Sierra Leone - DHA: 02-08.Sep.97
Sierra Leone - DHA: 02-08.Sep.97
SIERRA LEONE
HUMANITARIAN SITUATION REPORT
Period covered: 02-08 September 1997
This report has been prepared by the office of the United Nations
Humanitarian Coordinator for Sierra Leone in Conakry, Guinea
SECURITY
1a). During the night of the 3 September Nigerian forces at Lungi
shelled a Greek-Cypriot registered vessel with a cargo of rice,
anchored off Destruction Bay near the Eastern coast of Freetown, in
an attempt to enforce the embargo imposed by ECOWAS against the
AFRC. On 4 September it transpired that civilian residences in 3
different areas bordering Destruction Bay had been hit. Estimates
of numbers of casualties vary from 20-50 but it is confirmed that
13 corpses were subsequently laid by the AFRC outside UN House in
the centre of Freetown. Doctors reported treating 17 wounded at
Connaught hospital.
1b). On 4 September General Malu, ECOMOG commander in Monrovia,
stated on BBCs Focus on Africa that there had been massive firing
from the area of Fourah Bay College, which is situated on a hill
overlooking Freetown, and Willberforce barracks at the time that
the shelling near Destruction Bay took place. He added that there
were no ECOMOG troops in these areas. Eyewitnesses also report
having seen signs of fire from AFRC positions at Fourah Bay
College. President Kabbah denied that Nigerian forces had been
responsible for the deaths in a broadcast on 98.1 FM, the
clandestine radio station located in the vicinity of Lungi. A
statement issued by Nigerian Defence Headquarters in Lagos accused
the AFRC of firing on civilians and ECOMOG positions on 4 September
and stated that the AFRC had declared total war on ECOMOG forces at
Lungi.
1c). An AFRC spokesman subsequently stated that The Nigerians
shelled the coastal area of Freetown... just to kill our civilians.
In a nationwide broadcast on 4 September Major Koroma, Chairman of
the AFRC, accused President Kabbah of ordering the carnage which
the Nigerian troops have embarked on. He also declared 5 September
a public holiday to respect the dead. Graphic images of dismembered
corpses were repeatedly shown on television following the incident.
A crowd of several hundred people marched from Freetown towards
Nigerian troop positions at Jui to protest against this incident.
2. On 7 September two Nigerian combat aircraft attempted to bomb
the Greek-Cypriot registered vessel and two other vessels off
loading rice at Freetown port. Two bombs were dropped from the
aircraft, one of which detonated causing partial damage to one of
the vessels, equipment and nearby vehicles. ECOMOG reported that
the other bomb failed to detonated.
3. On 4 September an ECOMOG statement said that eleven ECOMOG
soldiers were killed and three wounded in a landmine explosion near
Lungi international airport. The statement blamed AFRC forces for
laying the mine, and characterised the use of mines as an inhumane
practice which posed more dangers to civilians than the ECOMOG
troops.
POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS
4. At consultations of the United Nations Security Council it was
decided that any further action vis-a-vis the ECOWAS embargo should
be postponed until the Security Council had the opportunity to
discuss the issues in more detail with representatives from the
ECOWAS Committee of Five Foreign Ministers. The Committee of Five
will brief the UN Secretary-General on 11 September. The Nigerian
Foreign Minister has already met Robert Mugabe, OAU Chairman, to
explain the outcome of the ECOWAS summit.
HUMANITARIAN DEVELOPMENTS
5. Attempts are being made by the United Nations Humanitarian
Coordinator in Conakry to determine on behalf of the humanitarian
community the procedure for obtaining exemptions for humanitarian
items under the ECOWAS embargo (see point 4, sitrep dated 23
August-1 September). In a meeting with UN Agencies on 8 September
President Kabbah said that sanctions-related enquiries should be
addressed to General Malu, ECOMOG Force Commander in Liberia.
Attempts are also being made to arrange a meeting with the
appropriate Guinean authorities and the ECOWAS Secretariat.
6. During the week under review a European Union fact finding
mission visited Conakry to evaluate the humanitarian situation in
Sierra Leone since the coup on 25 May and to assess the impact of
the coup on the Republic of Guinea. The mission included
representatives from France, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Sweden, Great
Britain and ECHO (from Europe) and Italy, Great Britain and the EU
delegation (from Guinea). The mission met representatives from UN
Agencies from Sierra Leone and Guinea, the diplomatic community,
NGOs and representatives from President Kabbahs Government. The
mission was also briefed by the various sectoral committees and
visited the refugee camps near Forecariah. The Swedish
representative visited the refugee camps near Gueckedou.
7. In a statement issued following its meeting with the EU mission
the Government of Sierra Leone in exile (GoSL) expressed
appreciation for the EUs humanitarian support since the coup. The
statement explained the GoSLs position on humanitarian assistance
and sanctions as follows:
a) The GoSL recognised the humanitarian problems affecting the
civilian population since the coup but did not believe that they
had reached crisis proportions. Medical assistance to cover
potential epidemics might be needed by there was no requirement for
large-scale intervention.
b) The delivery of humanitarian aid should take into account the
ECOWAS position as explained in the communique following the Abuja
summit in August 1997.
c) The GoSL was concerned that an influx of aid agencies might
create a false sense of normalcy which would give the AFRC
undeserved credibility.
d) The GoSL felt that humanitarian assistance was bound to be
misappropriated or looted by the AFRC Aid agencies should,
therefore, adopt an ethical code of conduct on aid distribution.
(Note: A Code of Conduct and Specific Operating Guidelines were
drawn up and endorsed by humanitarian agencies in June 1997).
e) The GoSL does not intend sanctions to be used as a means of
harming the civilian population.
8. The GoSL appealed for funding from the EU to support ECOMOG to
enable it to fulfil its mandate and to organise conferences on
Sierra Leone to solicit support from the international community.
The first of these conferences would be held in Great Britain in
October 1997.
FOOD AID
9. The most recent tally reveals a total of 6,300 MTs relief food
available in Sierra Leone, less than previously thought.
Consequently, food agencies are investigating the possibility of
launching cross border operations through Guinea to address
existing shortages. In Freetown ICRC reported that some 3,000
beneficiaries in 28 institutions were supplied in August with
enough food until December 1997.
HEALTH
10. UNICEF has reported more outbreaks of measles in two different
chiefdoms in Koinadugu district in the Northern province of Sierra
Leone. 400 cases and 100 deaths have been recorded in Wara Ware
Bafodea chiefdom and 200 cases and 60 deaths in Niene chiefdom.
11. ICRC recently conducted a rapid nutritional assessment of 400
children in Joru in the Southern part of Kenema district using Mid
Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) measurements. The survey revealed
severe acute malnutrition at 13 percent and global acute
malnutrition at 30 percent. ICRC is currently conducting further
assessments to determine the extent to which these results are
representative. They do, however, suggest that the nutritional
status of populations in other inaccessible, rural areas is likely
to be poor.
FAMILY TRACING
12. A network of messages exchange is currently being run in Sierra
Leone by the ICRC in cooperation with the Sierra Leone Red Cross
(SLRC). The exchange of Red Cross messages has greatly increased in
number over the last months. In August there was an average of 400
messages distributed or emitted each week between members of
separated families between Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea and other
countries.
13. The Kenema District Diocesan Office (KDDO), the child
protection focal NGO in Kenema, has reported that they are caring
for 664 unaccompanied children in day-care centers, most of whom
have been placed with foster families pending tracing and
reunification. Christian Brothers, the focal NOG for Bo, reported
having reunified 632 unaccompanied children. Of the children still
not reunified, 208 are in Group Hor es, 720 in substitute families
and 120 in supervised foster care.
CHILDREN PROTECTION
14. ADRA/CAW have completed their five day mission to the Northern
province during which they established child protection committees
in Port Loko, Kambia, Lunsar and Makeni to be chaired by the
Catholic church. The mission documented the 48 children associated
with the RUF living with their families in Port Loko and prepared a
small community project to address their needs. The Planning
Framework for Demobilisation of Child Combatants was reviewed with
the Bishop of Makeni who has access to approximately 250 RUF
children in the area. To date, ADRA has registered a total of 130
children associated with the RUF, 49 in Makeni and 81 in the
Western Area.
This report is available on the internet through RELIEFWEB:
http://www.reliefweb.int
Complex Emergency Division (CED) New York
Mr. Stephen Johnson
Tel.: (1 212) 963.3044
Fax: (1 212) 963.3630
E-Mail: johnsons@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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