Liberia: Complex - OFDA-01: 14.Aug.97
Liberia: Complex - OFDA-01: 14.Aug.97
U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (USAID)
BUREAU FOR HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE (BHR)
OFFICE OF U.S. FOREIGN DISASTER ASSISTANCE (OFDA)
LIBERIA - Complex Emergency
Fiscal Year (FY) 1997 - Situation Report #1 August 14, 1997
Note: The last situation report was dated September 30, 1996.
Overview
Liberia's civil war began December 24, 1989, when the National Patriotic
Front for Liberia (NPFL) led by Charles Taylor invaded from neighboring
Cote d'Ivoire. Peace-keeping forces from the Economic Community of West
African States' (ECOWAS) Cease-fire Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) arrived in
August 1990 to separate the warring factions and to provide security. The
main factions that have contended for power in Liberia include: 1) the
NPFL); 2) Alhaji Kromah's Mandingo-based United Liberation Movement for
Democracy in Liberia (ULIMO/K); 3) a Krahn-based ULIMO splinter group led
by Roosevelt Johnson (ULIMO/J); and 4) another Krahn-based group called
the Liberia Peace Council (LPC), led by George Boley. On August 19, 1995,
after six years of war, the leaders of the main warring factions signed a
thirteenth peace agreement, known as the Abuja Peace Accord, in Abuja,
Nigeria. On April 6, 1996, the cease-fire negotiated at Abuja was broken
when fighting erupted in Monrovia between the NPFL and the ULIMO/J.
During April and May, the warring factions looted and destroyed major
sections of the capital city and nearly all expatriate non-governmental
organization (NGO) and United Nations (U.N.) staff were evacuated. On
August 17, 1996 ECOWAS heads of state and Liberian faction leaders signed
an amended Abuja Accord which provided for a cease-fire to be implemented
by August 31, 1996; disarmament and demobilization to be completed by
January 31, 1997; and elections to be held on May 30. Elections were
postponed until July 19, when Charles Taylor was elected President of
Liberia.
Numbers Affected
Fighting has displaced approximately 750,000 Liberians within Liberia. As
many as 650,000 Liberian refugees remain in countries of asylum: 210,000
in Cote d'Ivoire, 410,000 in Guinea, 15,000 in Ghana, 15,000 in Sierra
Leone, and 4,000 in Nigeria. The results of a recent UNHCR census of
refugees in Guinea had not been released as of August 8, 1997. Due to the
coup in Sierra Leone on May 25, 1997, many Liberians who were refugees in
that country have fled to other asylum countries or returned to Liberia.
More than 150,000 people died during the war. Since the start of the 1991
civil war in Sierra Leone, up to 120,000 Sierra Leoneans fled to Liberia.
U.S. GOVERNMENT (USG) HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE
FY 1997 (to date). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $25,138,174
Current Situation
On July 19, Charles Taylor was elected President of Liberia in elections
that were declared free and transparent by international elections
monitors from the U.N., the European Union (EU), the Organization of
African Unity (OAU), the Carter Center, and Friends of Liberia. With over
80% of the 700, 000 registered voters participating in the elections,
Charles Taylor received 75% of the vote. His National Patriotic Party
gained 21 of 26 seats in the senate and 49 of 64 seats in the assembly.
On August 2, Charles Taylor was inaugurated president and he announced key
cabinet appointments on August 3.
On June 27, the U.N. Security Council (UNSC) unanimously adopted UNSC
Resolution 1116 extending the mandate of the U.N. Observer Mission in
Liberia (UNOMIL) until September 30. UNOMIL's military observers served
as elections monitors during the July 19 elections.
Following the May 25 coup, thousands of Sierra Leoneans fleeing fighting
in Sierra Leone have entered Liberia. In mid-June clashes in southeastern
Sierra Leone led many civilians to flee into Liberia, between Bo-Waterside
and Kongo. The U.N. Department of Humanitarian Affairs reports that an
estimated 7,000 have crossed since June 13. The U.N. High Commissioner
for Refugees (UNHCR), the U.N. World Food Program (WFP), and World Vision
Relief and Development (WVRD) are assisting the refugees.
Political/Military Situation
ECOMOG now has over 10,000 troops deployed in 40 locations outside
Monrovia, covering all 13 counties and border posts. Since February 7,
ECOMOG has confiscated over 4,000 weapons, including artillery pieces,
anti-tank guns, missiles, bombs, rifles and machine guns, that were not
surrendered during the disarmament period. Since March, ECOMOG has
arrested several persons for weapons possession and plans to continue
efforts to recover all hidden arms even after the elections. During the
official disarmament period from November 22, 1996 to February 7, 1997,
ECOMOG disarmed more than 23,000 soldiers, including 4,306 child and 250
adult female soldiers, of the estimated 33,000 to 35,000 factional
fighters.
Relief Efforts
In 1997, relief agencies have been able to reach regions of Liberia that
were previously inaccessible due to insecurity throughout much of the war.
U.N. agencies and NGOs are extending their emergency programs in
agriculture, food, water, sanitation, and health to newly accessible areas
of the country and assisting former combatants to reintegrate into their
communities.
To coordinate "bridging" activities designed to reintegrate ex-combatants
into their communities and provide short-term employment, the
international community formed a Bridging Operations Task Force (BOTF).
Chaired by the U.N. Department of Humanitarian Affairs (UNDHA)
Humanitarian Assistance Coordination Office in Liberia (UNHACO), and
composed of representatives from U.N. agencies, donors, the International
Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), national and international NGOs, and
the Liberian government, the BOTF meets bi-weekly.
The U.N. Development Program (UNDP) Office of Project Services (UNOPS)
began its Civil Reconstruction Teams (CRT) Bridging Program in December
1996 with funding from BHR's Office of Transition Initiatives (BHR/OTI)
and USAID's Bureau for West African Affairs (AFR/WA). The CRTs, composed
of both former combatants and members of the communities, work on
micro-projects which benefit local communities while providing support to
recently demobilized combatants. Since December, UNDP has supported 148
projects consisting primarily of road repair and drainage work in seven
counties, which have created more than 10,000 temporary jobs. The EU has
also funded more than 128 micro-projects, engaging approximately 7,500
ex-fighters and civilians. Since March, UNHACO has funded 44 projects
that have created 8,352 temporary jobs, including renovating schools and
adult training centers; opening health centers and mobile clinics;
training health workers, blacksmiths, fishermen, and farmers; building
latrines and constructing wells; training in trauma counseling and social
work skills; and building bridges and shelters.
Displaced Persons and Refugees
Relief organizations verify caseloads in all displaced shelters prior to
monthly food distributions to target food aid to reach the most vulnerable
groups and to facilitate the spontaneous resettlement of internally
displaced persons (IDPs). Recent verifications have shown that many IDPs
have spontaneously returned home because demobilization has resulted in
increased security in their home areas. Preliminary results from a
shelter assessment mission to Bong County led by WFP at the end of March
indicate a population drop of about 30% from February's figures. UNHACO
reports that in June 1997, there were less than 8,000 IDPs in Buchanan
shelters, down from a total of 68,000 in June 1996. A joint UNHCR/WFP
food needs assessment mission traveled to Sierra Leone, Liberia, and
Guinea in late April. The mission endorsed the UNHCR's repatriation plan
to assist Liberian refugees to return home in two phases. Under phase
one, which began in April, UNHCR is facilitating the voluntary
repatriation of refugees. A few thousand refugees, including up to 600
who were in Ghana and Sierra Leone, have repatriated since April. UNHCR
will actively promote repatriation as conditions permit. In this second
phase, UNHCR and other U.N. organizations will provide food and non-food
assistance to repatriating refugees, as well as transportation for some
refugees. U.N. organizations intend to assist refugee and IDP returnees
with targeted follow-on feeding programs such as therapeutic, vulnerable
group, and school feeding, as well as food-for-work (FFW) and food-for-
training.
Food
The humanitarian relief community established the Liberia Committee on
Food Aid (CFA) on January 31, 1997. Members include Catholic Relief
Services (CRS), EU and USAID. Chaired by WFP, the CFA coordinates food
aid policies and strategies in Liberia. In addition to chairing the CFA,
WFP distributes monthly food rations to IDPs and refugees in shelters
around the country and runs Emergency School Feeding Programs (ESFP) in
Monrovia, Buchanan, Grand Bassa County, Bomi, Upper Lofa, Sinoe,
Rivercess, Bong and Nimba Counties. The ESFP provides a hot meal for
students each school day and also provides FFW for teachers and support
staff. Before beginning ESFP, the Ministry of Education and NGOs conduct
needs assessments in each county.
WFP is also supporting FFW projects and vocation training centers
involving ex-combatants and civilian groups adversely affected by the war
in Tubmanburg, Monrovia, Tappita, Nimba County, and Margibi County. The
projects include city cleanup projects, and building and repairing
latrines, wells, and bridges. A large percentage of WFP's food resources
are provided in kind through a pledge from BHR's Office of Food for Peace
(BHR/FFP). With funding and Title II emergency food from BHR/FFP and
through a grant with BHR/OFDA, CRS plans to provide food to resettling
IDPs, vulnerable groups, people in newly accessible areas, and former
combatants participating in vocational training programs. CRS will also
provide FFW opportunities for 30,000 people.
Agriculture
A U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) crop and food supply
assessment mission visiting Liberia in early December 1996 estimated that
despite the war, the rice crop was substantially larger in 1996 than it
had been in 1995. The larger crop was due to the improved security
situation in the two main rice producing areas of Liberia which allowed
NGOs to distribute seed and tools, provided by BHR/OFDA and the EU's Food
Security Unit, to farmers.
The Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) and FAO have completed a two-month
nationwide assessment mission to collect data for a National Master Plan
for Reintegration in Agriculture, which aims to create 10,000 jobs for
ex-combatants, returnees and IDPs.
In early February, the Seeds and Tools Committee assigned areas of
operations to lead agencies for distribution of seeds and tools. NGOs
then conducted assessments of their areas of operation to determine needs.
BHR/OFDA is supporting four NGOs in the agriculture sector. In addition
to distributing seeds, each NGO offers farmer training and seed payback
and exchange activities. CRS has distributed rice seeds to farmers in
Bong, Nimba, and Lofa, and Montserrado counties. Some farmers can
purchase farm tools at 30- 50% of the market cost, while the neediest
farmers receive free tools. CRS is also providing FFW and
food-for-agriculture to rehabilitate farm-to-market roads. Africare's
seeds and tools program will benefit 6,000 farm families in Grand Bassa
county and 2,500 farm families in Margibi county.
For the beneficiaries of its 1996 seeds and tools program in Bong and
Nimba counties, Lutheran World Federation/World Services (LWF) is
providing training on basic post-harvest activities and establishing seed
banks. In addition, LWF has distributed rice seeds and sold tools at a
discounted rate to those farmers in Bong and Nimba counties who did not
receive seeds in FY 1996 and to farmers in newly accessible areas of Bomi,
Cape Mount, and lower Lofa counties.
WVRD has distributed rice seeds and tools to 18,000 displaced or newly
resettled farm families in Cape Mount, Lofa, lower Bong, and Grand Gedeh
counties. Some families also received locally multiplied maize, cassava,
sweet potato, peanut, and vegetable seeds. WVRD also provides technical
assistance to farmers and farmer associations.
Health & Nutrition
While some post-war, emergency healthcare needs remain (especially in
rural communities where healthcare has only recently become available),
the Liberian Ministry of Health (MOH) is encouraging U.N. agencies and
NGOs to begin shifting from emergency-type health services to
rehabilitation exercises for the health care delivery system of the
counties. Health agencies are required to cooperate with county health
officers using established MOH guidelines.
UNICEF, WHO, and NGOs are working with the MOH to revitalize primary
health care services in stable parts of the country, by rehabilitating and
reactivating clinics and hospitals in newly accessible areas of the
country. To accomplish this goal, health agencies are providing training
for health workers and traditional birth attendants (TBAs), essential
medicines and equipments, and rehabilitating damaged clinic facilities.
In February, March, and April, teams of U.N. agencies, NGOs, and MOH
officials assessed current health facilities in throughout Liberia.
Health posts in many areas are severely damaged or completely destroyed
and many health workers have fled. In some areas, such as Maryland
County, temporary clinics set up to serve demobilizing soldiers provide
the only health care in the county.
In late March, a BHR/OFDA team assessed BHR/OFDA-funded health activities
and made recommendations for future BHR/OFDA funding in Liberia's health
and nutrition sector. BHR/OFDA is funding five NGOs for health and
nutrition interventions including Medecins du Monde (MDM), International
Rescue Committee (IRC), Save the Children Fund/United Kingdom (SCF/UK),
WVRD, and Action Contre la Faim/France (ACF/F). MDM operates mobile
health clinics: two based in Monrovia which service Montserrado, Margibi,
and Grand Cape Mount counties, and two based in Buchanan which service
Grand Bassa and River Cess counties. In Nimba County, IRC provides
primary healthcare, expanded program of immunization (EPI) and TBA
training, assisting up to 30,000 targeted beneficiaries in Nimba county.
LWF provides primary, outpatient care, MCH services, and reactivation of
community health and outreach programs for Curran Lutheran health center
in Lofa County and the Phebe Hospital outpatient facility in Bong County.
In Bomi, Montserrado, Margibi, Bong, and Lower Lofa Counties, SCF/UK
delivers primary healthcare services and EPI.
WVRD is providing training, nutritional rehabilitation, and primary
healthcare in Nimba, Grand Gedeh, Cape Mount, and Bomi Counties. Action
Contre la Faim/France (ACF/F), under a BHR/OFDA grant, provides
therapeutic and supplementary feeding for malnourished children and
targeted distribution for pregnant and lactating women in Monrovia,
Buchanan, Gbarnga, Tubmanburg and rural areas of Grand Bassa and Rivercess
counties. To target its beneficiaries, ACF/F conducts surveys every six
months to determine the nutritional status of people in the communities
and shelters. ACF/F also provides maternal and child health (MCH)
services at its therapeutic feeding centers.
Other NGOs and international organizations such as ACF/F, Medecins Sans
Frontieres/International (MSF/I), the Liberian National Red Cross, the
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC),
and ICRC are operating health clinics in Nimba, Bomi, Grand Cape Mount,
Margibi, Montserrado, and Grand Bassa. MSF/I continues to operate the
Swederelief and Redemption hospitals in Monrovia.
Water and Sanitation
In cooperation with the Ministry of Planning and Economic Affairs and the
Ministry of Rural Development, international and local NGOs are building,
installing, and repairing latrines, wells, and pumps in communities and
IDP camps throughout the country. The NGOs include: UNICEF, LWF, ACF/F,
Help Our People Exist (HOPE), Lifewater, Gbonowolon Water and Sanitation
Incorporated (GWSI), Water and Sanitation Incorporated (WSI), and the
Water and Environmental Sanitation Agency (WESA). An EU water trucking
program in Monrovia provides about 120,000-130,000 gallons of water per
day, 70% of which is used for humanitarian purposes and 30% for commercial
purposes.
In early March, 1997, UNICEF and the Ministry of Lands, Mines, and Energy
began a project for the Emergency Mass Chlorination of Wells Project in
Monrovia. In April, UNICEF began assessing water and sanitation
facilities in Nimba county and northwestern Liberia. As the population
gradually returns to towns and villages, water and sanitation services
will be extended.
UNICEF and the Liberian Community Organization and Human Development
Agency are running a shelter hygiene project which includes hygiene
education and awareness and clean up campaigns in IDP shelters in the Po
River area and Monrovia.
USG Assistance
In FY 1997, BHR/OFDA is concentrating on grants in the health and
agriculture sectors. In health, BHR/OFDA supports programs that restore
critical outpatient clinical services, particulary in the rural areas of
resettlement. Grantees are expected to use cost-recovery (an accepted
practice in Liberia) to ensure sustainability of health programs. In
agriculture, BHR/OFDA grantees have designed programs that promote
self-reliance and sustainability for targeted farmers using such tools as
seed payback and exchange schemes, seed banks, and technical assistance
and farmer training.
BHR/OFDA exchanges information with the EU regarding funding activities to
avoid duplication. To improve coordination between donors, NGOs, and U.N.
agencies, BHR/OFDA funded an assessment mission to investigate the
possibility of establishing a computer system that would assist in the
exchange of humanitarian information in Liberia. Volunteers in Technical
Assistance (VITA) and Response.Net undertook the assessment in April.
BHR/FFP is supporting WFP and CRS in food aid distributions to
war-affected populations throughout Liberia and food aid shipments to the
region. AFR/WA is providing technical assistance to coordinate the design
of demobilization and reintegration activities with the EU and U.N.
agencies. BHR/OTI and AFR/WA funds supported independent,
non-factionalized, radio coverage to all geographic locations in Liberia
and border areas, which will continue for the post-electoral recovery
period.
The State Department's Bureau for Population, Refugees, and Migration
(State/PRM) has provided a grant to IRC for assistance to Liberian
refugees in the Cote d'Ivoire and to IRC in Guinea for Liberian and Sierra
Leonean refugees there. STATE/PRM has also contributed in FY 1997 to the
Africa-wide general appeals of the UNHCR, ICRC, and IFRC.
In addition, the USG has provided the following non- humanitarian
assistance (not included in the table below): $40 million in non-lethal
assistance to ECOMOG since FY96; over $6 million in grants U.S. NGOs for
technical assistance to the Liberia Elections Commission ($5,255,000 from
AFR/WA and $1 million from USAID's Global Bureau, Office of Democracy and
Governance), $725,000 for police training and judiciary development, and
$10,000 for human rights activities. USG Humanitarian Assistance in FY
1997 (to date)
BHR/OFDA
Grant to Africare for resettlement agricultural assistance in Grand Bassa
and Margibi. . . $501,000
Grant amendment to ACF/F for nutritional feeding in Monrovia, Gbarnga,
Buchanan, and Tubmanburg
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$619,842
Grant to ACF/F for nutritional feeding in Monrovia, Bong, Grand Bassa, and
Rivercess. . . .$655,000
Grants to CRS for food distribution and agricultural rehabilitation . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . $3,265,346
Grant to IRC for primary health care, EPI, and TBAs in Nimba . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . $238,300
Grant to LWF for agricultural assistance in Bong and Nimba. . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . .$452,235
Grant to LWF for health activities . . . . . . . . . . . . .$315,086
Grant to MDM for mobile health units in and around Monrovia and Buchanan. .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $484,340
Grant to SCF/UK for primary health care, EPI, and non-food distributions in
Bomi, Montserrado, Margibi, Bong, and Lofa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . .$360,000
Grant to SCF/UK for a humanitarian coordination workshop . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$4,805
Grant to WVRD for agricultural activities in Cape Mount, Lofa, Bong, Sinoe,
and Grand Gedeh. . . $399,838
Grant to WVRD for health and nutrition in Nimba, Grand Gedeh, Cape Mount,
and Bomi. . . . . . . . $199,664
Grant to VITA for an assessment of computer capabilities and information
needs . . . . . . . $40,536
BHR/OFDA health assessment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$2,421
BHR/OFDA local agricultural monitor. . . . . . . . . . . . . $12,000
Other (program support, travel, logistics) . . . . . . . . .$340,290
BHR/OFDA FY 1997 Assistance (to date) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . .$7,890,703
BHR/FFP
Contribution of 9,450 MT of P.L. 480 emergency Title II commodities to CRS.
. . . . . $5,197,200
Contribution of 17,600 MT of commodities to WFP for the Liberia Regional
Protracted Relief Operation
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$8,780,300
BHR/FFP FY 1997 Assistance (to date) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . $13,995,100
BHR/OTI
Grant to UNDP/UNOPS for CRT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$500,000
Grant to the Search for Common Ground for a radio and media project. . . .
. . . . . . . . . $198,367
Technical assistance for radio and media development . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $15,642
Technical assistance for civil reconstruction program . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $11,362
BHR/OTI FY 1997 Assistance (to date) . . . . . . . . . . . .$725,371
AFR/WA
Support for demobilized child soldiers and other disadvantaged youth
through the War Affected Youth Support Program. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . .$1,000,000
Provision of technical assistance for the design of demobilization and
reintegration activities
. . . . . . . .$1,287,000
AFR/WA FY 1997 Assistance (to date). . . . . . . . . . . .$2,287,000
State/PRM Grant to IRC for Liberian refugees in Cote d'Ivoire . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$240,000
State/PRM FY 1997 Assistance (to date) . . . . . . . . . . .$240,000
In FY 1997, State/PRM contributed on an unearmarked basis to the following
programs: $32.4 million to UNHCR's 1997 General Appeal Program for
Africa, $32.45 million to ICRC's 1997 Emergency Appeal for Africa, and $6
million to IFRC's 1997 Emergency Appeal for Africa. These figures are not
included in total USG humanitarian assistance for Liberia.
USG FY 1997 Humanitarian Assistance (to date) . . . . . $25,138,174
USG Humanitarian Assistance in FY 1996:
BHR/OFDA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$5,848,527
BHR/FFP. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $66,562,500
State/PRM. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1,313,717
AFR/WA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$2,250,000
BHR/OTI. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $76,025
TOTAL FY 1996. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $76,050,769
Historical Summary of USG Humanitarian Assistance
FY 1990. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $36,720,951
FY 1991. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $88,613,780
FY 1992. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $66,748,285
FY 1993. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $57,340,987
FY 1994. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $72,793,467
FY 1995. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $57,264,990
FY 1996. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $76,050,769
FY 1997 (to date). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $25,138,174
TOTAL USG HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE
FY 1990 - 1997 (to date) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $480,671,403
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