Liberia - DHA: 21.Aug-03.Sep.97
Liberia - DHA: 21.Aug-03.Sep.97
LIBERIA
HUMANITARIAN SITUATION REPORT
Period covered: 21 August - 3 September 1997 - No. 84
The information contained in this report was provided by the Office
of the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator in Liberia
REPORTING PERIOD HIGHLIGHTS
According to World Vision International (WVI) and the Liberian
National Red Cross Society (LNRCS), health clinic caseloads
indicate that the three most prevalent diseases in Liberia
presently are acute respirator infection, malaria and diarrhoea.
REFUGEES
A joint UNHCR-UNICEF refugee reintegration assessment mission
visited the War Affected Youth Support (WAYS) project implemented
by Children Assistance Programme (CAP), as well as refugees and IDP
children has been drafted with a focus on the revitalisation of
primary schools in Nimba, Lofa, Bong and Montserrado Countries.
FOOD AND NUTRITION
Food Distributions
The World Food Programme (WFP) delivered: 3.9 MTs of food for
Emergency School Feeding (ESF) to WVI for distribution to 20
schools, benefitting 3,480 students and school staff; 27 MTs food
to Action Contre la Faim (ACF) for 6,248 therapeutic feeding
programme beneficiaries; 0,042 MTs of food to UNHCR for
distribution to 73 refugees requiring UNHCR transport to various
parts of the country; 8 MTs of food to UNICEFs WAYS project
implemented by the Liberian Opportunities Industrialisation Centre
and Sustainable Development Promoters for 1,185 beneficiaries; 3
MTs of food to the LNRCS for 287 abandoned children and 2 MTs of
food for 300 workers building the Sinje Refugee Camp, Grand Cape
Mount County; and, 599 MTs of food to Catholic Relief Services
(CRS) for distribution to 700,000 farmers and dependents in Lofa
County.
Food-For-Work (FFW)
As FFW, WVI distributed: 2.45 MTs to Childrens Aid Direct (CAD) for
Grand Gedeh County; 77 MTs to the Liberian Islamic Union for Ritual
Development (LIURD) for Grand Cape Mount County; and 2.8 MTs to
Help Our People Exist (HOPE) and Concerned Christian Community
(OCC) in Bomi County. CRS delivered: 25 MTs food as FFW for 842
health workers in Monrovia health centres; 6 MTs of food to 197
community rehabilitation workers in Montserrado; 0.3 MTs of food as
FFW for 10 health workers at various Margibi County Vulnerable
Group Feeding (VGF) centres; and, 30 MTs of food were provided to
590 health workers as FFW at various Grand Bassa County VGF
centres.
VGF
CRS delivered 95 MTs of food to 6,707 VGF beneficiaries in Monrovia
and another 103 MTs of food was utilised for other VGF programmes
throughout Montserrado County; 2 MTs of food was distributed to 332
VGF beneficiaries in Margibi County; 28 MTs of food were
distributed to 83,666 beneficiaries in rural Grand Bassa County.
Emergency School Feeding (ESF)
A 2-day WFP workshop educating school staff on the guidelines of
WFPs ESF programmes for Bomi, Grand Cape Mount and Lofa Counties is
in progress. WVI conducted ESF training workshops in Grand Cape
Mount and Bomi Counties.
Malnutrition
ACF continues to operate therapeutic and supplementary feeding
centres in four counties. Overall caseloads for the reporting
period for theses centres were Montserrado County: 2,226; Rivercess
County: 56; Grand Bassa County: 503; and, Bong County: 990. 235
beneficiaries received dry, take-home food rations from WVIs
supplementary feeding centre in Nimba County. 58 percent to those
served were children less than five years of age.
Food Security
CRS continued food security operations in grand Bassa and Rivercess
Counties. Such activity is scheduled to be completed in the next
few weeks, bringing an end to food security support operations in
the region. CRS has also commenced its second and final round of
food security distributions in Sinoe County.
Stock Positions
The WFP stock position as of 29 August is: 12,513 MTs of assorted
food commodities. The CRS stock balance as of 27 August is: 8,820
MTs of assorted food commodities.
AGRICULTURE
Assessments
The Food and Agriculture Organisations (FAO) fielded a 3-man
mission of fishery experts from the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA)
to assess the marine and fresh water fishing sectors in selected
counties of Liberia.
Seeds and Tools
The Seeds and Tools Committee held a 1-day workshop to evaluate the
distribution programme so far this year. Conclusions will guide the
Committee in planning the next farming season. It is noted that
implementing INGOs have praised the Committee for having provided
good quality seeds and tools during the past planting season.
New Projects
CRS implementing partners are presently planning the establishment
of 7 rice mills in Bong, Lofa and Nimba Counties. The mills have
been ordered through CRS, FAO and UN-HACO have contributed two
emergency projects: blacksmith training and assistance to the
artisanal fishery sector. The blacksmith project helped to
rehabilitate 40 blacksmith workshops in Bomi, Grand Cape Mount,
Grand Bassa, Margibi, Montserrado, Bong and Nimba Counties, and
trained over 60 blacksmiths - many of whom are former combatants.
The fishery project caters to 1,500 vulnerable fishermen, as well
as 200 former combatants, through both training and the provision
of basic fishing gears. A project agreement was signed by the
Minister of Agriculture and FAO to implement the USD 651,000.
Government of Sweden project, Emergency Supply of Essential Inputs
to Vulnerable Farmers in Liberia, providing inputs to 36,000
farming families.
Procurements
The procurement of assorted vegetable financed by the United
Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to supplement FAOs Emergency
Assistance to Conflict-Affected Farmers, is expected to arrive in
Monrovia shortly. FAO currently has in stock a limited quantity of
assorted farming tools and the local procurement of additional
tools, especially cutlasses, is now in progress.
Continuing Activities
FAOs emergency project assistance to vulnerable farmers lead NGOs
(CRS, WVI, ACF, Africare and Lutheran World Federation/World
Service LWF/WS) continues as do Africares agriculture programmes -
including breadfruit and plantain sucker distributions - in Margibi
and Grand Bassa County. WVI continues programmes of seed
multiplication, crop transplantation, swamp rice production and
vegetable harvesting in Montserrado, Bong, Grand Gedeh, Grand Cape
Mount, Lofa and Nimba Counties. CRS continue its programmes of
swamp rice development, seed bank construction projects, resource
distribution monitoring, farm registration for tree crop
rehabilitation and the registration of over 56,000 farmers in Lofa
County in anticipation of emergency food distributions.
Rehabilitation
In Lofa County, the rehabilitation of the Gorlu and Ganglota public
schools was completed by Tear Fund while rehabilitation work on
schools in Telemu and Gbanway has commenced. These are expected to
be completed in 2 weeks. Meanwhile, a Tear Fund team has been
dispatched to the Sucrumu school to carry out phase two of its
rehabilitation work, also expected to be completed in 2 weeks.
HEALTH
Assessments
Acute respiration infection, malaria and diarrhoea remain the three
most prevalent disease conditions according to LNRCS and WVI. Save
the Children Fund (SCF-UK) health coordinators conducted health
assessments in Bomi County throughout August to assess the
possibility of supporting future clinics in the county. As a
result, a SCF-UK supported clinic in Beh Town, Bomi County, will be
opened in mid-September to serve 5,000 people.
New Activities
SCF-UK and ACF have agreed to share facilities at the Gbamga health
clinic, Bong County. Services will now include 24-hour midwifery
care; growth monitoring; family planning; and outpatient and
under-fives clinics.
Mobile Health Clinics
Medicins du Monde (MDM) mobile health clinic in Monrovia conducted
4,984 consultations during August and its mobile health clinic in
Buchanan conducted 3,178 consultations over the same period. LNRCS
ambulance service transferred a total of 203 patients.
Medical Distributions
UNICEF provided a consignment of drugs and medical supplies to the
Lofa County Health service for the Tellewoyan Hospital in Voinjama,
enabling the hospital to provide emergency services for one month.
UNICEF provided 3 basic health kits to the Grand Bassa Health
Officer for opening of 3 new health clinics in Grand Bassa,
benefitting 3,000 people for one month.
Health Programmes
During the last week of August, eight WVI-operated health
facilities in Bomi, Grand Cape Mount, Nimba and Grand Gedeh
Counties reported 653 consultations. 46 prenatal cases were also
reported at four of these facilities.
Vaccination Activities
Ongoing Expanded Programmes of Immunisation (EPI) activities and
vaccination community awareness campaigns were conducted by WVI at
Government Farm, Bomi County and the Madina Clinic, Grand Cape
Mount County. In preparation of the commencement of EPI activities
in Lower Nimba County, WVI health workers are conducting a
vaccination community awareness campaign in the region. WHO,
Merlin, UNICEF and MOH County Health officers are conducting a
massive yellow fever vaccination campaign in Lofa County.
Health Education
A two month, capacity-building workshop sponsored by the World
Health Organisation (WHO) for senior staff of the Ministry of
Health (MOH) ended on 21 August. The workshop addressed areas such
as programme planning, financial management, information gathering
and report writing. Additionally, it discussed the organisational
approach of WHO to the MOH. WVI facilitated a 3-day workshop on
Health Information Systems organised by the Nimba County Health
Team in Ganta.
Revitalisation of Health Clinics
Oxfam is currently engaged in a 6-month project aimed at
revitalising 10 Medical Emergency Relief Cooperative International
(MERCI) clinics and 1 MOH clinic in Montserrado County. Structural
assessments of health facilities in Nimba and Grand Gedeh Counties
are being conducted by WVI and County Supervisors with the view of
carrying out the much-needed renovations of these facilities. LNRCS
established two health posts in Tienii and Damballah, Grand Cape
Mount County to cater to the influx of refugees from Sierra Leone.
A total of 4,395 patients have already been treated.
PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND ADVOCACY
UN-HACO initiatives include the publication and wide distribution
of the 28th issue of The Liberian Humanitarian Community
Newsletter, featuring: a profile on PMU-Interlife; the health
benefits of breast-feeding; an update on current humanitarian
activities; a review of the work of the Humanitarian Community and
the Principles guiding Humanitarian Relief Operations; and, a Word
Search game featuring Humanitarian Community members and
activities. 2,000 copies of the Newsletter were distributed
throughout Monrovia via the Inquire newspaper as well as being
distributed to all national media and all members of the
Humanitarian Community.
The Liberian Humanitarian Community Radio Report continues to be
broadcast daily by UN-HACO on national radio ELBC featuring updates
on humanitarian activities and discussions of various humanitarian
issues. Efforts are being made to have the Radio Report broadcast
additionally on Star Radio and Radio Veritas - both are based in
Monrovia. UN-HACO continues to issue press releases updating
humanitarian activities on behalf of the Humanitarian Community
which are published and broadcast in various Liberian radio and
print media.
In collaboration with the MOH, WHO sponsored a health communication
workshop for journalist in Liberia from 19-21 August, under the
theme; Health Information Dissemination - A Development
Initiative. 34 Liberian journalist participated in the workshop
which featured presentations by Information Officers from UNDP,
UN-HACO, UNICEF, WHO and others. The aim was to orient the media on
WHOs programme of technical health cooperation in Liberia and to
solicit the medias cooperation in promoting health information
throughout the country.
The LNRCS, in collaboration with the International Committee of the
Red Cross (ICRC), monitored information dissemination
programmes/workshops on International Humanitarian Law and the Red
Cross Movement Principles in Bong, Margibi and grand Bassa
Counties.
The Agriculture Coordination Committee, chaired by the Ministry of
Agriculture (MOA), commenced publication of an Agriculture
Newsletter for the benefit of members of the agriculture community
in Liberia. Publication costs are being financed by FAO.
Ma Mun Deh, the UNDP/UNFPA/UNICEF womens newsletter was distributed
to health clinics, womens groups, NGOs and displaced shelters,
featuring articles on education, good hygiene and coping with
trauma.
Roads and Bridges
CRS continues work on its access road and bridge project in Nimba
County: a bridge in Bunadi Town has been completed, while
construction of a second bridge is underway. CRS Salayea access
road and bridge project, Lofa County will commence in early
September. Project areas in Nimba and Lofa Counties have been
difficult to access due to the poor road conditions. The immediate
attention. SCF-UK bailey bridge at Compound One on the Buchanan
highway is complete and in use. Concern Worldwide continues
construction of the Beajah Bridge along the Coleman Hill-Sackie
Town road, Montserrado County.
WATER AND SANITATION
Wells, Pumps and Latrines
In cooperation with the Ministry of Planning and Economic Affairs,
the Ministry of Rural Development and the Ministry of Lands, Mines
and Energy, a number of international and local NGOs continue to
build, install and chlorinate wells and pumps as well as to build
and dislodge latrines in communities and IDP centres throughout the
country. They include: UNICEF; LWF/LWS; ACF; Oxfam; Tear Fund;
LNRCS, Concern; Help Our People Exist (HOPE); Lifewater Liberia;
Gbonowolon Water and Sanction, Inc. (GWSI); Water and Sanitation,
Inc. (WSI); Water and Environmental Sanitation Agency (WESA); Men
United to Save Humanity (MUSH); and Liberians United to Save
Humanity (LUSH).
Educational Activities
Tear Fund, UNICEF and the Community Human Development Agency
(COHDA), intensified health and hygiene education sessions at
various displaced shelters to combat the residents poor disposal of
waste. Sessions focused on the effects of open defecation, proper
disposal of garbage, safe water collection, and environmental
sanitation measures.
Non-Food relief
During the reporting period, the LNRCS carried out a number of
non-food relief interventions in Lower Lofa and Bomi County
including the distribution to elementary schools, orphanages and
indigent homes of tarpaulins, blankets, clothes and soaps. PMU
Interlife also conducted a number of distributions of non-food
relief including the delivery of charcoal, firewood, soap and
wind-up radios. Beneficiaries included inmates, orphans,
schoolchildren, the elderly and blind persons. PMU Interlife War
Trauma Counselors continue to conduct workshops and counseling
services in Lofa County and counselors also continue their work at
the Monrovia Central Prison, with high school students and orphans
in Monrovia and with elderly persons in Margibi County.
CHILDREN AND EDUCATION
Unaccompanied Children
SCF-UK reports that to date, 521 children have been reunified by
its tracing team; 2,954 unaccompanied children have been
documented; and, 755 tracing request have been processed.
Physical Rehabilitation
UNICEF, in partnership with the Christian Health Association of
Liberia (CHAL), will establish a physical rehabilitation
community-based referral project in Nimba County. CHAL, through its
network of clinics and hospitals, will train 70 health clinic
workers to assess people with disabilities and refer them to the
orthopaedic workshop at Ganta Hospital, Nimba County.
Activities Involving War-Affected Youth
UN-HACO funding to UNICEF for education to support demobilised
children and other war-affected youth has been approved. The funds
will be utilised to procure school supplies and equipment for 50
selected schools throughout Liberia.
Training
CHAL has completed a 3-day workshop for school administrators and
teachers in Montserrado County to acquaint them with the concepts
of peace education, supervisory skills and team management.
Curriculum Activities
Printing of the national curriculum for grades 1-12 is complete.
17,000 copies have been printed to tie in with the reopening of
schools throughout the county. The editing of drafts for primary
education text books continues.
Ministry of Education
The Minister of Education met with UNICEF to be acquainted with
ongoing educational projects supported by UNICEF including: the
textbook revision project, in-service teacher training and the
reproduction of primary and secondary school curriculum.
Income Generation
SCF-UK and Don Bosco Homes have initiated an income generation
project for single mothers and destitute families whom SCF-UK has
reunited with their children. Thirty families have already been
targeted but the project has the capacity to work with a total of
fifty families. The project will provide an initial small package
of items such as salt, soap, and sugar to the families which they,
in turn will sell as local markets. SCF-UK and Don Bosco social
workers will visit the families each week to monitor the ir
progress.
Sierra Leonean Operations
Both Merlin and M decins Sans Fronti res (MSF) report that the
security and health conditions of populations in their areas of
operation remain stable.
Security
ECOMOG has withdrawn its Sierra Leonean troops from the Grand Cape
Mount area which borders on Sierra Leone - they are to be replaced
with Ghanaian troops. The Liberian Government has stated that it
will not allow its territory to be used to stage activities into
Sierra Leone. It has been reported that ECOMOG has further
strengthened its positions in Grand Cape Mount and has asked
asylum-seekers in the area to move to an established camp, with a
possible motive of being able to observe their movements more
closely.
This report is available on the internet through RELIEFWEB:
http://www.reliefweb.int
Mr. Peter Tingwa
Officer in Charge
Office of the UN Humanitarian Coordinator
Monrovia, Liberia
Tel.: (231) 226 041/042
Fax: (874) 175 46 27 (sat.)
Inter-Agency Support Branch (IASB) Geneva
Mr. David Bassiouni - Chief
Ms. Shahwar Pataudi
Tel.: (41 22) 788.1403
Fax: (41 22) 788.6386
Registry E-Mail: Rosemary.Addo-Yirenkyi@dha.unicc.org
Complex Emergencies Division (CED) New York
Ms. Agnes Asekenye-Oonyu
Tel.: (1 212) 963.1773
Fax: (1 212) 963.1388
E-Mail: asekenye-oonyu@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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