Sierra Leone - DHA: 22.Jul-04.Aug.97

DHAGVA 97/0319

SIERRA LEONE HUMANITARIAN SITUATION REPORT
Period covered: 22 July - 4 August 1997


This report has been prepared by the office of the United Nations
Humanitarian Coordinator for Sierra Leone in Conakry, Guinea

SECURITY
1. With the exception of the Zimmi incident mentioned below, the
security situation has remained stable in Sierra Leone during the past
two weeks in compliance with the ceasefire agreed upon at the meeting
between the AFRC and the ECOWAS committee of four in Abidjan on 17-18
July. Tension in Freetown has, however, heightened after the collapse of
the recent talks on 29-30 July. See point four and five below.
Journalists critical of the AFRC continue to be harassed. The head of
the Sierra Leone Journalists Association and editor of Unity Now, has
gone into hiding after his offices were raided by soldiers. Several
journalists from For di People, which has repeatedly satirised the AFRC,
have been told that they will be used as human shields if there is
military intervention.

2. The Sierra Leone-Liberian border from the Mano River Bridge to
Dambala is under the control of the kamajors. Supplies are being
transported to kamajors in this area from Monrovia. Chief Norman, de
facto head of the kamajors, has denied that the kamajors are being
supported by ECOMOG contrary to popular belief. It has been reported
that the kamajors have launched a fresh offensive in Zimmi in a bid to
take the town from the Peoples Army. In a statement issued on 31 July,
the kamajors claimed to have destroyed four armoured personnel carriers,
captured a vehicle and inflicted heavy losses on the Peoples Army. The
AFRC have denied these allegations. On 4 August Chief Norman has also
stated that the kamajors were in the process of establishing -safety
zones- for displaced populations along the Sierra Leone-Liberia border.
An ECOMOG statement issued on 29 July said that 16 Sierra Leonean
policemen had surrendered to ECOMOG at Bo Waterside and handed over
automatic weapons. ECOMOG has indicated that it will hand the policemen
over the UNHCR.

3. The road between Bo town and Matru Jong, which has been impassable
for the past two months on account of road blocks set up by the
kamajors, has been made accessible to relief agencies during the past
week. The kamajors have successfully prevented the Peoples Army from
controlling this road during the past few weeks.

POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS
4. The talks between the AFRC delegation and the ECOWAS committee of
four foreign ministers which took place in Abidjan on 29-30 July have
collapsed for two reasons. First, the AFRC delegation reneged on the
agreement reached in the previous meeting on 17-18 July by failing to
present its proposals on the detailed modalities for the early
restoration of constitutional order to Sierra Leone, including the
reinstatement of the government of President Kabbah. Instead, the AFRC
delegation submitted another position paper prior to the talks calling
for the release of Foday Sankoh, the withdrawal of Nigerian troops, the
disarmament of armed forces not under the control of the republic of
Sierra Leone and the dissolution of the ousted government and the
holding of early elections. This position paper was dismissed by the
ECOWAS committee of four.

5. Second, while the meeting was in session on 30 July, Major Koroma,
Chairman of the AFRC, announced over national radio that the AFRC was
suspending the Constitution and intended to remain in power until 2001
when presidential elections would be held. Major Koroma also announced
the establishment of a -Peoples Revolutionary Court,- reiterated demands
for the release of Sankoh and threatened to withdraw the licenses for
Barclays bank and Standard Chartered Bank if they did not reopen by 4
August. The ECOWAS committee of four expressed dismay at this
announcement and indicated in a declaration dated 30 July that they
would recommend that General Abacha, Chairman of ECOWAS, endorse the
strengthening of sanctions against the AFRC.

6. The composition of the 17 member AFRC delegation had changed since
the previous meeting on 17-18 July, the most significant being the
replacement of politicians Abass Bundu and Karefa-Smart with
representatives from the army. The leader of the delegation, Pallo
Bangura, the AFRC Foreign Minister, resigned from the AFRC on hearing
Major Koromas announcement.

7. There has been intense speculation over the possibility of a rift
between the RUF and the AFRC in the light of the breakdown of the
Abidjan talks due primarily to the fact that Major Koroma has not been
seen in Freetown or on television since 30 July. Lt. Collins, an RUF
spokesman, has denied that any such rift exists.

8. In an interview with a local newspaper Sam Bockarie, senior RUF
battlefield commander, stated that the RUF would return to the bush and
continue to fight if the organisation were forced to leave Freetown and
other urban areas.

HUMANITARIAN DEVELOPMENTS
9. The embargo imposed by ECOWAS against the AFRC was lifted from 19 to
29 July as part of the agreed ceasefire following the first round of
talks between the AFRC and the ECOWAS committee of four on 17-18 July.
On 31 July a Russian ship carrying 6,800 MTs of rice docked in Freetown.
It is unlikely that this shipment will benefit the vulnerable as
Freetown sources report that the vessel was met by Major Koroma and that
1,500 MTs of rice was earmarked for the Peoples Army. The remaining
stocks have been off loaded and sold to traders at the dockside.

10. Notwithstanding recent ECOWAS pledges to strengthen the embargo, a
Panamanian registered tanker carrying 28,000 MTs of marine fuel oil
(-black oil-), which is used for electricity generation, docked in
Freetown on 2 August. The extent to which this shipment will alleviate
power cuts is problematic as power plants are still short of lubricants
and cooling oil for engines. Lack of petrol remains a severe problem. A
vessel carrying 10,000 MTs of fuel and food is reportedly scheduled to
arrive in Sierra Leone on 8 August.

11. Feedback from the Rapid Assessment Survey forms distributed to rural
areas in Sierra Leone has been received from Tonkilili and Kenema
districts. The forms have been distributed to representatives from the
different sectoral meetings for analysis and the results will be
released in the next situation report. A request by the United Nations
humanitarian agencies to conduct a humanitarian and security assessment
in Kambia district on 6 August has been rejected by UNSECOORD, the body
responsible for the security of UN staff throughout the world. After
close consultation with the UN Department of Political Affairs,
UNSECOORD cited the breakdown in negotiations between the AFRC
delegation and the ECOWAS Committee of Foreign Ministers and the recent
statements by Major Koroma as reasons for the rejection of the request.

12. On 21 July, Victor Brandon, AFRC Development Secretary, called NGOs
to a meeting in Freetown. Although some NGOs were present at the
meeting, it was poorly attended. The meeting gave NGOs the opportunity
to air some of their grievances to the Development Secretary, namely
disenchantment over store breakages, ransacking of NGO offices and
commandeering of vehicles, communication equipment and food. In an
unwelcome attempt to undermine the neutrality of agencies providing
humanitarian assistance, the Secretary of State for the Southern region
accused NGOs in Bo of collaborating with the Kamajors in a public
meeting. Consequently, the Secretary of State has tried to prevent NGOs
from leaving Bo and moving relief supplies to areas controlled by the
Kamajors.

13. 100 surveyors from agencies in Bo have made a survey of 1,000
households which were displaced in Bo town. Preliminary analysis of the
results has revealed that 30 percent of those displaced originated from
Freetown.

FOOD AID
14. Food agencies are coming under increasing pressure from the AFRC and
most agency warehouses are visited by armed men on a daily basis. During
the past week, 4 CARE food trucks en route to the rutile area in Moyamba
district were intercepted at Moyamba Junction by the Peoples Army. Two
of the vehicles were off loaded at Mile 91 where the contents were
transferred to Camp Charlie. One of the RUF bush camps and two were off
loaded at Brigade Headquarters in Bo. A total of 97 MTs of food was
stolen. The remaining truck as untouched. CARE staff were also accused
of divulging information on troop movements to the Kamajors. In spite of
this incident, CARE has managed to transport 900 MTs of commodities from
Freetown during the past week.

15. In response to a letter sent by local food agencies to the AFRC
complaining of increased harassment by soldiers, the AFRC has appointed
a superintendent to manage agency food stocks in Freetown. This
appointment has been condemned by the Committee on Food Aid in Conakry
and by the WFP Executive Director in a public statement. -The WFP
strongly protests against the requisition of all its food stores in
Freetown by the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council.- The statement
continues: -The international communitys food aid is destined solely to
needy Sierra Leoneans and should not be used to feed men in arms.- WFP
and other food agencies have also urged ECOWAS states to exclude food
supplies from any embargo against the AFRC. Chief Ikimi, Nigerian
Foreign Minister, has stated that food would be included in the embargo.

16. Limited numbers of beneficiaries in Freetown are currently receiving
a food ration through institutional feeding programmes and it will be
difficult to expand targeted feeding programmes in the capital as food
supply agencies have traditionally operated primarily in rural areas.
Consequently, new partners will have to be identified as only the Red
Cross Movement is distributing food to institutions at present. ACF is
waiting for the arrival of an international staff member before
commencing supplementary-dry ration distribution through feeding
centres-clinics.

17. Notwithstanding statistics from ACFs therapeutic feeding centres,
there is a lack of accurate data on nutritional status, market
conditions and coping strategies in Freetown. The Federation of the Red
Cross in collaboration with ICRC has indicated that it will liaise with
the national society in Sierra Leone (SLRC) to investigate the
possibility of regular feedback. UN-HACU will design a list to map flows
of relief food in and out of the capital to give a better overview for
planning purposes.

18. A proposal from the Kenema food aid technical committee to conduct a
one-off emergency distribution to 25,000 newly-displaced in Kenema town
has been approved by the Committee on Food Aid in Conakry. Continued
support in the form of a safety net ration will be given to those who
meet the existing vulnerable group feeding criteria.

HEALTH
19. 29 measles fatalities have been reported 20 km north of Magburaka in
Tonkolili-Kono districts and an additional 48 suspected cases have been
identified in the same area. MSF reports that the first case originated
in Kabala in Koinadugu district. UNICEF has supplied 10,000 doses of
vaccines to the two districts and government health officials have
conducted a ring vaccination by immunizing people living in villages
around the affected areas to prevent the spread of measles.

20. MSF is currently conducting a nutritional survey in Kambia district.
Preliminary results are not encouraging. One yellow fever case has been
confirmed in Lofa County in Liberia. Lofa county is adjacent to kailahun
district in Sierra Leone.

21. Health activities have been increased in Kenema. CRDS and Merlin
have reopened their clinics and Africare intends to open two clinics
during the first week of August. On 28 July, 10 Sierra Leone Red Cross
First Aiders started working at the clinic at the RTI camp in Kenema. In
other parts of Sierra Leone previously reported health programmes
continue.

CHILD PROTECTION
22. On 31 July, UN Agencies, NGOs and church groups met in Conakry to
formulate a contingency plan for child protection in Sierra Leone. The
end product builds on the plan produced by the Disarmament,
Demobilization and Reintegration. Unit of the Government of Sierra Leone
in May 1997. Key guiding principles to emerge from the meeting include
the following: a pragmatic approach should be taken to the definition of
-child soldier- to allow for maximum protection for children associated
with the war, encampment for children should happen only after
disarmament, be limited to a defined and short period and allow for
separate provision for unaccompanied children, childrens agencies should
be represented on demobilization policy making bodies from the outset,
coordination attempts should be flexible and decentralized,
community-based projects for the reintegration of children associated
with the war are preferable to institutional ones.

FAMILY TRACING
23. On 30 July, UN-HACU chaired a more inclusive family tracing meeting
as a follow-up to the first meeting which took place on 4 July (see
point seven, sitrep dated 1-7 July). The meeting included UNHCR and ICRC
representatives from Liberia and Guinea, UNICEF representatives from
Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone and SCF representatives from Liberia
and Cote dIvoire. It was agreed that progress had been made towards a
standardized approach to family tracing in the sub-region and that the
system of national networks should be complemented by the creation of a
network within the Guinea refugee zones. UNICEF Guinea will take the
lead in mobilizing the Child Protection Committee to debate the need for
a tracing network in other parts of Guinea. This would complement the
Liberia-Cote dIvoire and Sierra Leone networks. It was acknowledged that
the inter-agency principles and guidelines document written in Sierra
Leone to govern responses for unaccompanied children was an excellent
working document which would be adopted for promotion in Liberia, Guinea
and Cote dIvoire while action was taken to produce modified national
guidelines.

This report is available on the internet through RELIEFWEB:
http://www.reliefweb.int

Complex Emergency Division (CED) New York
Mr. Peter Due
Tel.: (1 212) 963.1731
Fax: (1 212) 963.3630 - E-Mail: due@un.org

Inter-Agency Support Branch (IASB) Geneva
Mr. David Bassiouni - Chief
Ms. Shahwar Pataudi
Tel.: (41 22) 788.1403 - Fax: (41 22) 788.6389
Registry E-Mail: Rosemary.Addo-Yirenkyi@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: Moulin-Acevedo@dha.unicc.org



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