Sierra Leone - UNHC: 13-27.Feb.98
Sierra Leone - UNHC: 13-27.Feb.98
Humanitarian Operations in Burundi
No. 5
Information Bulletin, February 16 - 22
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
This report has been prepared by the office of the
United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for Sierra Leone in Conakry,
Guinea
SECURITY
1. ECOMOG consolidated its control over Freetown during the period
under review even though some armed rebels are still at large on the
Western Peninsula. As a result, the United Nations has downgraded its
security rating from Phase V to Phase IV in Freetown permitting extended
missions to take place in the capital. Preparations are also being made
for the return of President Kabbah on 10 March. In the Eastern
province, ECOMOG has taken the towns of Kenema and Bo after a period of
intense fighting with rebel forces. The situation in rural parts of
these two districts is less clear.
2. Several key figures within the ousted AFRC (including Major Koroma)
have reportedly escaped from Freetown and established their seat of
power in Makeni in the Northern province. Eyewitnesses have reported a
spate of looting and pillaging in the area between Makeni and Kabala.
There is serious concern about the safety of civilians currently trapped
in Makeni.
Political Developments
3. On 13 February, President Kabbah made an address to the nation on t
he restoration of democracy in Sierra Leone. Key elements of the
address are summarised as follows: thanks were delivered to those Sierra
Leoneans and members of the international community who had helped to
restore democracy to Sierra Leone; actions taken by the junta to amend
any provision of the Constitution were declared null and void; the
Cabinet would be downsized and more emphasis would be placed on
professionalism and probity; the question of whether the RUF and the
AFRC were still entitled to immunity would have to be determined; the
law would be exercised on those found guilty of perpetrating carnage and
suffering; appropriate measures would be taken within the law to
eradicate corruption; reprisals should not be taken.
Humanitarian Developments
4. Humanitarian operations have been severely constrained in rural areas
since the start of the ECOMOG offensive due to the massive looting of
equipment and vehicles, which has severely reduced the operational
capacity of humanitarian agencies, and continuing insecurity. At the
time of writing, virtually all international humanitarian staff have
been evacuated from areas outside Freetown. Ongoing ECOMOG attempts to
gain control of the South and the East of the country may provide a more
secure environment for humanitarian operations in the future. It is
anticipated that humanitarian needs in the South and the East will be
greater than in Freetown, due to the intensity of fighting in these
areas.
5. A one day UN/NGO humanitarian assessment mission to Lungi and
Freetown on 18 February 1998 characterised the humanitarian situation in
Freetown as serious. The mission concluded that the following
humanitarian requirements were urgently needed in the capital: provision
of shelter as well as water and sanitation assistance for dispossessed
and uprooted populations; targeted food assistance for vulnerable
groups; expansion of the number of health clinics; expansion of
nutritional and disease surveillance programmes. In Lungi, the mission
perceived that the humanitarian situation was less severe despite an
estimated 30% increase in the civilian population.
6. At a meeting in Conakry to discuss the shelter needs of the
dispossessed in Freetown and other parts of Sierra Leone, OFDA offered
to supply 100 rolls of plastic sheeting, which ORS agreed to store in
Freetown. If one roll meets the needs of 18-20 family units, there
would be sufficient plastic sheeting available to cover the requirements
of some of the dispossessed in rural areas in addition to those in
Freetown.
7. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian
Affairs briefed the UN Security Council on the humanitarian situation
and response in Sierra Leone on 20 February. The briefing gave an
update on the humanitarian requirements in the different sectors
including food, nutrition, health, agriculture, refugees and
demobilisation.
8. United Nations agencies are currently preparing a Flash Appeal in
which priority humanitarian assistance requirements for the next 90 days
will be identified. This Appeal, which is seeking approximately US$ 11
million will be launched at the beginning of March 1998. It will
complement the Government of Sierra Leones 90-day recovery programme,
which is a framework for action following the restoration of democratic
rule in Sierra Leone.
Food Aid
9. On 19 February, a WFP-chartered vessel arrived in Freetown with 760
metric MTs of mixed commodities (predominantly bulgur wheat, CSB, oil
and pulses) and medicine for ACF. The consignment has been discharged
and distribution of the contents to targeted beneficiaries is underway.
WFP has chartered another vessel to provide a shuttle service for the
transfer of emergency food aid commodities from Conakry into Freetown.
10. Before the ECOMOG military intervention, the Freetown Food Aid
technical committee identified a caseload of 25,000 vulnerable persons
to receive relief food. Following the recent fighting, the caseload is
believed to have increased to 50,000-75,000. Priority will be given to
children in therapeutic and supplementary feeding programmes,
institutions such as hospitals and youth centres, and other vulnerable
groups such as refugees and those whose homes have been completely
destroyed.
11. ICRC has already started distributions to 7,000 beneficiaries in 65
institutions in Freetown. The Sierra Leone Red Cross (SLRC) is
currently registering households whose homes were destroyed (estimated
to be approximately 500 houses) and a joint ICRC/SLRC distribution will
be implemented shortly. All food agencies have agreed to attempt to
expand coverage through wet feeding programmes. CRS is in the process
of re-opening its youth centres in Freetown and will assist other
agencies who are interested in opening additional centres. ACF has
identified several potential sites in high risk areas.
12. Care International is leading the effort to establish Food-for-Work
programmes in high risk areas in Freetown. Possible Food-for-Work
activities include sanitation and repair of community structures such as
schools, clinics and markets. Food for garbage collection will be given
priority in the short-term following the recommendations of the Freetown
assessment mission.
13. WFP has received clearance from the Guinean customs to transport a
consignment of food from Guinea into Sierra Leone through Pamelap. The
food will be prepositioned in Kambia for transfer into other parts of
the country when the security situation improves. The Committee on Food
Aid is investigating other mechanisms for the transfer of relief food
into Sierra Leone.
14. On 23 February, a shipment of 6,000 metric MTs of commercial rice
arrived in Freetown. A second shipment carrying a 3,600 metric MTs of
flour, sugar and other items is scheduled to arrive in Freetown during
the first week of March.
Health
15. MSF has reported 580 war-related admissions to Connaught Hospital in
Freetown from 6 to 17 February, 219 of whom needed surgical operations.
A total of 57 patients died in hospital and 100 are now in
post-operative care. Surgical activities have now returned to normal
with an estimated 3-5 major operations being undertaken daily.
16. Health agencies have responded to the situation in Freetown through
the rapid provision of medical supplies to hospitals in the capital.
WHO has made available IV fluids from its existing stocks and a vessel
chartered jointly by GTZ, ICRC, MSF and Komitee Cap Anamur has brought
in medical supplies from Conakry to Freetown to support ongoing
programmes. Efforts are currently taking place to strengthen basic
health services in Freetown through the revitalisation of the ten
emergency clinics supported by UNICEF, ICRC, MSF and the Sierra Leone
Red Cross. An additional seven clinics will be operated in the Western
Area by the Ministry of Health with support from UNICEF. A large
consignment of medicines will be shipped by UNICEF from Conakry to
Freetown when the Ministry of Health is ready to accept the receipt.
17. With the exception of MSFs programme in Kambia town (see point 18
below), health-related activities in other parts of Sierra Leone have
been temporarily suspended due to ongoing insecurity. It is anticipated
that the needs in the South and the East are particularly acute as these
areas have not only borne the brunt of the fighting, but have also
received relatively low levels of coverage in recent months. The Health
Committee in Conakry has started compiling an inventory of existing
in-country resources so that health programmes in these areas can be
reactivated as quickly as possible when the security situation
improves. MERLIN is trying to organise a drugs supply for Kenema, from
Monrovia, has been unable to obtain clearance from ECOMOG.
18. Although MSFs international staff have been evacuated from Kambia
town, local staff have continued to operate their therapeutic feeding
programme and provide support to 370 displaced in the transit camp in
the town centre. UNICEF and MSF have transported modest quantities of
medical supplies cross-border from Guinea during the past two weeks in
support of these programmes.
Refugees
19. At least 10,000 Sierra Leoneans fleeing the recent fighting in the
rest of Sierra Leone have reportedly arrived in Upper Lofa County in
Liberia since 13 February. Preliminary reports from UNHCR Monrovia
indicate that Sierra Leonean refugees are continuing to arrive in Lofa
County at a rate of 700-1,000 per day. UNHCR said that the refugees
were generally in good condition, but that there were insufficient clean
water resources to cope with the influx. Medicine, food and non-food
items have been dispatched to the refugees in the Vahun area.
20. UNHCR has reported a total of 201,101 Sierra Leonean refugees
distributed among the ten regions of Guinea as at 24 February. The
geographical distribution of the refugees is as follows:
PREFECTURE NUMBER OF REFUGEES
Gueckedou (Eastern Guinea) 112,148
Kissidougou (Eastern Guinea) 5,772
Forecariah (Western Guinea) 63,847
Conakry 17,442
Others 1,952
Total 201,161
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
Mr. Arjun Katoch
Tel.: (41 22) 788.1401
Fax: (41 22) 788.6389
Registry E-Mail: Abu.Conteh@dha.unicc.org
Press to contact (OCHA-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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