In it, there will be 12 arms
collection sites. It has also been clarified that the
term -arms collection site- as used in the new agreement
are the same as the -demobilisation site- used in the
previous agreement. Many of the arms collection sites
selected this year by the factions are the same ones
selected last year. With this concept at hand, UNDHA-HACO
has prepared a USD 6.0 million budget for the
demobilisation operation.
On 7 and 8 October, the National Disarmament and
Demobilisation Commission (NDDC) of the government,
supported by the European Union, conducted a workshop for
Commission staff as well as for the Chiefs of Staff of
the various factions. It became clear at the workshop
that the faction Chiefs of Staff had little or no
knowledge about the current DDR plans under revision.
They also appeared to have very high expectations for the
DDR programme. It is hoped that these workshops would
serve to clarify some of the gaps in the understanding of
the plans and assist in the convergence of views. In the
workshop, the participants identified nine factors which
they consider to be obstacles to the DDR programme and
peace, interestingly, one of the factors they identified
was lack of commitment to peace by the faction leaders
themselves. Other factors included:
- communication gap between factional leaders and the
fighters in the field,
- lack of support to the NDDC, the uncertainty of
fighters about their future,
- lack of interest by the international community in the
Liberian peace process,
- prejudice and selfishness among the Liberians,
- misinformation by the news media,
- lack of integrity by some members of the international
community, and,
- lack of attractive reintegration programmes for the
fighters.
The workshop will continue next week to propose solutions
to the identified problems.
CHILDREN AND EDUCATION
Montserrado
A local NGO, Children Rescue International (CRI),
completed two months of preparatory classes for children
in Sinkor from July 22 to September 25. The programme
included counselling, recreation and academic subjects.
CRI has also started an enrichment program providing
feeding to 344 students.
Another local NGO, the Environmental Relief and
Development Research Organisation (ERADRO), conducted an
assessment of learning conditions at several community
schools in Eastern Gardnersville (SELF and 1401). A total
of 7 schools were assessed. Details of the findings can
be obtained from ERADRO.
UNICEF and the Inter-Faith mediation Committee have
agreed to jointly host a Conference on the Protection of
War-Affected Children. The two-day conference (23-24
October), will bring together people from Government, UN
Agencies, NGOs, warring factions, political parties and
professional groups to discuss strategies for enhancing
support to the reintegration process for war-affected
children. The conference will take place at the Unity
Conference Center in Virginia, near Monrovia.
UNICEF met with Ineke Van Winden of the Dutch Inter
Church Aid to discuss future assistance to the National
Women Commission of Liberia (NAWOCOL), the local NGO
implementing the Abused Women and Girls (AWAG) project.
Future collaboration will focus on strengthening the
management capabilities of NAWOCOL, it is intended to not
only complement support for the AWAG project, but also to
broaden the scope of assistance to other women who are
not victims of physical abuse.
Bong
In Gbarnga two School districts are operating and
students are registering. The local NGO, LUSH, is to
shortly submit a full list of the schools and their
enrollment. UNICEF plans to provide Education Kits and
will approach WFP to support the resumption of a School
feeding program in the area.
SECURITY
Montserrado
Security at the Monrovia Freeport is very disruptive with
hustlers forcibly taking food from trucks moving food
from ships to the warehouses. ECOMOG is trying to restore
order.
Monrovia and its environs remain calm. However, there are
reports of an increase in armed robberies. On 3 October,
the Congo Town residence of the international NGO, German
Emergency Doctors, was robbed by three masked men armed
with machine guns. The assailants threatened to kill the
occupants and to abduct a female staff member. When they
broke into the premises, the robbers held the occupants
at gunpoint, struck the same female staff member with the
butt of a rifle and stole a total of USD 9,000 cash along
with jewelry. In another incident on 5 October, two
international staff members were robbed at gunpoint while
traveling in their vehicle a few kilometers from the UN
Riverview Compound. International staff have been
instructed to respect curfew hours, remain vigilant and
to travel in convoys of 2-3 vehicles.
Grand Cape Mount and Bomi
UNDHA-HACO continues to monitor the security situation in
and around Tubmanburg through regular field missions and
has commenced daily petrols in the areas of Grand Cape
Mount County that are currently accessible.
Fighting continues in parts of Grand Cape Mount County
between Tiene and the Sierra Leone border as well as
around the inland port city of Robertsport, thereby
restricting access to those areas by the humanitarian
community. Fighting is also reported in the south-east
regions of Liberia, particularly around the port city of
Greenville which has now been captured by the National
Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL) from the rival Liberia
Peace Council (LPC).
============================================
Mr. Tesema Negash
UN Humanitarian Coordinator - Monrovia
Tel.: (231) 226 041-042
Fax: (874) 175 46 27 (sat.)
Complex Emergencies Division (CED) - New York
Mr. Peter Due
Tel.: (1 212) 963.1731
Fax: (1 212) 963.3630
Inter-Agency Support Branch (IASB) - Geneva
Ms. Deborah Saidy-Mr. Chris Kaye
Tel.: (41 22) 788.6384-788.6385
Fax: (41 22) 788.6386
Press to contact (DHA-Geneva)
Ms. Madeleine Moulin-Acevedo
Tel.: (41 22) 917.2856
Fax: (41 22) 917.0023
Telex: 414242 DHA CH
E-Mail: dhagva at dha.unicc.org