Liberia - DHA-87: 1:14-Oct-97
Liberia - DHA-87: 1:14-Oct-97
Liberia
Humanitarian Situation Report
No. 87
1-14 October 1997
HIGHLIGHTS
The Joint Risk Mapping Project was briefed to the Technical Committee on
Food Aid (TCFA),and recommended that three categories of relative risk
be used to programme food aid for 1998. Acting on the recommendations
from the TCFA, the Donor Committee on Food Aid agreed to use the risk
mapping analysis and develop a schedule of food aid deliveries based on
respective risk categories and programmes. The World Food Programme
(WFP) representative noted that they felt risk mapping was particularly
useful and that they would be very interested in taking over the project
from UN-HACO, on its departure from Liberia on 31 December 1997.
FOOD AND NUTRITION
Nutrition Assessment Survey: A nutrition assessment conducted in
Monrovia IDP shelters between 18-25 August, by Action Contre la Faim
(ACF) together with Concern, Lutheran World Federation-World Service
(LWF-WS), Medecins Du Monde (MDM), Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF),
Oxfam, Save the Children Fund (SCF-UK) and the Ministry of Health (MOH),
found significantly more malnutrition among young children in Monrovia
IDP shelters than in the community population in Monrovia, despite
regular food distributions in the shelters. WFP has followed up with ACF
to clarify possible reasons for the disparity, and will participate
significantly in the recommended food security assessment which will be
conducted to investigate the reasons for the difference, as well as to
investigate the food economy of shelter populations.
Enhanced Food Security (EFS): The EFS in Sinoe County is coming to a
close with all districts served except Jeadeop District. WFPs food
security programme will benefit from the arrival in late October-early
November, of two United Nations Volunteers, and one Food Security
Officer on secondment from SCF-UK to supplement the work of the
Programming Unit. The Unit will continue to expand during the
resettlement and rehabilitation phase. The composition of the National
Steering Committee and the National Technical Committee (comprising 10
senior officials of the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) and the Food and
Agriculture Organisation (FAO)Representative as Technical Advisor), for
the formulation of the Special Programme for Food Security (SPFS) has
been established. The Technical Committee has commenced the task of
formulating the SPFS and will be provided financial and secretarial
support by FAO.
New Projects: Taiwan has pledged a donation to the Government of Liberia
of 10,000 MTs rice, expected to arrive in Liberia shortly. No details
are yet available on the Governments planned use of the rice.
International partner NGOs have submitted to WFP their projected food
requirements for the fourth quarter. Approximate figures are as follows:
5,653 MTs: LWF-WS, 3,034 MTs: World Vision International (WVI), 7,060
MTs: Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA). These figures
include support to refugees expected to return to Maryland, Grand Kru
and Nimba Counties. Catholic Relief Services (CRS) staff conducted a
3-day training workshop for 336 counterparts who operate feeding
programmes for targeted vulnerable populations in the CRS-Liberia
operational area. The workshop provided training for counterparts on
documentation, the storage of food commodities, and reporting
requirements for CRS-Liberia. In addition, participants signed new
counterpart agreements with CRS.
Verification Survey: WFP, in conjunction with the Liberia Refugee
Repatriation Resettlement Commission (LRRRC) and implementing partners
Concerned Christian Community (CCC) and the Liberian Islamic Union for
Rural Development (LIURD), plans to conduct a night-time verification of
all its supplied Monrovia IDP shelters later this week, to investigate
the situation at the Seigbeh, Brewertown Hall, Kermoh Town, Moulton
Corner and Passamol shelters. This is in response to a UNHCR request for
food support, based on an earlier registration carried out by UNHCR
implementing partners without the participation of the Government of
Liberia and WFP. A recent CRS IDP shelter log verification exercise
indicates that shelter populations have been reduced by 101 persons,
representing 35 families heads. WFP, UNHCR, LIURD, CCC, LRRRC and the
NFAA (National Food Assistance Agency) conducted a verification exercise
on 9 October at 5 IDP shelters in Monrovia to clarify the number of
resident Sierra Leonean asylum-seekers, verifying a total of 7,118
asylum-seekers resident in the shelters. This figure is lower by 200
persons than that for which food was originally requested. Clarification
of the status of the Sierra Leoneans by UNHCR is pending. On 13-15
October WFP, CRS, ACF, LRRRC, SELF, LIURD and LUSH conducted census
visits in Monrovia shelters, prior to implementing a comprehensive
census to determine the places of origin of resident IDPs and their
planned areas of resettlement once they leave the shelters. IDP figures
are contentious, however, with LRRRC estimating the number of IDPs at
1.4 million. Approximately 195,000 of these are registered and living in
WFP-supported shelters. WFP caseload verification exercises have
continued to show decreasing shelter population figures since the
peaceful conclusion of elections in July. The comprehensive census is
tentatively scheduled at this point for late October to early November.
Food Distributions
WFP food distributions from 1- 14 October, included:
a. Emergency School Feeding: 1,026 MTs for 102,992 beneficiaries,
b. Food For Work: 219 MTs for 4,731 beneficiaries,
c. Vulnerable Group Feeding: 42 MTs for 9,834 beneficiaries,
d. Animal Feed (unfit food): 72 MTs for livestock.
CRS food distributions from 1-14 October, included:
a. Food For Work: 38 MTs for 963 beneficiaries,
b. Vulnerable Group Feeding: 112 MTs for 8,389 beneficiaries,
c. IDPs: 50 MTs for 3,825 beneficiaries,
d. Animal Feed (unfit food): 49 MTs for livestock,
e. Dispatched: 56 MTs for augmenting bal
in Kakata and Buchanan.
Food Assessments: CRS continued its monitoring of counterpart
organisations operating feeding programme in Liberia. Assessments were
also conducted on a number of new health clinics to determine whether
these institutions had begun functioning, thus make them eligible for
the CRS food programme. Schools baseline data are currently being
collected in Sinoe, Margibi and Grand Bassa Counties to assist CRS in
putting together a school feeding programme. Finally, counterpart
reports for the month of September 1997 have been received and reviewed.
The reports generally look good, while efforts are underway to visit
programmes whose reports indicated some problems.
Agriculture Assessments: The 3-man mission under the FAO-UNDHA -Training
of Blacksmiths- project has concluded its assessment of the rural black
smithing situation and potential in 7 countries. The mission report is
complete and is being shared with relevant ministries, interested NGOs
and donor agencies.
Workshops: The Seeds and Tools Committee held a planning workshop to
establish policy and standards for the 1998 agriculture tool
distribution. The Joint Risk Mapping project was presented as a useful
tool for planning and prioritizing tool distributions, using relative
vulnerability by district. Based on the risk-mapping analysis, the
Committee agreed to pro-rate the tools distribution based on the three
risk categories. These amounts equaled 90 percent, 60 percent and 30
percent respectively, of the agreed-upon standard tools package. Based
on the analysis, the Committee will place a tentative order with the EU
and USAID-OFDA. The workshop also accepted bids by agencies to carry out
distributions by district. CRS held a workshop with counterparts and
field staff on the new payback scheme, to inform farmers that they need
not pay back the seed but should save it for their 1998 farms. A
follow-up workshop is being planned for late October.
Seeds and Tools: CRS is monitoring the tools sale community improvement
programmes within the farm belt area and reports indicate that most
projects will commence soon. Post-monitoring reports reveal a successful
growth response from the 1997 LAC-23 rice procured from SPCIA, Guinea
and there has been no report of non-germination, as experienced last
year. However, yield check exercises are to commence soon. Modalities
are being worked out to educate farmers through print, electronic and
other media on seed storage, preparation and management to ensure seed
availability to sustain the next planting season. CRS is preparing to
implement the second phase of the swamp development and plantation
rehabilitation project.
Continuing Activities: One of the two international Consultants fielded
under the FAO project, -Essential Inputs to Vulnerable Farmers-, funded
by the Government of Sweden, has arrived in Monrovia. The other is due
to arrive shortly - both will provide technical supervision to the
project.
World Food Day (WFD): The Ministry of Agriculture (MOA), in
collaboration with FAO, held a WFD programme in commemoration of the
17th WFD on 16 October. The commemoration featured indoor and outdoor
programmes, including speeches and a tour of the Agriculture Fair on the
compound of the MOA. The Fair featured over 100 exhibition booths by
farmers groups, cooperative societies, womens groups and NGOs. FAO
participated through the exhibition of posters and publications, and
advanced methodologies in both fish preservation and the fabrication of
farm hand tools.
FAO Financial Aid: Under FAO-UNDP sponsorship, a senior technical
officer of the Forestry Development Authority has departed Liberia to
participate in the XI World Forestry Congress to be held in Antalya,
Turkey, from 13-22 October.
Procurement: A consignment of farm inputs, including assorted vegetable
seeds, rice seeds and peanut seeds are expected to arrive late in
October. They will be distributed to vulnerable farmers for off-season
crop production. Tools provided under the same project have already
arrived.
Health Assessment: A joint UN agency and NGO assessment conducted on 16
September in Vahun District reported over 10 cases of febrile jaundice
by health workers and residents.
Workshop: A joint WHO-OAU workshop on Micronutrients was held in
Botswana from 7 - 9 October. The workshop reviewed member states
progress towards the attainment of universal salt iodization as well as
the elimination of vitamin -A- deficiency and Iodine Deficiency
Disorder. Liberia was represented by the Director Family Health Division
and the Chief Medical Officer, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
The LNRC conducted a Training of Trainers HIV-AIDS awareness workshop in
Monrovia, for 22 participants from 7 Red Cross County Chapters.
Health Education: UNICEF, in collaboration with the national NGO,
Community Human Development Agency (COHDA), conducted health and hygiene
and breast-feeding awareness sessions for 36 teenage mothers at the
Perry Town IDP shelter. The Nimba County Health Team, with support from
UNICEF, trained 19 certified midwives in teaching trainers during a
10-day workshop. The midwives will be responsible for the training of
Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) in Nimba. As part of ongoing work to
promote conflict resolution, the Christian Health Association of Liberia
(CHAL), with support from UNICEF, has conducted the 4th Student Palava
Management Awareness Workshop for 50 teachers and school administrators
in Margibi County. PMU-Interlife continues its trauma counseling
activities in Lofa, Margibi, Bomi and Montserrado Counties.
Expanded Programme of Immunization (EPI): A 5-day immunization campaign
estimated to benefit 100,000 women and children, has been launched in
Grand Cape Mount, Bomi and Lower Lofa Counties by UNICEF as a
collaborative effort to address immediate health risks in these areas,
especially in towns bordering Sierra Leone. These have been isolated and
cut off from most basic primary health care, including immunization
services. UNICEF, in collaboration with the MOH and the National Drug
Service (NDS), conducted a 5-day training session on EPI and cold chain
management in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County. UNICEF provided vaccines and
medical supplies to the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and SCF-UK,
for regular EPI services in Nimba County. WHO conducted a one month
immunization campaign in Voinjaman, Kolahun and Foya districts, Lofa
County with 53,210 people immunized, representing 53.2 percent coverage.
Due to heavy rains, the exercise was temporarily suspended and will
resume shortly. Childrens Aid Direct (CAD) conducted a one week workshop
in Zwedru, Grand Gedeh County in conjunction with WVI and the MOH in
preparation for the start of an EPI programme in Grand Gedeh County.
Revitalization of Health Clinics: Renovation work on 5 clinics has begun
in Margibi County. The renovation work on the OPD section of the
Bensonville and Careysburg Health Centres has been finalized. In
addition, minor renovation work including repair of the roof and the
replacement of windows and furniture has begun on 12 Government clinics
in Monrovia.
Mobile Clinics: CAD continued its provision of basic health services
through mobile services to 6 clinic sites in Grand Gedeh County,
reporting malaria, diarrhoea and STDs as the most common diseases.
Public Affairs and Advocacy: UN-HACO initiatives include the publication
and wide distribution of the 31st issue of The Liberian Humanitarian
Community Newsletter, featuring: a profile on ADRA, tips on
reconciliation, the International Day of the Elderly, World Habitat Day,
and, an update on current humanitarian activities. 2,000 poster-size
copies of The Newsletter were distributed throughout Monrovia via The
Inquirer 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 twice daily by UN-HACO on national radio ELBC featuring
updates on humanitarian activities and discussions of various
humanitarian issues. Excerpts from the Radio Report are also broadcast
on Star Radio (broadcasting on shortwave) and Radio Veritas. 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.
Work is in progress for Issue 9 of Kukujumuku: Talkin United Nations in
Liberia. This will feature the work being done by UN agencies in
humanitarian, development and other sectors, and will be distributed
throughout Liberia on 24 October, United Nations Day.
Roads and Bridges: In Lofa County, work continues on the Salayea
District Access Road and Bridge Rehabilitation project through the
cross-cutting of logs and sawing timber. Volunteers are also involved in
roadside brushing and pothole filling in targeted communities along the
route in Lofa County. The completion of two fabricated bridge sites
along the Suehn highway by SCF-UK has been suspended due to bad weather
and subsequent inaccessibility. It is noted that this work will not
resume due to lack of funding.
Joint Projects Risk Mapping: CRS staff continues to participate in the
Technical Committee on Food Aid (TCFA), planning ration rates and food
programming activities for the remainder of 1997 and 1998. In
conjunction with UN-HACO, the TCFA is preparing a number of risk maps
designed to identify vulnerable regions and populations inside Liberia,
allowing donors and agencies operating food programmes to improve
targeting of vulnerable populations. This is particularly important as
large numbers of refugees are expected to repatriate to Liberia in 1998.
WFP noted that Risk Mapping was particularly useful and would be
interested in taking over the project on UN-HACOs departure from Liberia
on 31 December 1997.
Repatriation and Resettlement: UNHCR is actively preparing for the
large-scale, voluntary repatriation of hundreds of thousands of Liberian
refugees from neighbouring countries. This follows a recent regional
decision which established that security and political conditions in
Liberia were favourable for the promotion of voluntary refugee
repatriation. Preparations for repatriation include the establishment of
UNHCR offices in counties where Liberian refugees are expected to
settle. By mid-November, UNHCR will have offices in Voinjama and
Gbarnga, followed by offices in Harper, Zwedru and Vahun. The offices
will monitor the repatriation and reintegration of returning refugees
and the implementation of refugee assistance projects (health,
education, water, etc.), directed at their communities.
Since 1995, the plan for reintegration in Liberia was to be non-targeted
and community-based. This means that after the initial package,
refugees, displaced persons and ex-combatants would be treated in the
same way at their final place of residence. However, UNHCR has expressed
its intention to target refugees well into the reintegration phase, with
inputs such as agricultural tools, food aid, etc. This stand has caused
a controversy which is currently being debated between UNHCR and others
(e.g. NGOs, donors), who intend to be involved in the repatriation and
reintegration of the refugees. An ancillary issue bearing on the
discussions is the lack of identification for up to 80 percent of the
returning refugees, raising the question as to how they can be
differentiated from the other Liberians. Given the outstanding problems
of both programmes, there is a clear need for the two to be integrated.
Meanwhile, key constraints to repatriation and resettlement are the
continued inaccessibility of most parts of Liberia due to severely
deteriorated roads, and the lack of timely donor funding for NGOs to
facilitate their expansion up-country.
Rehabilitation: Tear Funds rehabilitation of schools in Telemu, Tinsue
and Gbanway, Lofa County is complete. Work on the Killiwu public school
has commenced and is expected to be complete on 21 October. Tear Funds
assessment of the Salayea public school was carried out and
rehabilitation is expected to commence on 22 October.
Non-Food Relief: PMU-Interlife distributed non-food items including used
clothes, firewood, charcoal, slippers, laundry soap, etc., to 1,167
orphaned-abandoned children and 3,827 elderly persons in Bomi and
Montserrado Counties. CAD received, and will shortly distribute,
clothing and shoes to children and adult inpatients at health clinics in
Grand Gedeh and Sinoe County. The LNRC distributed tarpaulins, slippers,
t-shirts, trousers, blankets and soap in Bong County for 3,995 persons
including lactating mothers, lepers, needy children, disabled, and
elderly persons. And, CRS, in collaboration with KDRO, began
distributing non-food relief items donated by the SMA Fathers in Ireland
to 10 targeted communities in Lofa County.
WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL 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 desludge 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 Sanitation, Inc. (GWSI), Water and Sanitation, Inc.
(WSI), the Water and Environmental Sanitation Agency (WESA), Men United
To Save Humanity (MUSH), and, Liberians United to Save Humanity (LUSH).
Garbage Collection: Under the SCF-UK-UNICEF Emergency Garbage Collection
and Disposal project, a total of 1,798 cubic yards of waste were cleared
from Monrovia and its environs during the reporting period. UNICEF has
agreed to re-fund the SCF-UK garbage collection programme through to 1
January 1998.
CHILDREN AND EDUCATION
Child Development: As part of the Abused Women and Girls Project to
assist women and girls affected by the war, a one-week workshop on
micro-credit, income-generating activities has concluded for women and
girls. Workshop participants, who are now trained in managing their own
businesses, will be provided with small business loans. CHAL, with
support from UNICEF, will conduct a community based rehabilitation
project nationwide to complement the orthopaedic and physiotherapy
activities being carried out by the Orthopaedic Workshop at the Ganta
Hospital.
Activities Involving War-Affected Youths: 66 trainees graduated from a
9-month curriculum of vocational and literacy training in carpentry,
tailoring, soap-making and agriculture disciplines at the SDP-WAYS
project graduation in Totota, Bong County. 36 war-affected youth
recently graduated from the Calvary Chapel vocational skills training
project in Grand Bassa County. Upon graduation, participants are placed
in foster families for a 6-month period before returning to their
respective home communities. UNICEF has signed a 7-month agreement with
Calvary Chapel to implement a similar project for war-affected girls.
The project will offer a 3-month resident vocational skills training
programme coupled with a day-care component for young women with babies
and infants. The accelerated learning programme undertaken in SCF-UK
transit centres is proving successful. 90 percent of the children at 3
centres have progressed from beginners primary to the advanced level,
and will eventually be able to attend classes in local community
schools.
Security: ECOMOG will reduce its force strength by one third by the end
of the year. ECOMOG has stated that it is still committed to
restructuring the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL). ECOMOG says this will
take 6 months to complete, however no set date has been agreed upon.
distributed by
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Volunteers in Technical Assistance
Disaster Information Center lists: listproc@vita.org
sitreps nat-dsr
appeal fireline
web: www.vita.org rwanda dprk
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
comments/suggestions/requests to incident@vita.org