Liberia - DHA-81: 28.Jul.97
Liberia - DHA-81: 28.Jul.97
DHAGVA 97/0312
LIBERIA HUMANITARIAN SITUATION REPORT
Period covered: 28 July 1997 - No. 81
The information contained in this report was provided by the Office of
the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator in Liberia
NOTE: These reports -- whose aim is to focus on broad issues and themes
affecting the humanitarian community in Liberia as well as give regional
situation updates -- are now being issued biweekly. In the interim
weeks, the Humanitarian Activity Report is issued. It provides an update
on the sectoral activities of UN Agencies and International and National
NGOs in Liberia.
ELECTIONS
Charles Taylor wins the presidency with an overwhelming majority of the
vote. Elections deemed -free and fair- by international observers.
Little opposition followed. The main challenge facing the humanitarian
community now is adapting to a new working environment in which the
government ministries are expected to become more assertive and
cohesive.
On 24 July, the official results of Liberia's first post-war elections
were released. Charles Taylor secured a resounding victory with 75
percent of the vote. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf trailed with only 9 percent
followed by Al Hadji Kromah with 4 percent.
There was an immediate consensus among international observers that the
election was-free and fair.- A few minor irregularities were recorded,
but it was felt that these in no way affected the credibility of the
election. They were of such minor consequence, said UNOMIL officials,
that they could only be brought to bear in race cut as closely as one to
two percentage points.
The irregularities reported consisted mainly of ECOMOG overstepping
their security function to assist illiterate voters -- who comprised 80
to 90 percent of the voters in some stations -- in casting their
ballots. According to guidelines from the Independent Elections
Commission (IECOM), electoral officials were authorized to help
handicapped or blind voters. These voters were also allowed to bring a
friend or relative to help them. But the guidelines made no reference to
illiterate voters, which led to some confusion at the polls. UNOMIL
reported a -big gap- in the management and training of poll workers,
which contributed to the dilemma. In such cases, instances of ECOMOG
entering the voting booth to assist voters was said to be -prevalent.-
However, none of the party of international observers characterized the
interventions -manipulative,- saying that ECOMOG only offered assistance
when it was needed. One or two of the polling stations reported to IECOM
that the presence of ECOMOG was -overbearing.-
Otherwise, elections proceeded with no intimidation and no violence. Of
1,500 polling stations, only 91 did not open on time. Two stations in
Voinjama did not have supplies by the time the polls opened, but
materials were flown out via helicopter by 1:30 p.m.
Overall, UNOMIL's main concerns about the election was the lack of voter
education by IECOM, which did not begin sending civic education teams
into the field until one to two weeks before elections. It has also been
pointed out that no training was done in any of the local languages.
Opposition to the results has been limited. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
initially said the lack of voter education skewed the election results,
but eventually concluded in a public address that she hoped her party
would act as a constructive opposition to the ruling party. Al Hadji
Kromah also voiced some concerns about the fairness of the elections,
but it has been very difficult for any party to sustain objections to
the results given Taylor's wide margin of success.
Barring further unrest, the main challenge facing humanitarian
organisations now is adapting to a new working environment in which each
of the government ministries is expected to become more assertive and
cohesive. INGOs have expressed the following concerns:
As a result of greater government involvement in humanitarian
activities, the planning and implementing of programmes will likely
become a more lengthy process. This seems to be the prevalent assumption
among INGO representatives. However, it is possible that a longer
negotiation process between the government and INGOs may eventually
result in more formalized working agreements that, in the long run, may
result in a more smooth implementation of projects.
Government goals and objectives may often run counter to those of the
humanitarian community. A number of scenarios can easily be envisioned.
For example, the Ministry of Health's current desire to standardize
services and fees at rural clinics is already a contentious issue among
INGOs who are restricted by individual mandates and budgets. The
government may often want a quicker response to humanitarian needs than
INGOs are capable or willing to provide. Or the government may pressure
INGOs to direct aid to suit their own political purposes, which would
conflict with the principals and protocols of humanitarian operations
that call for impartiality and neutrality in the delivery of services.
Donors may prefer to fund development initiatives through INGOs, rather
than through the government. As a result, the government may display an
increased desire to be directly involved in humanitarian activities.
Anecdotal evidence suggests that the people overwhelmingly elected
Taylor in the believe that he is the only candidate who can reverse the
effects of the war through development. Given the extent of the
destruction and the meager resources of the government coupled with its
inexperience, it will be quite some time before the benefits of
rehabilitation are felt by the majority of the population. This may lead
to dissatisfaction and unrest that could affect programmes.
UPDATE ON SOUTHWESTERN LIBERIA
With the stabilization of the situation in Bo (Waterside), most of the
displaced population has returned home, but about 800 asylum seekers
remain in Sinje.WFP will provide rations. UNHCR, with WFP, WVI and
LIURD, have established six distribution points where an emergency
ration will be available for any new arrivals.
On 14 July, it was reported that UNHCR was considering setting up a camp
in Sinje (with transit points at Tiene and Dambala) for Sierra Leonean
asylum seekers fleeing from fighting between the combined RUF-SLA forces
and the Kamajors along the Mano River border between Sierra Leone and
Liberia, particularly in the area of Bo (Waterside), Grand Cape Mount
County. A team of representatives from NRC, Oxfam, ACF, WFP, CRS and LWS
recently visited the area -- where a combination of longtime Sierra
Leonean refugees, Bo (Waterside) residents, new asylum seekers and some
Kamajors -- had fled. The purpose of the mission was to assess shelter,
health, food and WATSAN activities.
The team discovered that with the stabilisation of the situation in Bo
Waterside, most of the displaced population has returned home. Estimates
as of 15 July placed those remaining in Tiene at close to 2,000.
Subsequent estimates show this population may have decreased to around
2- 300. However, ECOMOG has positioned artillery pieces in the town of
Tiene next to the site where the transit facility had been proposed.
Moreover, a structure adjacent to the clinic is being used by ECOMOG for
ammunition storage.
The town of Bo remains quiet. However significant border crossing
activity has been observed by Nigerian ECOMOG and Kamajors. Reports
indicate that the number of Kamajors being housed in Bo has also
increased.
UNHCR has requested WFP and WVI to provide rations to some 800
registered asylum seekers who have moved to Sinje. These asylum seekers
are from the new caseload of those who crossed after 13 June. UNHCR has
also revised its figures of total new asylum seekers down from 10,000 to
7,000 since 13 June 1997. LNRC reported that they have begun setting up
tents as a temporary shelter solution on the agreed-to site for the camp
at Sinje. Screening is still a major concern given the experience
reported by WVI and WFP of discrepancies in registered figures reported
by Liberians United to Save Humanity (LUSH)and Liberian Islamic Union
for Reconstruction and Development (LIURD) in the Dambala-Bambala areas.
Registration initially completed by LUSH will now be verified and cross
checked by the food aid NGOs, WVI and LIURD, as well as by LNRC, when
those registered arrive at the camp in Sinje. UNHCR with WFP, WVI and
LIURD have established six distribution points where an emergency ration
will be available for new arrivals. These sites are Bo (Waterside),
Dambala, Bambala, Bendeja, Gangama and Buesahn. WVI reported that ECOMOG
in Bo (Waterside) had advised against any food distribution in the town
as it would, in their opinion, go across the border into Sierra Leone.
WFP has also stated quite firmly that it views the Sinje site as a
temporary response and that they are not willing to support a longer
term encampment.
This report is available on the internet through RELIEFWEB:
http://www.reliefweb.int
Mr. Tesema Negash
UN Humanitarian Coordinator - Monrovia
Tel.: (231) 226 041-042 - Fax: (874) 175 46 27 (sat.)
Inter-Agency Support Branch (IASB) Geneva
Mr. David Bassiouni - Chief
Mr. Arjun Katoch
Tel.: (41 22) 788.1401 - Fax: (41 22) 788.6389
Registry E-Mail: Rosemary.Addo-Yirenkyi@dha.unicc.org
Complex Emergencies Division (CED) New York
Mr. Peter Due
Tel.: (1 212) 963.1731 - Fax: (1 212) 963.3630
E-Mail: due@un.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: Moulin-Acevedo@dha.unicc.org
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