Liberia - DHA-44: 11-17 October 1996

Liberia - DHA-44: 11-17 October 1996

LIBERIA HUMANITARIAN SITUATION REPORT - No. 44
  Period covered: 11-17 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 
An ECOWAS delegation comprised of the Foreign Ministers of
Nigeria and Guinea, joined by Ambassador Jeter of USA,
arrived in Monrovia to assess the progress of the Liberian
peace process with regard to the implementation schedule of  
the Abuja Accord. The delegation held consultations with a
cross-section of key players, including ECOMOG, the  
Transitional Government, faction leaders and the UN. 
 
A one-week workshop on Disarmament and Demobilisation
organised by the National Disarmament and Demobilisation  
Commission (NDDC) and sponsored by the European Union (EU)
was held during the reporting period. The workshop was
attended by senior commanders of Liberias warring factions,  
along with UNDHA-HACO and other agencies concerned with the  
disarmament and demobilisation process. The workshop 
preceded the release by the NDDC of its blue print for the
disarmament programme which is expected to be circulated  
shortly.  
 
The Project Coordinator of the Norwegian Refugee Council  
(NRC) visited WFP, UNICEF, UNHCR and UNDHA-HACO. The NRC  
expressed interest in seconding personnel to relevant UN  
Agencies to support programmes in Communications, 
Education, and field project management respectively.
 
POPULATIONS-AT-RISK  
Grand Cape Mount  
The Bomi and Cape Mount regions continue to be the focus of  
attention for the Humanitarian Community. Sporadic
incidents of cholera and malnutrition, especially among
children, are come of the major areas of concern. Efforts 
to provide relief are being maintained by the humanitarian
agencies, in concert with daily monitoring trips by UNDHA-
HACO. But these efforts are still being hampered by  
insecurity arising from the continuing skirmishes between 
the rival ULIMO factions. There are also continued
incidents of abuse of the rights of the civilian population  
by the fighters.  
 
The Humanitarian Community gained access to three 
additional areas in Cape Mount during the reporting period.  
They are: Bo Waterside, Tewor and Porkpa districts in
central Cape Mount County. Following the imposition of the
9 October deadline set by ECOMOG for the removal of all
checkpoints along the highway, UNDHA-HACO and UNHCR  
succeeded in reaching Bo Waterside for the first time since  
1995, despite continued objections from the ULIMO-J  
Commander in Sinje. ULIMO-K is in control of Bo, while
elements of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) can be
seen guarding the Sierra Leonean Side of the bridge. 
Numerous unarmed fighters could be seen among the welcoming  
crowd of refugees and IDPs. The visiting team was able to 
wander through the village without escort. The population 
reported that they had been able to cultivate some food
crops and had been surviving by supplementing their own
produce with food items foraged from the bush. The
population in Bo appeared to be generally healthy. However,  
some cases of malnutrition and oedema were observed among 
the very young and the elderly.
 
The refugee chairman and other local officials estimate the  
population of Bo at between 10,000 to 14,000 persons. The 
security condition of civilians in Bo seems to be 
comparatively better than other parts of the region. 
Civilians reported seeing an order from a senior ULIMO-K  
commander in the town ordering fighters not to harass
civilians or the humanitarian community. Upon the arrival 
of an ECOMOG patrol, all the fighters in the crowd
disappeared. The crowds noticeably relaxed and were able to  
speak without looking over their shoulders. Security was a
concern and they noted that the fighters had seized their 
September rice harvest.
 
On their way back from Monrovia, the team stopped in Tienni  
and confirmed with the ULIMO-K commander that access was  
possible to Tewar and Porkpa districts to the North and the  
Gbesseh-Diah areas to the south of Tienni.
 
During the return trip and throughout the week, the team  
observed evidence of forced labor. Long lines of about 100
persons under armed escorts of ULIMO-J could be seen 
carrying food to Sinja. Civilians report that the fighters
take a large portion, if not all, of this food. Civilians 
in Wangekor reported that ULIMO-K fighters took all of
their belongings. 
 
On 12 October UNDHA-HACO led a second mission to Bo  
Waterside, composed of WFP, UNICEF, World Vision  
International (WVI) and the Liberia Islamic Union for
Reconstruction and Development (LIURD). Monitors of LIURD 
estimated the population of Bo and its surrounding areas at  
7,000 persons, comprising 4,000 Sierra Leonean refugees and  
3,000 Liberians). The assessment mission to Bo was intended  
to gather information on water and sanitation, general
health conditions and population data. Hand pumps and wells  
are operating and all latrines are intact. There is a
Physicians assistant at the Bo clinic. MERCI supplied him 
with basic drugs and medical supplies. Malnutrition appears  
to be the largest health problem affecting the area. 
 
NEW APPROACH TO ASSESSMENT
An interesting development growing out of these missions  
was a meeting between UN Agencies and NGOs to discuss
changing response strategies to the situation in Grand Cape  
Mount. In the meeting a decision was made to form a  
technical team of UN and NGO personnel to design a survey 
form and staffing pattern for household surveys looking
into coping mechanisms, accessibility to other food  
sources, as well as markets, nutritional status, water,
sanitation and health. It was felt that this approach would  
combine the limited personnel from various agencies to
provide a broad sampling for analysis. The resulting 
analysis will provide NGOs and UN Agencies with a strong  
tool to determine priorities and types of assistance, it  
also agree that an advance team would be sent out as part 
of this process. The advance team should be small and focus  
on security, accessibility, road conditions, location and 
condition of populations, and cursory socio-economic data 
that will assist in targeting the surveys and in  
prioritising the order in which the areas are surveyed. It
was agreed to use this model in Bo and look towards  
replicating this approach in other areas of Liberia, 
especially in a planned mission to Lofa.  
 
On 15 October, under the first phase of the joint 
assessment strategy, UNDHA-HACO led a mission composed of 
WHO, WFP, CARE and LIURD to the Tewar and Pokpeh districts
which are to the north of Tienni. The team travelled 23
kilometres north of Tienni, over bad roads reaching as far
as Bambata. Security and access to the areas had been
arranged the previous week through conversations and 
assurances by the local ULIMO-K Commanders. These areas had  
not been visited since 1994. Many civilians were  
uncomfortable, nervous and reticent about talking in the  
presence of fighters.
 
The villages in the first eight kilometres north of Tienni,  
up to Jeanewode, are dilapidated and for the most part
abandoned. Some civilians on the road confirmed that the  
civilians are hiding in the bush, staying away from the
road for security reasons. Unconfirmed population figures 
for this area are: Tienni - 200, Wonde - 150, Gendema -
150, Dindindor - 125, Mambo - 250, Manor - 75, Levuma -
100, Lah - 60, Zozo - 75, Weilor - 300, making a total of 
1485. These figures does not include many villages in the 
area and their population remains unknown.
 
From Jeanewode on the Bambais the villages are in very good  
shape, and large structures are still intact. There is
significant farming throughout the area. Swamp rice, 
cassava and bananas are the main crops being grown
alongside the road. The population appears to be in  
relatively good health, but there is some evidence of
malnutrition. There are qualified mid level health workers,  
including some former MSF Physician Assistants in Dambala 
and Bambala. Given the remoteness of these areas, 
organisations may consider positioning drugs and medical  
supplies rather than operating a mobile clinic. The  
population is composed of a mixture of residents, IDPs and
refugees. There are may newly displaced persons that fled 
from the areas south of Tienni and Bo during the fighting 
in August and September. LIURD will begin registration to 
develop population data for this area. A follow-up
assessment is recommended under recently developed joint  
assessment methodology.
 
 
 FOOD AND LOGISTICS 
 Montserrado
 WFP has lifted and distributed the following commodities:  
 
 408,69 MTs out of 1,619 MTs of assorted supplies of
 bulgur wheat and vegetable oil on October 15 and 16, 1996  
 to 10 IDP shelters in and around Monrovia. 
 
 1,128,91 MTs (880,23 MTs of vegetable oil and 160,60 MTs
 peas) intended to feed 118,959 students and 95,168 school  
 staff and their dependents. This will benefit 400 schools  
 in and around Monrovia which have been assessed by ADA, 
 the Ministry of Education and WFP Food Aid Monitors. ADA
 is getting a USD 6,000 donation from the Danish 
 Government to purchase cooking utensils for the schools.
 UNICEF is expected to supply instructional materials.
 
 WFP provided 8 MTs in support of food-for-work projects 
 for the construction of a new terminal building at the  
 James Springs Airfields in Monrovia.
 
 Bong
 LWF-WS has requested WFP to supply 425 MTs (270 MTs of  
 bulgur wheat, 20 MTs vegetable oil and 135 MTs pulses) to  
 feed 25,043 beneficiaries along the Totota-Gbarnga 
 Gbalatuah highways. These are areas targeted by the
 medical NGOs. The request is under review and action is 
 expected by 21 October, 1996.
 
 Margibi 
 Between 1-15 October, 1996, WFP has lifted a total of 469  
 MTs out of 1,523 MTs of food supplies for a target 
 population of 175,000 persons in Upper Margibi and Temor.  
 
 Lofa
 On 18 October, WFP will be sending a Food Aid Monitor to
 Lofa to compile profiles on projects supported by WFP
 since June. CARE has also been carrying out assessments 
 in Lofa.
 
 WFP Stock position as of 15 October, was 7,409 MTs made 
 up of the following assorted items:
 
 Bulgur wheat	  3,605	 MTs
 Pulses	1,574	 MTs
 CSB	2,339	 MTs
 Vegetable Oil	 377	 MTs 
 Canned Fish	26	  MTs 
 BP5	10	  MTs 
 HPB	18	  MTs 
 TOTAL	7,949	 MTs  
 
 HEALTH  
 Bomi County
 A Joint Assessment Mission to Tubmanburg on 10 October  
 was led by Dr. Moses Duopo, the newly appointed Chief
 Medical Officer (CMO) at the Ministry of Health and
 Social Welfare (MOHandSW).  The mission assessed the
 health and sanitation situation in the area.  Other
 agencies on the mission were Liberia National Red Cross 
 (LNRC), OXFAM, and WHO. 
 
 WHO reports a total of 481 cases of severe diarrhoea at 
 the treatment centre in Bomi between 14 September and 10
 October 1996.  There were 40 deaths, indicating a case  
 fatality rate (CFR) OF 98.7 percent.  Cognisant of the  
 severity of the diarrhoea-cholera situation in the area,
 WHO carried out a re-training of twenty-six health 
 workers.  Beneficiaries included one Physician from LNRC,  
 nine mid-level health personnel and 16 auxiliaries.  The
 retraining was carried out at two levels.  All health
 workers participated in the first level of the re- 
 training which focused on the sanitary disposal of 
 excreta and the use of ORS for diarrhoea.  Level two
 focused on the management of dehydration as a consequence  
 of severe diarrhoea.  Only medical personnel were  
 involved in the latter. 
 
 OXFAM assessed the sources of water in Tubmanburg.  Ten 
 of the 12 hand pumps have been looted, leaving only open
 wells to serve as the main source of drinking water for 
 the population.  OXFAM provided chlorine tablets for the
 purification of drinking water. 
 
 ACF reports that it has 1000 malnourished persons at its
 feeding centre. 
 
 LNRC, which operates the only health post in the Bomi
 area, is taking care of 825 patients at its health post.
 Cases include malaria, diarrhoea and skin diseases.  The
 post was resupplied with 250 litres of ringers lactate  
 (I.V. fluid), 1000 ORS sachets, antibiotics including
 those for cholera management, and essential drugs for a 
 one-month period.  
 
 Grand Cape Mount
 To cope with a new influx of IDPs resulting from the
 recent Sinje massacre, a health post has been established  
 in Vonzula.  Ministry of Health and Social Welfare 
 (MOHandSW) UNICEF, and WHO will provide support for the 
 post.
 
 Several corpses were discovered in open wells in Marina.
 Residents in Vonzula have refused to drink water from
 open wells, fearing water contamination from corpses.
 Instead, the population takes its drinking water from a 
 nearby river raising concerns of health workers in the  
 area.
 
 OXFAM and WVI have set up Therapeutic Feeding Centres
 (TFCs) in Vonzula and Marina, respectively.  UNICEF has 
 provided soap to help improve sanitation at the two
 centres.
 
 WVI reported that it has 184 patients in its therapeutic
 feeding centre in Medina, 50 percent of whom suffer from
 kwashiorkor.  It also reported receiving 10 patients
 brought from Bo by the MERCI mobile health team.
 
 Grand Bassa
 ACF has reported 21 cases of cholera in Buchanan since  
 last week.  Two stool specimens taken from patients
 tested positive for cholera.
 
 Bong
 ACF reported that a high level of malnutrition had been 
 observed among populations in Botota, Bong County, by an
 MSF assessment team.
 
 SHELTER 
 A meeting of the Relocation Committee on 10 October 1996
 discussed problems which have caused delay in the  
 completion of single family units.  One of the problems 
 relates to contractual agreements entered into by  
 relocated IDPs to have their units constructed by work  
 teams in return for Food-For-Work (FFW).  UNOPS has urged  
 its implementing partners to inform targeted
 beneficiaries that families will not be provided any
 incentives, particularly FFW, for the construction of
 units to be occupied by them.  TEAR FUND will liaise with  
 WFP to conclude arrangements for food distribution to
 relocated IDPs. 
 
 Eleven relocated family heads currently in transit 
 shelters have completed and moved into their units at
 Plumkor.  About 81 structures will be completed within  
 the period of one week.  At Coffee Farm, 38 single family  
 units are under construction with 4 ready for mud  
 daubing.  At Dixville, the construction of the single
 family units is slow.  Of the 40 single family units
 under construction, only 15 have been daubed with mud.  
 
 The next priority shelters for relocation are the  
 Catholic institutions.  The relocation of IDPs from the 
 Cathedral School is to commence, following the  
 verification of vulnerable families by LRRRC, TEAR FUND 
 and LWS, LRRRC identified 600 vacant structures at Coffee  
 Farm.  A total of 227 of these structures have been
 identified for completion by relocated IDP families.
 Empty structures in recognised shelters will be allocated  
 to IDPs in need of accommodation.  
 
 IDPs recently relocated to Plumkor want to be recognised
 as a separate shelter independent of the existing Plumkor  
 shelter.  But this request has been turned down and
 relocated IDPs are to be incorporated into existing
 shelter communities.  Food requirements and other  
 services will not be provided by humanitarian agencies to  
 relocated IDPs on an individual basis.  
 
 There is an urgent need for the improvement of health
 care services at IDP shelters.  Already, two persons are
 reported to have died at Coffee Farm displaced shelter. 
 One of them is said to have died from severe diarrhoea. 
 
 PUBLIC AFFAIRS-ADVOCACY 
 The reporting period saw the public affairs observance of  
 both World Food Day on 18 October and the International 
 Day for the Eradication of Poverty on 17 October.  UNDHA-  
 HACO issued two press releases designed to highlight and
 draw public attention to their importance.  The two
 releases were given prominence in newscasts on both
 national radio ELBC and the privately-owned KISS FM, as 
 well as in the national newspapers.  KISS-FM added to
 this attention by hosting a panel discussion featuring  
 the Minister and other officials of the Ministry of
 Agriculture who spoke on the importance of World Food Day  
 and plans by the government to reactivate the
 agricultural sector in Liberia. 
 
 In a rejoinder to councilman Kromahs recent statement
 that the Humanitarian Community has been allegedly 
 distorting facts about the situation in Liberia which was  
 followed by a rebuke from fellow Councilman Oscar Quiah 
 who warned public officials not to try to harass
 international relief workers, the most-circulated  
 national newspaper lent its voice in support of the
 Humanitarian Community, in a lengthy editorial, the
 publisher of The Inquirer newspaper, stated that
 Councilman Kromahs allegations were unacceptable and that  
 the Humanitarian Community...- cannot remain mute on
 issues which tend to add to the suffering of people...- 
 and should -... continue to seek the welfare of 
 humanity.- 
 
 The Inquirer also carried an article in which the  
 Assistant Administrator of the US Agency for
 International Development (USAID), Mr. Douglas Stafford,
 was reported to have urged factional leaders serving on 
 the ruling Council of State to immediately take steps to
 ensure the safe delivery of humanitarian assistance.  The  
 USAID official was quoted as stating that -it is
 imperative that the Liberian Interim Government and all 
 factions respect and adhere to humanitarian principles  
 which guarantee security, neutrality and unimpeded access  
 for humanitarian assistance.-  He is reported to have
 said that although some relief operations have been
 restarted, the humanitarian organisations are still
 severely limited in their ability to provide assistance 
 due to lack of security, noting that the US Government is  
 deeply concerned about the manipulation of humanitarian 
 assistance.
 
 The ninth edition of the Liberian Humanitarian Community
 Newsletter was produced and widely distributed.  It
 featured articles on World Food Day, the International  
 Day for the Eradication of Poverty and a profile on WFP.
 The Newsletter also included the statement by the UN
 Secretary-General condemning the massacre of civilians in  
 the Grand Cape Mount County town of Sinje and reproduced
 highlights of the recent press release of the
 Humanitarian Community condemning the ongoing fighting  
 which prevents access to thousands of civilians requiring  
 humanitarian assistance.
 
 The Humanitarian Community Radio Report was produced and
 broadcast on national radio ELBC, featuring 4, five-
 minute reports each broadcast twice on the subjects of  
 World Food Day, the International Day for the Eradication  
 of Poverty and cholera prevention. 
 
 WATER AND SANITATION
 Montserrado
 Two latrines were dislodged at the Zuannah Town displaced  
 centre by the Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation (LWSC)
 utilising its big vacuum truck with support from UNICEF.
 A total of 19 latrines in shelters have been dislodged  
 since the project started on 29 August 1996.  However,  
 this project will be suspended due to the breakdown of  
 the dislodging truck.  UNICEF is to construct 8 wells and  
 15 latrines at 11 shelters.  Two damaged hand pumps at  
 Dixville are to be provided new parts.  The Red Cross has  
 distributed tools to sanitation teams for the
 construction of latrines at 8 shelters.  ACF is 
 constructing one bore hole well at Coffee Farm. 
 
 Funding sources have been identified to provide water and  
 sanitation facilities for existing shelters with
 inadequate facilities.  The International Rescue
 Committee (IRC) plans to provide assistance for water and  
 sanitation projects.  NGOs working in the water and
 sanitation sector should explore the possibility of
 utilising some of the resources for the improvement of  
 sanitation at shelters.  At the MOH displaced shelter,  
 sanitation workers have begun digging pits for the 
 construction of three shelter latrines.  Friends
 International has submitted a proposal to UNOPS to work 
 with IDPs at the Selgbeh shelter to improve sanitation. 
 The activities will be coordinated through the WATSAN
 Committee. 
 
 Hygiene-Health Education, environmental sanitation and  
 personal hygiene sessions for shelter residents,
 especially women and children, are being intensified at 
 the MVTC and VOA-1 displaced centres.  A total of 132
 women and children have already been sensitised.  The
 activities are being carried out under the supervision of  
 COHDA, with support from UNICEF.
 
 Save the Children (UK), in collaboration with the  
 Monrovia City Corporation (MCC), and with support from  
 UNICEF, collected 750 cubic yards of garbage using two  
 trucks.  An additional 246 cubic yards of garbage was
 collected during the mass clearing operations at the
 Newport and Benson Street Intersection, and at Randall  
 Street-South Beach, Jallah Town and Ashmun Street.  There  
 are plans to undertake community garbage collection and 
 an appeal has been made by Monrovia City Corporation for
 sanitation tools to facilitate the exercise.  A general 
 clean-up campaign was carried out at Massaquoi Town on 12  
 October 1996 by residents and sanitation workers.  
 
 Grand Bassa
 Two hundred and fifty (250) wells have been chlorinated 
 in Buchanan and its environs by local NGOs under the
 supervision of Water and Sanitation Incorporated (WS)
 with support from UNICEF in collaboration with the 
 Catholic Relief Services (CRS).  To date, a total of 1, 
 467 wells have been chlorinated since the campaign 
 started on 21 September 1996.
 
 Bong
 One well has been completed and fitted with an Afridev  
 hand pump in Gbondio by LUSH under the UNICEF-UNOPS
 emergency water and sanitation project in Bong County.  
 
 CHILDREN AND EDUCATION  
 It was reported at a meeting of donor members of the
 Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MOHandSW)
 Orphanage Board of Accreditation, (SCF-UK, PMU, CRS and 
 UNICEF) that the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare  
 (MOHandSW) had unilaterally accredited 27 additional
 orphanages (which brings to 48 the number of orphanages 
 in Monrovia).  Although these institutions might not have  
 necessarily met the criteria set by the Board, the fact 
 that they have been accredited enables them to receive  
 support from donors.  Originally there were 21 of these 
 institutions, some of which were under scrutiny.
 
 10,000 Education Kits brought in by UNICEF for the local
 Church Related Education and Development Organisation
 (CREDO), have arrived and distribution is expected to
 commence next week.
 
 DEMOBILISATION  
 A one week workshop for staff of the National Disarmament  
 and Demobilisation Commission (NDDC) and the senior and 
 field commanders of the various factions ended on  
 Tuesday, 15 October.  The closing ceremony was attended 
 by Vice Chairman of the Council of State Mr. Charles
 Ghankay Taylor.  The workshop was to help the attendants
 identify obstacles to the disarmament, demobilisation and  
 reintegration programme (DDR) as well as work out  
 strategies for overcoming them.  A significant outcome of  
 the workshop was the realisation by the attendants that 
 the DDR programme was primarily the responsibility of the  
 government (NDDC) and the people of Liberia and that the
 role of the international community was only supportive.
 Additionally, the workshop clarified that international 
 support could only come if the NDDC began to do tangible
 things.  To this end, Councilman Charles Taylor announced  
 a donation of USD10,000.00 to the Commission as well as 
 one hour broadcast time each day on his KISS FM and
 shortwave radio stations.  At the end of the ceremony,  
 the Commission handed over pre-registration disarmament 
 forms to the faction field commanders for registration of  
 ten percent of their fighters.  This action represents  
 the first practical step taken by NDDC towards the 
 disarmament and demobilisation programme.  
 
 On 15 and 16 October, the national NGO consortium, New  
 African Research and Development Agency (NARDA), together  
 with a US-based organisation, Friends of Liberia, held a
 workshop for the NGOs at the Liberia Opportunities 
 Industrialisation Centre (LOIC).  The theme of the 
 workshop was the -demobilisation and reintegration of
 combatants- in Liberia and the role of NGOs in the DDR  
 program.  The Demobilisation Unit of UNDHA-HACO together
 with other agencies such as NDDC, UNOPS and UNDP
 participated in the workshop as resource persons.  UNDHA-  
 HACO enlightened the attendants about the activities that  
 constitute the demobilisation process and used the 
 opportunity to clarify its role and responsibility in the  
 demobilisation process in Liberia.  UNDA-HACO also 
 identified the roles which NGOs are expected to play in 
 the DDR programme.  It is worth noting here that these  
 workshops are essentially aimed at increasing the  
 interest of Liberians in DDR as well as the peace  
 process.  A non-denominational local religious  
 organisation, the Interfaith Mediation Committee (IFMC),
 with support from UNICEF, plans to hold a workshop on 23
 October on -War Affected Children.-
 
 
 SECURITY
 Violent crime continues to plague the Monrovia area.  UN
 and NGO staff have been advised to avoid travel after
 dark.  If travel is required, movement in groups of two 
 to three vehicles is recommended.  International
 organisations have also been advised to avoid the area  
 surrounding the Barclay Training Centre.  Newly-arriving
 NGOs have been advised to consult with older
 organisations on the ground before selecting office or  
 residential premises.
 
 The Program Compliance and Violations Committee (PCVC)  
 met and discussed the following issues: 
 
 1. Two vehicles operated by the Guinean contingent of
 ECOMOG were identified as possibly looted NGO vehicles. 
 The PCVC has requested the Force Commander to arrange a 
 joint inspection of these vehicles to verify engine and 
 chassis numbers against the list of looted vehicles.
 
 2. SCF-UK brought in a complaint of an ECOMOG soldier
 severely beating a street child. The PCV forwarded the  
 letter to the Force Commander requesting that he
 investigate the incident and provide a report of actions
 taken.  
 
 3. On 13 October, four CARE staff members were arrested 
 and accused of espionage by personnel of the National
 Security Agency (NSA), after they were found walking on 
 the beach behind the Barclay Training Centre. They were 
 subsequently detailed and an attempt was made to extort 
 payment of a bond for their safe release, although they 
 produced identification to show that they were relief
 personnel. UNDHA-HACO and the Acting Director of the
 LRRRC intervened and were able to have them released. On
 14 October, UNDHA-HACO and CARE met with Acting Chairman
 of the Council of State, Vice Chairman Oscar Quiah to
 complain about the behaviour and wrote to UNDHA-HACO to 
 apologise for the conduct of the NSA agents as well as  
 arranged for the return of the passport.
 
 4. CRS complained of harassment by ECOMOG troops in the 
 Harbel-Peters Town area. The harassment involved the
 detention and delay of vehicles carrying food aid over  
 the period 27-30 September. A letter was sent by the PCVC  
 to the Force Commander requesting immediate action to
 avoid such incidents in the future.
 
 Fighting in Grand Cape Mount has once again changed the 
 frontline between ULIMO-K and ULIMO-J. On 27 September  
 ULIMO-J was in control of Tienni while the rival ULIMO-K
 forces were in control of Bo. Within the followings days,  
 a large area opened between them with ULIMO-J retreating
 to Sinje and ULIMO-K taking up positions at Tienni. The 
 neighbouring town of Wangekor keeps changing hands 
 between the two rivals. 
 
 NGOs operating in Grand Cape Mount report continuing
 harassment and human rights abuses of civilians and NGO 
 national staff by ULIMO-J fighters.
 
 Workers for TEAR Fund-Oxfam in the Vonzula feeding centre  
 were forced to perform porter duties by fighters in the 
 village. But they were allowed to return to their work  
 after a village elder intervened to have them released. 
 Another group of ULIMO-J fighters, objecting to the Oxfam  
 cholera centre project, halted the construction. Work was  
 allowed to proceed only after the intervention of village  
 elders. 
 
 After an initial interruption resulting from last months
 harassment of committee members by fighters of the 
 Liberia Peace Council (LPC) in Zwedru, Grand Gedeh 
 County, the Cease-Fire Violation Committee made up of
 representatives of the warring factions, ECOMOG, UNOMIL 
 and the National Disarmament and Demobilisation 
 Commission (NDDC), has resumed operations. The committee
 visited the south-eastern port city of Greenville, Sinoe
 County, which has been the scene of renewed fighting
 between the National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL)  
 and the Liberian Peace Council (LPC). Greenville is now 
 confined to be under NPFL control. Following the visit to  
 Greenville, the committee visited Zwedru to complete its
 earlier assessment mission which was interrupted by the 
 LPC. Both visits were intended to verify continuous
 reports of fighting between the NPFL and LPC in the
 south-east. The committee carried out its mission and
 returned to Monrovia without incident.  
 
 ======================================  
 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