Liberia - DHA-47: 1-6 November 1996
Liberia - DHA-47: 1-6 November 1996
LIBERIA HUMANITARIAN SITUATION REPORT - No. 47
Period covered: 1-6 November 1996 - No. 47
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 Vice Chairman of the ruling Council of
State (COS) and leader of the National Patriotic Front of
Liberia (NPFL), Mr. Charles Taylor, has survived an
assassination attempt. The attack, which took place at the
Executive Mansion in Monrovia on 31 October, left at least
five aides of Mr. Taylor dead, while several other persons,
including an ECOMOG aide assigned to him, were seriously
injured. Taylor has accused two rival faction leaders (Vice
Councilman George S. Boley of the Liberia Peace Council and
ULIMO-J leader Roosevelt Johnson) and Mr. Oscar J. Quiah, a
civilian representative on the COS, of being behind the
attack. All three accused have vehemently denied the
allegation.
A three-member United States Police team has arrived in
Liberia to conduct an assessment of the overall police
situation in the country with the ultimate objective of
restructuring the Liberia National Police Force.
ECOWAS COUNCIL OF THE CHIEFS OF STAFF: The 14th Conference
of the Chiefs of Staff of ECOWAS (Economic Community of
West African States) member states was held 5-6 November in
Monrovia. Representatives from UNDHA-HACO and the
international NGOs participated in the meeting. The
Conference evaluated the progress of the Liberian peace
process and considered the following issues:
Assessment of the implementation of the Abuja Agreement
with regard to ceasefire, disarmament, and creation of safe
havens;
Progress reports from those member states that pledged to
contribute troops to ECOMOG;
Return of looted motor vehicles and other assets to the
United Nations, international and national nongovernmental
organisations;
Evolving a role for the Armed Forces of Liberia in the
peace process:
Violations of the Abuja Agreement and imposition of
sanctions on violators:
Providing free and unhindered passage for humanitarian
relief assistance throughout Liberia.
Through the persistent efforts of the representatives of
the humanitarian community, with the support of the Special
Representative of the Secretary-General, the following text
on humanitarian issues was endorsed by the Chiefs of Staff.
-The chiefs of staff condemned the continued abuse,
harassment and restriction on the freedom of movement of
the civilian population and the humanitarian organisations
by armed fighters. They also requested that the faction
leaders should be reminded of the previous recommendation
made by the 13th meeting of the Chiefs of Staff that they
should allow unhindered passage for relief personnel and
supplies destined for the needy population, and they should
unconditionally guarantee their adherence and commitment to
the Geneva Conventions and Protocols, the UN Convention on
the Rights of the Child and the principles and protocols
governing humanitarian operations.-
Following the Chiefs of Staff meeting, Foreign Ministers,
representing the ECOWAS Committee of Nine, will meet on 8
November to review the progress of the Liberian peace
process.
SHELTER
Montserrado: Tear Fund reports that relocation work
continues at Dixville, Plumkor and Coffee Farm with the
building of single units and the relocation of IDPs from
the transit shelters into completed units. This has created
space for further relocation work. Over the past week the
following numbers of IDPs have been moved from irregular
sites to Plunkor and Coffee Farm:
Tear Fund has also coordinated the registration and
accommodation in IDP shelters of 101 patients ACF's from
the Monrovia Transport Agency (MTA), VOA and World Wide
Mission Therapeutic feeding centres.
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) has announced
plans to build 20 latrines at the Coffee Farm IDP centre.
FOOD AND LOGISTICS
The Regional Food For Peace (FFP) Officer of USAID visited
Liberia during the period under review and had extensive
consultations on policy and programme matters with the WFP
Country Director and WFP staff. After touring some
Emergency School Feeding (ESF) schools and the Plumkor IDP
shelter she reported that she was favorably impressed with
the school feeding programme.
Inter-agency assessment missions planned for Lofa County
and the Harbel Corridor are presently on hold because of
the recent security incident at the Executive Mansion.
Montserrado: From 18 October - 5 November, WFP lifted 689
MTs of assorted food commodities to 76,925 students and
support staff in schools located in Monrovia, representing
a coverage of 61 percent of programme-affected schools. The
ESF programme is progressing satisfactorily, however, the
preparation and serving of meals is constrained by
insufficient cooking utensils, most of which were looted
during the April crisis. This problem is being jointly
addressed through a WFP-UNICEF-ADA collaborative effort.
IDP shelter food distribution for the month of October is
now completed and distribution plans for the month of
November are currently underway. IDP shelter pre-
distribution assessments and monitoring activities will
involve night head counts and ration card distributions.
Bong: During the reporting period, WFP delivered 35 MTs of
assorted food commodities to ACF in support of 3,103
beneficiaries enrolled in the therapeutic feeding centre
(TFC) and school feeding programmes in Gbarnga.
Margibi: WFP will resume its delivery of food to SCF-UK for
the vulnerable group feeding (VGF) programme in Upper
Margibi on 8 November after a halt of one week due to the
recent looting incident at Phebe. A convoy carrying about
108 MTs of assorted food commodities is being planned for
distribution to 6,941 beneficiaries residing in Garbee-Paye
Temor.
Bomi: An inter-agency household food security assessment
was recently concluded in Tubmanburg. Discussions are
underway with ACF, WVI and CCC to review response options
to address coping mechanisms in the community regarding
food security.
LOGISTICS
The MV -Manlly Appledore-, with a cargo of 5,289 MTs of
maize meal, has been unable to berth at the Freeport in
Monrovia, since arriving on 28 October, apparently because
of a payment dispute. The vessel has recently developed a
mechanical problem as well. In the meantime, WFP expects
the MV -Hyde Park-, arriving from San Pedro, to berth on 6
November bringing along 1,000 MTs of peas, 500 MTs of CSB,
300 MTs of bulgur wheat, 1,100 pallets and 10,000 bags.
The market prices of major commodities as of 5 November
1996 are:
COMMODITY PRICE COMMODITY PRICE-GAL
Indian long
grain rice(50 Kg) USD 20.63 Gasoline USD 1.00
American long
grain rice (50 Kg) USD 30.00 Fuel Oil USD 1.06
Bulgur Wheat (50 Kg) USD 7.19 Engine OilUSD 3.75
Vegetable Oil
(net gallon) USD 4.38 Kerosene USD 1.88
The current rate of exchange on the parallel market is USD
1.00 to LDD 80.00.
The WFP stock position as of 5 November is 5,815 MTs,
consisting of:
Bulgur Wheat 2,080 MTs
CSB 2,262 MTs
Vegetable Oil 90 MTs
Pulses 1,299 MTs
Biscuits 51 MTs
Others 33 MTs
HEALTH
The Ministry of Health has announced the appointment of
Dr. Adams Lincoln to head the newly created Emergency
Response Unit of MoH.
UNICEF has met with MoH and WHO to plan for the upcoming
national vaccination campaign slated to kick off on 18
November. The campaign was officially launched by the
Chairperson of the Council of State, Mrs. Ruth Sando
Perry during the recent UNICEF-Inter-Faith Workshop for
the Protection of War-Affected Children. Under the first
phase of the campaign, all children in accessible areas
will be vaccinated. As more areas become accessible, the
second phase will cover the rest of the country. Those
NGOs wishing to participate in the campaign were asked to
fill out a form indicating their preferred sector and
geographical areas. UNICEF pledged to support
participating agencies by providing them with vaccines
and cold chain. Local NGOs will in addition receive
logistical support.
Bomi: UNICEF reported that it would start a three-day
training course for traditional birth attendants (TBAs)
in Tubmanburg. UNICEF is continuing support to the MoH,
through the training of 85 health workers in Tubmanburg.
Following the training, the health workers will form
Expanded Programme of Immunization (EPI) teams to launch
a vigorous campaign to vaccinate children under five
years of age and women in the reproductive age group in
the region.
World Vision International (WVI) reported it will
discharge 56 of the 190 patients at its Government Farm
Therapeutic Feeding Centre who have been fully
rehabilitated. The dischargees and their families will be
given a one-month food ration. WVI will ensure that the
food is not taken away by fighters before distribution.
WVI will seek HACO's views on the security situation. The
issue of food distribution in a precarious security
situation is of concern to many members of the health
committee. The representative of Concern World Wide has
reported that people in Gbah refused to take food for
fear of attracting looting by fighters. It was agreed
that the beneficiaries themselves are the best judge of
their security and hence must be consulted to determine
when it is safe to distribute food to them.
WHO reported that the case fatality rate from severe
diarrhea in Tubmanburg has dropped from a high of 9
percent to 1-2 percent.
Concern reported that its feeding centre in Gbah has 90
child patients of whom 21 are in therapeutic feeding, 28
in supplementary feeding, and 41 in general feeding.
Concern also reported treating 7 malnourished adults. The
children were all vaccinated.
Grand Cape Mount: WVI reported that it had sent a doctor
on a mission to Robertsport to assess the nutrition
situation in the city and in the hamlets lying between
Madina and Robertsport. The doctor observed no serious
cases of malnutrition among the estimated population of
1-2,000 in Robertsport and the hamlets. But there is a
need for a health clinic.
Oxfam says it plans to send a water engineer to
Robertsport to determine if there is a need for any water
and sanitation work. It will consult with UNDHA-HACO on
the security situation.
Oxfam reported on the Cholera situation in Vonzula. Oxfam
received 80 cholera patients last week, 20 of whom died.
14 patients are reported to have died during the 17-18
October period. The new cholera cases arrival coincided
with the security stand-down resulting from the hostage
taking incident by ULIMO-J on 31 October. Since the
return of the staff, 6 deaths have occurred with new
admissions declining to 1-2 a day. Supplementary feeding
has now resumed and the patient caseload has grown to
400. A one-off vaccination of 470 children in the 1-5
year old category has been carried out against measles.
Oxfam also reported that it was planning a demographic
survey of the district to plan further programmes.
Already, it is planning and collaborating with MERCI to
train community outreach workers with funds from the EU.
Oxfam had said it had sought collaboration with local
NGOs which have concrete ideas.
WVI reported that of the 195 patients in its Madina
feeding centre, 146 will be discharged by the next day.
UNICEF reported that MERCI was interested in setting up a
clinic in the city of Robertsport.
Grand Bassa: Medecins du Monde (MDM) reported that it is
maintaining a presence in Buchanan to monitor health
services and to study the feasibility of starting a
mobile clinic.
The WHO, UNICEF and the MoH have discussed ways to assist
the Grand Bassa County Health Team manage health services
in the county. The three agencies will visit Grand Bassa
County on 14 November, accompanied by the newly-appointed
director of the Grand Bassa County Health Team.
Bong: UNICEF will support SCF-UK's planned vaccination
campaign targeting children in Phebe and Gbarnga. UNICEF
intends to expand the programme to other areas in the
county.
Oxfam has announced plans to take over ACF's feeding
centre in Gbarnga. Discussions are underway with ACF to
start operations in a week's time.
Montserrado: The TB Control Unit of MoH has complained
that it is not getting support despite an increase in the
number of patients in the two TB sections at the JFK
Medical Centre and the Redemption Hospital. In this
connection, the WHO is appealing for funding of the anti-
TB campaign in the forthcoming CAP document coordinated
by HACO.
WATER AND SANITATION
Montserrado: UNICEF reports that a mass clean-up campaign
has been carried out by residents and sanitation workers
at the Bensonville IDP shelter. Health-hygiene education
seminars covering diarrhea control, environmental
sanitation and personal hygiene were held at the
Brewerville Town Hall and the Perry Town IDP shelters
during the reporting period.
SCF-UK, in collaboration with the Monrovia City
Corporation (MCC) and with support from the United
Nations Office of Project Services (UNOPS) and UNICEF,
collected 750 cubic yards of garbage from Monrovia.
Bong: Two wells in Totota and in Zeansue and one shelter
latrine in Totota were completed by the national NGO,
Liberians United to Serve Humanity, (LUSH), with support
from UNICEF and UNOPS.
CHILDREN AND EDUCATION
The Church Related Educational Development Organisation
(CREDO), has begun the distribution of basic educational
kits to 54 primary schools in and around Monrovia. About
10,000 students and 100 teachers will benefit from the
materials which were provided by UNICEF. During the
distribution, each child will receive a package
containing a pencil, a notebook, an eraser, a slate and a
book bag.
UNICEF and LWF-WS have held discussions regarding the
reactivation of schools in Bong, Nimba, Grand Bassa and
Montserrado Counties. Activities to be carried out will
include the distribution of instructional supplies, in-
service teacher training, minor repairs of school
facilities, and the operation of a Children's Mobile
Library. LWF-WS, in collaboration with UNICEF, will also
organise informal educational activities for schools in
these counties. An initial fund of USD 33,267 has already
been earmarked for the project.
The Association of Female Lawyers (AFEL) and UNICEF are
finalizing discussions on a proposal to support the
constitution of Juvenile Courts throughout the country.
AFEL proposes to:
Collaborate with the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) to prevail
on the Government of Liberia to open juvenile courts to
ensure the speedy trial of juvenile offenders,
Collaborate with relevant agencies to improve prison and
cell facilities for children offenders currently being
held at the Monrovia Central Prison or the National
Police Headquarters while awaiting trial, and,
Organise workshops and meetings to sensitize communities
about family and children's rights.
DEMOBILISATION
Although some progress has been made in the Liberian
peace process with the beginning of the delivery of
logistics supplies to ECOMOG, many crucial pre-requisites
are yet to be fulfilled in respect to disarmament and
demobilisation. These are: effective cease fire and
disengagement, assessment missions, preparation of the
proposed demobilisation sites, deployment of ECOMOG and
the determination of safe heavens. However, given the
consensus by the donors and the UN that disarmament and
demobilisation has to take place on 22 November, UNDHA-
HACO is planning amongst other things, to conduct a
demobilisation exercise of at most 100 child soldiers on
that date. The intent to begin with child soldiers is in
response to the popular call of the Liberian people, the
Chairperson of the Council of State as well as the
international community, for the immediate release of
child soldiers by factional leaders. It would also
indicate their commitment to this noble call and to the
overall peace process. UNICEF and NGOs who are active in
the affairs of children, including Child Assistance
Programme (CAP), Don Bosco, Liberian Opportunity and
Industrial Centre (LOIC) and SCF-UK, have expressed
interest to participate in handling of the children after
demobilisation.
Several issues that impinge on disarmament, and
consequently demobilisation, such as increased troop
levels for ECOMOG and their eventual deployment, are
being discussed by the Chiefs of Staff of the ECOWAS
troop-contributing countries this week. It is hoped that
this will help ECOMOG, UNOMIL and the LNTG to finalize
the disarmament concept.
The Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR)
Task Force has endorsed the outline of the Demobilisation
Plan and requested its Secretariat to finalize the
document this week.
WHO has invited all interested NGOs to participate in the
medical aspect of the disarmament, demobilisation and
reintegration programme.
PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND ADVOCACY
The Heritage newspaper reprinted, in full, the text of a
recent speech by the Minister of Health and Social
Welfare, delivered to the Transitional Legislative
Assembly, in which he commended UN Agencies,
international and national NGOs for providing
humanitarian relief services to Liberians. The Minister
stated that since the Ministry's contact with UNDHA-HACO,
-we have experienced a more coordinated delivery than
ever since the onset of the war- and that such
coordination yields -a reliable and maximum result to the
beneficiaries. It also ensures uniform distribution of
humanitarian efforts in the country.- He also commended
the actions of local NGOs SELF, MERCI, LNRC, NDS, CCC and
LIURD who worked in collaboration with WFP, UNDHA-HACO,
WHO and UNHCR throughout the April-May crisis to continue
effective and committed services with little or no
logistics to facilitate their functions. The Minister
stated that: UNICEF is the largest direct donor to the
Ministry for carrying out primary health care activities,
WHO provides the largest support for health manpower
training in the country: UNDP punctually supports the
health care delivery system at emergency levels, WFP
plays a major role in supporting therapeutic feeding and
food for work to support health programmes, and, UNHCR
provides a moderate level of health care support through
national NGO, MERCI, at shelters where refugees are
present. The Minister commended the efforts of
international and national NGOs who have contributed to
the success of humanitarian delivery services. Those
mentioned include: ICRC, SCF-UK, ACF, WVI, LWF-WS, MSF,
CRS, ADA, AFRICARE, CARE, Tear Fund, UMCOR, IRC, GED,
CHAL, LNRC, MERCI as well as other national Christian and
Islamic organisations. The Minister also noted that USAID
supports many health and social welfare programmes
through food for work donations, water and sanitation,
vulnerable group feeding and caring for IDPs at Grey
Stone. He further noted the role of the EU in its support
of international NGOs, its provision of drugs to the NDS
and its support of some non-governmental hospitals.
Following the 31 October assassination attempt on
Councilman Charles Taylor, all newspapers have given
extensive coverage to investigating the matter, some
insinuating that the attempt was staged by Taylor
himself, others that various faction leaders were
responsible. In connection with these reports, the
managing editor and various senior reporters of The
Inquirer newspaper have received death threats from those
claiming that the newspaper reports in favor of the NPFL.
During the April hostilities, the offices of The Inquirer
were looted and burned, as were the offices of many of
the other media operating in Monrovia.
The News reported that the local NGO, Church Related
Educational Development Organisation (CREDO), in
collaboration with UNICEF, has commenced the distribution
of 10,000 educational kits as part of the Educational
Supply Distribution Project. The News also carried an
article on WVI activities in western Liberia, stating
that the organisation hopes to expand its therapeutic
feeding programmes in the region as the security
situation allows.
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
E-Mail: dhagva@dha.unicc.org
Inter-Agency Support Branch (IASB)- Geneva
Ms. Deborah Saidy-Mr. Chris Kaye
Tel.: (41 22) 788.6384-788.6385
Fax: (41 22) 788.6386
E-Mail: Deborah.Saidy@dha.unicc.org
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@dha.unicc.org