Liberia - DHA-42: 26 September - 2 October 1996
Liberia - DHA-42: 26 September - 2 October 1996
LIBERIA
HUMANITARIAN SITUATION REPORT No. 42
Period covered: 26 September - 2 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 Secretary General of the United Nations condemned the
killing of civilians in Sinje, calling the incident a
heinous crime, stressing the importance of factional
commitment to all aspects of the Abuja peace agreement.
United Nations Department of Humanitarian Affairs
(UNDHA-HACO) representatives conducted briefings with a
joint DPKO-UNDHA-HACO technical team that is currently
assessing the political and security climate as well as the
needs of the disarmament and demobilisation exercise in
Liberia.
POPULATIONS-AT-RISK
On 28 September, an attack by unknown assailants took place
in Sinje, Grand Cape Mount County, that left at least 17
civilians dead, many others wounded and resulted in the
flight of some 1,000 civilians from Sinje. Based on an
eye-witness report by Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF)
representatives, who saw fifteen bodies in Sinje on 29
September, the humanitarian community met and agreed to
sent the Program Compliance and Violations Committee to
confirm the details of what had happened. The team brought
back for treatment in Monrovia, five women and children
with bullet wounds and one eight month baby girl with her
foot cut off. The team determined that Sinje was attacked
from the north between 0530 - 0600 hours on 28 September
1996. The attackers remained in Sinje for most of the day
and left after collecting the previously distributed food
aid and looting other personal items while foreign
kidnapped civilians to carry their loot for them. Remaining
villagers told of execution style killings and showed the
team mass graves for seventeen persons, mostly women,
children and elderly. The ULIMO-J commander in Sinje was
the only confirmed combatant casualty. The civilians in
Sinje and those who fled to Vonzula were questioned as to
the events of 28 September and individually their stories
verified each other. Further reports indicated that
anywhere from 25 to 42 civilians may have been killed with
growing numbers of wounded. Questions on the purpose of the
attack appeared to initially point towards seizing the food
distributed on 27 September 1996. However, further
questioning cast doubts on this, particularly regarding the
need for the brutality used just to take food, especially
when fighting has been going on in the County for months
without any food distribution. Such an action, after a
clear cease-fire agreement, would possibly place both the
civilian population and humanitarian relief workers in
unnecessary jeopardy. However, given the number of
irregularities in the situation and the large numbers of
severely malnourished civilians observed in the region, the
humanitarian community decided that the incident did not
warrant a suspension of relief operations and that it will
continue humanitarian operations in the region while
closely monitoring the security situation on the ground.
The SRSG and the Special Envoy of the Chairman of ECOWAS
were notified of the incident in writing by the
Humanitarian Coordinator based on the strong and unanimous
recommendation of the humanitarian community.
Investigations are being initiated into the matter.
RESETTLEMENT
Ongoing arguments over resettlement program leadership
between the LRRRC and the National Housing
Authority-Ministry of Planning, have resulted in the
international communitys withdrawal from the resettlement
committees membership until the government can provide
clarification in writing on this issue.
FOOD AND NUTRITION
In a follow-up to the humanitarian emergency needs
assessment mission to Cape Mount County on 25 September,
World Food Program (WFP) distributed 16 MTs of assorted
food commodities to 3,690 beneficiaries residing in
roadside settlements from Gbah, Bomi County to Sinje, Grand
Cape Mount County on 27 September. The food was distributed
off the back of the trucks to ensure direct delivery to the
intended beneficiaries by WFP implementing partners, LIURD
and Concerned Christian Community (CCC). In the wake of the
killings in Sinje as confirmed on 30 September, WFP is
encouraging medical NGOs to set up day care therapeutic
feeding centres in the area to be followed by wet feeding
programmes as soon as possible in order to avert famine. In
the meantime WFP and its implementing partners are carrying
out the registration of beneficiaries in the regions of
Grand Cape Mount County accessed thus far.
On 1 October, WFP distributed, through implementing partner
CCC, a two-week emergency ration of 7,5 MTs of assorted
food commodities to 1,738 beneficiaries residing in Giah
Hills and surrounding villages in Bomi County. These people
had emerged from hiding in the forest upon learning about
WFP emergency food distributions in accessible and secure
areas of Bomi County.
Following recent nutritional and health assessment surveys
carried out by both MSF and Action Contre la Faim (ACF) in
Margibi and Bong Counties, it was reported that many
civilians are experiencing malnutrition rates of over 40
percent. WFP has responded by providing 94 MTs of assorted
food commodities to Save the Children Fund-UK (SCF) for
onward distribution to 1,180 family heads. This is the
first of a series of scheduled food convoys that will be
sent to the area to avert a possible humanitarian crisis.
During the period under review, 607 MTs of assorted food
commodities have been distributed to 132,115 beneficiaries
residing in 26 displaces centres located in and around
Monrovia.
In pursuance of the recommendations of the nutritional NGOs
to undertake emergency general distribution of food in Bong
County, a joint WFP-Lutheran World Federation (LWF)
assessment mission was fielded to the area from 29
September-2 October. It is the view of the mission that
emergency distribution is possible only between Gbarnga and
St. Pauls Bridge where roads are motorable. The rest of the
County cannot be easily accessed because of broken bridges
and large gullies cutting across roads making them
impassable.
The recently concluded beneficiary verification exercise at
6 LIURD-controlled shelters, including Harrisburg, Marchee
Town, the LBS Site, Bensonville, Coffee Farm and Mount
Barclay is being studied by WFP to provide insight on more
effective, future shelter feeding.
WFPreportsthe1 October market prices of basic
commodities as follows:
COMMODITY PRICE-BAG COMMODITY
PRICE-GAL
Indian Long Grain RiceUSD 21.25Gasoline
USD 0.94
American Long Grain Rice USD 23.75Fuel Oil
USD 1.24
Bulgur WheatUSD 16.25Engine Oil
USD 3.75
Vegetable OilUSD3.44Kerosene
USD 1.88
The rate of exchange on the parallel market is
LDD 80.00 to USD 1.00
WFP stock balances as of 2 October were:
Bulgur wheat2,811 MTs
Vegetable oil424MTs
CSB 495MTs
Pulses620MTs
Canned Fish18 MTs
BP5 12MTs
High Protein Biscuits4 MTs
TOTAL4,384 MTs
ACF reports the following feeding operations for the
period, 15-21 September:
Monrovia, Montserrado County
Severely malnourished children supported
through therapeutic feeding 581
Moderately malnourished children supported
through dry ration distribution 3,810
TOTAL4,391
Buchanan, Grand Bassa County
Severely malnourished children supported
through therapeutic feeding378
Moderately malnourished children supported
through supplementary feeding (wet)1,448
Moderately malnourished children supported
through supplementary feeding (dry)1,080
TOTAL2,906
Gbarnga, Bong County
Severely malnourished children supported
through therapeutic feeding425
Moderately malnourished children supported
through supplementary feeding (wet)446
Moderately malnourished children supported
through supplementary feeding (dry)647
TOTAL1,518
Kakata, Margibi County
Moderately malnourished children supported
through supplementary feeding (dry)91
Tubmanburg, Bomi County
Severely malnourished children supported
through therapeutic feeding460
Moderately malnourished children supported
through supplementary feeding (wet)200
TOTAL660
Due to the high rate of malnutrition among the population
over 5 years of age, ACF decided to support both children
and adults in its feeding programmes in Tubmanburg. To
provide an immediate response to their needs before
implementing the appropriate therapeutic feeding, ACF, in
collaboration with MSF, has been conducting two
supplementary dry ration distributions to children under
12. On 9 September, ACF provided 2006 rations to 1697
beneficiaries, visually estimated to be severely
malnourished and 309 moderately malnourished. On 16
September, ACF provided 1245 rations to 922
beneficiaries, visually estimated to be severely
malnourished and 323 moderately malnourished, 93 children
have been referred to ACF therapeutic feeding centres in
Monrovia.
The World Vision International (WVI) therapeutic feeding
centre at Government Farm reports that 277 severely and
moderately malnourished children have been registered and
are now benefitting from its therapeutic feeding
programme. No mortalities were reported during the
reporting period. UNICEF is assisting with the supply of
drugs to the centre.
HEALTH
UNICEF and local NGO Medical Emergency Relief Cooperative
International (MERCI) are discussing the status of the
Expanded Shelter Hygiene programme in Buchanan with a
view to reactive the programme. The programme serves to
address the health and hygiene needs of displaced
shelters in Buchanan.
UNICEF and a representative of the MoH visited Buchanan
to assess the status of health programmes in the county
and to formulate a joint strategy for reactivating health
programmes.
UNICEF and the MoH have finalized agreement for the
revitalisation of health programmes in Bomi County. Under
the agreement UNICEF will provide drugs, vaccines
equipment and other medical supplies and will support
health related training activities.
A joint MoH-World Health Organisation (WHO) follow-up
assessment mission to Tubmanburg reports the presence of
diarrhoea in the city. Further investigations reveal that
reported cases of diarrhoea are attributed to the
introduction of new foods to the area following the
re-opening of the road to Tubmanburg. The town has been
without food for an extended period. Health workers in
Tubmanburg say the first cases of severe diarrhoea were
observed on 9 September and that 32 deaths occurred
between 9 - 18 September, of which 68.8 percent were
attributed to severe diarrhoea-cholera. A diarrhoea unit
has now been established in Tubmanburg supported by WHO,
MoH, and the LNRC. In collaboration with the MoH, WHO
will continue to provide essential drugs to the health
post in Tubmanburg.
WHO participated in a joint assessment mission to Bong
Mines on 21 September reporting that house-to-house
visits did not reveal many visible signs of malnutrition
in the children. However, it is believed that there could
be cases of malnutrition in adjacent areas and villages
not visited. Regarding domestic water supply, open wells
have not been chlorinated for an extended period. The
hospital previously operated by the Bong Mining Company
is virtually intact with little looting - most of the
surgical and other equipment are still available. A first
aid clinic is being run by the local Red Cross and former
employees of the hospital.
Following several days of heavy rains in Monrovia, an
increased number of cases of severe diarrhoea-cholera in
Monrovia have been reported. From 26 August to 22
September, 831 cases and two deaths were recorded,
prompting the intensification of health education in the
ten high risk communities around Monrovia. A possible
misinterpretation of the use of oral rehydration salts
(ORS) is being corrected by the Information Education and
Communication Sub-Committee. Community health workers
will now emphasize in their health education sessions
that ORS is not a cure for diarrhoea-cholera, but rather
a replacement of lost body fluids. WHO facilitated the
establishment of ten oral rehydration therapy (ORT)
corners in the ten high risk communities to combat the
threats of severe diarrhoea-cholera with materials
provided by WHO.
WHO and the MoH have developed an improved health
information system for the effective management and
supervision of Traditional Birth Attendant programs. The
materials will be tested soon in Montserrado, Margibi and
Grand Bassa Counties. The program is receiving further
technical and financial support from WHO. Poor compliance
in reporting to the existing reporting system is the main
reason for the development of this improved system.
WHO, in collaboration with UNDHA-HACO, United Nations
Development Program (UNDP) and the MoH are continuing
their work on the development of a six-month plan of
action, for an AIDS are sexually transmitted disease
(STD) control program for Liberia. WHO has committed
financial support to the program - including the
provision of HIV test kits to all blood transfusion
facilities and support for HIV-AIDS program management
and information, education and communications.
PUBLIC AFFAIRS-ADVOCACY
UNDHA-HACO conducted a media visit to Grand Cape Mount
County on 27 September, accompanying the first delivery
of relief items in six months to the region by WFP and
the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR)
for international and national media including
representatives from: Reuters Television, BBC, Focus on
Africa, Voice of America, Associated Press, German Press
Agency, Agence France Presse The Daily Observer, The
Monrovia Daily News, The National, The National
Chronicle, The Inquirer, ELBC Radio and a videographer
and cameraperson form WVI, UNDHA-HACO also issued an
international press release on the delivery of the relief
items.
UNDHA-HACO facilitated a media visit on 30 September to
Sinje and Vonzuan, Grand Cape mount County with a TV2
France television crew to cover humanitarian activities
and the current security situation on the ground
following the attack on Sinje on 28 September. The visit
was followed by UNDHA-HACO conducting a detailed
interview broadcast on BBC, Focus on Africa and national
radio ELBC regarding the attack on Sinje in which 25-42
civilians were massacred. The interview highlighted the
humanitarian communitys condemnation of the action, which
violated international humanitarian laws, the Geneva
Conventions and the Rights of the Child regarding the
protection of civilians and children during conflict. The
interview also revealed that the humanitarian community
will continue to conduct humanitarian relief operations
in the area although it will closely monitor the security
situation.
UNDHA-HACO also issued a press release on 30 September
regarding the killing of civilians in Sinje. In addition
to the points mentioned above, the release also stated
that the UNOMIL SRSG and the Chairman of ECOWAS were
being notified of the incident to initiate investigations
into the matter. The release resulted in international
coverage via Associated Press, Reuters, Agence France
Presse, German Press Agency, etc. The National, The
Monrovia Daily News and The National Chronicle quoted the
release in their articles on the attack.
On 1 October, the Secretary General issued a statement
about the massacre at Sinje, condemning this heinous
crime. The statement further stressed that the continued
support of the international community for the peace
process in Liberia is contingent on the Liberian factions
demonstrating their commitment to resolve their
differences peacefully and to achieve national
reconciliation in accordance with the Abuja peace
agreement of 17 August 1996.
UNDHA-HACO facilitated a media visit on 1 October with a
Radio Televisione Italiana crew and an Italian magazine
journalist to cover WFP food distributions, ACF, WVI and
MSF therapeutic feeding programs in Tubmanburg and
Government Farm and child soldiers. Relief distributions
and the security situation were also covered in Sinje and
Vonzuan. A BBC, Network Africa reporter accompanied the
team to report on the situation in Vonzuan and Giah
Hills.
A WVI videographer and cameraperson and a crew from Tear
Fund have been covering the activities of their
respective organisations, concentrating on their
activities in Bomi and Grand Cape Mount Counties.
A press release for the International Day of the Elderly,
was issue by UNDHA-HACO on 1 October. It highlighted the
plight of the elderly in Liberia as a result of six years
of civil conflict and addressed the need for respect of
the UN principles for the elderly, particularly in the
wake of the pathetic condition of the elderly found
recently in Tubmanburg and Grand Cape Mount County.
The National newspaper reproduced the schedule of
implementation of the new Liberian peace process giving
credit to The Liberian Humanitarian Community Newsletter
for the information. The National also ran an editorial
cartoon supporting disarmament with the caption Education
is the only key to success. Forget about the gun, it wont
solve our problems.
The eighth issue of the Liberian Humanitarian Community
Newsletter was produced and widely distributed, featuring
articles on: the humanitarian community access to Grand
Cape Mount, current, humanitarian relief operations in
the region, an article on the plight of the elderly in
Liberia in reference to the International Day of the
Elderly, the UN Principles for the Elderly, and, a
national NGO profile on Abused Women and Girls (AWAG).
The Liberian Humanitarian Community Radio Report was
produced and broadcast daily on national radio station
ELBC, featuring 4, five-minute reports, each broadcast
twice, regarding: an update on humanitarian activities
being conducted in Grand Cape Mount, the plight of the
elderly in Liberia on the International Day for the
Elderly, the UN Principles for the Elderly, and, cholera
prevention and treatment. Humanitarian community members
featured were: WHO, CCC, WFP, LIURD, MERCI, UNHCR,
UNICEF, ACF, NDS, MSF and UNDHA-HACO.
WATER AND SANITATION
Chlorination activities in Monrovia and its environs
continue with the Ministry of Rural Development, the
Ministry of Lands, Mines and Energy and various community
groups having chlorinated a total of 4,308 wells since
the campaign started on 6 April. Chlorination activities
also continue upcountry with 575 wells chlorinated in
Buchanan by MERCI and various community groups and 225
wells were chlorinated in Ganta by local NGOs. The
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
chlorinated 139 wells and the Liberian Water and Sewer
Corporation (LWSC) chlorinated 90 wells in the region.
SCF-UK, in collaboration with the Monrovia City
Corporation (MCC) and with support from UNICEF, collected
and disposed of 765 cubic yards of garbage from 22 skips
around Monrovia. The mass cleaning of solid wastes
continued in Monrovia and has resulted in the clearing
756 cubic yards of garbage during the reporting period.
UNICEF has brought in two containers of AfriDev hand
pumps for use throughout the country and has placed
orders for spare parts for various hand pumps used in
Liberia. This will help speed up the repairs of hand
pumps at displaced shelters and local communities
throughout the country.
The national NGO, COHDA has received sanitation tools,
including shovels and wheelbarrows from UNICEF to augment
its community sanitation programmes.
The national NGO Human Emergency Relief Builders (HERB),
completed an assessment within Central Monrovia, Sinkor
and the Airfield areas to identify needs and sites for
the construction of latrines. LWSC dislodged three
latrines at MVTC with support from UNICEF. Ten latrines
have been dislodged since the project started on 29
August. The national NGO, Help Our People Exist (HOPE),
received a consignment of sanitation tools from UNOPS for
the digging of emergency pit latrines in Tubmanburg. ICRC
completed the construction of two latrines at Coffee Farm
IDP shelter.
UNICEF in collaboration with LWSC has extended its
desludging services to the VOA-1, Vonzohn, and
Brewerville Town Hall shelters.
DEMOBILISATION
The Secretariat of the Disarmament, Demobilisation and
Reintegration (DDR) Task Force has continued to revise
the three DDR documents to conform to the realities of
today. It has completed a revision of the flow of
activities at demobilisation sites and has begun to
revise the Reintegration Programme. The issue as to
nether or not initial assistance package should be give
to ex-fighters continues to be debated.
On 27 September, UNDHA-HACO met with the joint DPKO-UNDHA
Technical Team that is currently assessing the political
and security climate as well as the needs of the
disarmament and demobilisation exercise in Liberia. The
team was informed of the lack of staff for the
demobilisation programme as well as the need for the
Government, UNOMIL and ECOMOG to come up with a
disarmament concept for reformulating the demobilisation
programme. It is noted that currently the Demobilisation
Unit of UNDHA-HACO has only two staff members.
CHILDREN AND EDUCATION
A workshop on the Global Education Analysis for Education
Project Officers was held from 23 - 27 September in
Abidjan and attended by 16 countries from the West and
Central African regions. The Focus of the workshop was
education for girls. Several countries and organisations,
including the Netherlands and USAID, are reported to be
prepared to receive proposals in funding girls education.
The project agreement for the implementation of the
Supplies and Equipment for Educational Delivery Service
(SEEDS) project has been approved. The SEEDS project
provides and sells low cost affordable educational
supplies, materials and equipment to educational
institutions. A total of 300,000 students and 6,000
teachers will benefit from the project.
Under the War Affected Youth Support (WAYS) Project,
funded by USAID, sub-contracts have been awarded to five
local NGOs. These local NGOs will provide vocational and
literacy skills training as well as counseling services
and community support for 600 child soldiers and other
disadvantaged youths in Liberia. Counselling services and
community support for 6,500 child soldiers and
disadvantaged youth and their families will also be
provided.
SECURITY
Fighting continues in parts of Grand Cape Mount County,
between Tiene and the Sierra Leone border and in the
vicinity of Bo-Waterside and Robertsport, preventing
humanitarian access to these areas. Fighting is also
reported in the southeast regions of Liberia,
particularly Greenville.
UNDHA-HACO continues to monitor the security situation in
and around Tubmanburg through regular field missions and
in the areas of Grand Cape Mount County currently
accessible, to ensure the freedom of movement for the
humanitarian community to conduct its relief operations
and the security of the civilian population to receive
assistance.
Monrovia and its environ remains calm, however there are
increasing reports of random armed robberies.
The Program Compliance and Violations Committee (PCVC) of
the humanitarian community met to discuss the following
issues:
LWF and PMU Interlife have identified two of their looted
vehicles in Guinea. Initial efforts to retrieve these
vehicles were rebuffed by the Guinean authorities. The
PCVC sent a letter to the SRSG and the Special
Representative of the Chairman of ECOWAS requesting their
Intervention and assistance to retrieve the vehicles.
The Liberian Government has requested re-accreditation of
international NGOs. In particular the Government has
requested the presentation of credentials for all medical
personnel.
SCF-UK asked that the PCVC request ECOMOG to allow the
inspection of a vehicle suspected of being one of those
looted from SCF.
The PCVC reaffirmed the need to report all incidents that
violate the Principles and Protocols for Humanitarian
Operations and other internationally accepted standards
of conduct or limit the ability of civilian populations
to seek and receive assistance. It was agreed that
UNDHA-HACO should be the focal point for reporting such
incidents. Committee members would take an active role in
collecting such incident reports.
In light of the attack in Sinje, the PCVC confirmed the
unanimous decision of the UN-NGO coordination committee,
identifying the need for increased human rights
monitoring and actions and recommending that UN human
rights officers should be assigned to UNDHA-HACO.
Organisations have indicated that they would communicate
this intent separately through their headquarters.
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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