Liberia - OCHA-03: 01-31.Mar.98
Liberia - OCHA-03: 01-31.Mar.98
LIBERIA
HUMANITARIAN SITUATION REPORT
Period covered: March 1998 No. 03
The information contained in this report was provided by the Office of the
United Nations Resident Coordinator in Liberia
OVERVIEW
The influx of refugees from Sierra Leone continued and increased during the
month of March. In a two day period between the 25 and 27 March, some 8,000
new arrivals crossed the border bringing the total to over 40,000 and
growing. The rate has subsided to several hundred per day. A special task
force, including agencies directly involved, have been requested to develop
an immediate plan of action, paying special heed to the problems of access
during the pending rains.
The LRRRC programme to relocate 50,000 IDPs to their areas of origin is
underway, with the first groups scheduled to leave on 4 April. Supplies are
being pre-positioned. The need for increased sensitisation within the
shelters has been highlighted by the level of confusion caused by some
elements in the shelters, who benefit commercially by remaining in the
camps and receiving assistance. The Government, however, has maintained its
position that there will be no further relief assistance rendered in the
displaced shelters and that assistance will be provided in the communities.
Tension increased in Monrovia during the latter part of the month when some
security elements attempted to arrest Rural Development Minister Roosevelt
Johnson. The situation was put under control by ECOMOG within a matter of
hours. However, there was some tension for several days. The humanitarian
community monitored the situation closely with a view of being prepared for
any consequential humanitarian needs. By months end, calm returned and
diplomatic negotiations seem to have abated any further incidents of
insecurity.
The donors meeting to launch the UN Consolidated Appeal has been postponed
until after the Government's Reconstruction Programme is launched in Paris
on the 7 April.
Repatriation
The pace of repatriation increased during the reporting period with 2,648
Liberian refugees returning with assistance from UNHCR, during March. This
brings the accumulative total of assisted returnees from countries of
asylum to 18,775. As many of the returnees are arriving too late to be
registered for seeds and tools, it was agreed between UNHCR and the Seeds
and Tools Committee that they will receive tools regardless of when they
arrive. Over 300 refugees in Freetown Sierra Leone have requested
assistance to return home.
UNHCR will assist them by return by sea. It is anticipated that many more
will request similar assistance. A ship is ready in Conakry to travel to
Freetown to assist this group.
The return of refugees from Guinea is contingent on transport which remains
a constraint. UNHCR has, at its disposal, for repatriation assistance in
Liberia only 15 of the EU trucks.
|---------------+--------------+--------------+------------->
| | | | |
| Country of | Mode of | Date of | Number |
| asylum | Transport | Arrival | Arrived |
| | | | |
|---------------+--------------+--------------+------------->
>-----------------------|
| |
| Final Destination |
| |
>-----------------------|
|---------------+--------------+--------------+------------->
| | | | |
| Ghana | Land | 01/03/98 | 332 |
| | | | |
|---------------+--------------+--------------+------------->
>-----------------------|
| |
| Montserrado, Bong, |
| Sinoe, Grand Kru, |
| Maryland, Margibi, |
| Nimba |
| |
>-----------------------|
|---------------+--------------+--------------+------------->
| | | | |
| Ghana | Air | 06/03/98 | 16 |
| | | | |
|---------------+--------------+--------------+------------->
>-----------------------|
| |
| Montserrado, Grand |
| Bassa, Nimba |
| (Vulnerable) |
| |
>-----------------------|
|---------------+--------------+--------------+------------->
| | | | |
| Cote d'Ivoire | Land | 25/03/98 | 540 |
| | | | |
|---------------+--------------+--------------+------------->
>-----------------------|
| |
| Grand Gedeh |
| |
>-----------------------|
|---------------+--------------+--------------+------------->
| | | | |
| Cote d'Ivoire | Land | 26/03/98 | 761 |
| | | | |
|---------------+--------------+--------------+------------->
>-----------------------|
| |
| Grand Gedeh |
| |
>-----------------------|
|---------------+--------------+--------------+------------->
| | | | |
| Cote d'Ivoire | Land | 26/03/98 | 480 |
| | | | |
|---------------+--------------+--------------+------------->
>-----------------------|
| |
| Montserrado |
| |
>-----------------------|
|---------------+--------------+--------------+------------->
| | | | |
| Ghana | Land | 27/03/98 | 225 |
| | | | |
|---------------+--------------+--------------+------------->
>-----------------------|
| |
| Maryland, Grand |
| Gedeh, Bong, Nimba, |
| Margibi, Montserrado |
| |
>-----------------------|
|---------------+--------------+--------------+------------->
| | | | |
| Ghana | Land | 30/03/98 | 294 |
| | | | |
|---------------+--------------+--------------+------------->
>-----------------------|
| |
| Nimba, Bong, Lofa, |
| Grand Gedeh, |
| Maryland, Montserrado |
| |
>-----------------------|
Internally Displaced
The LRRRC/LNRCS/Federation programme for the relocation of 50,000 displaced
people from shelters in Monrovia to Western Liberia has begun. This pilot
initiative is being supported by UNDP/UNOPS, WFP, and USAID. The EU is
providing two trucks for logistical support. The project began with a
workshop for 61 Red Cross and LRRRC personnel involved in the project, to
train them to carry out the various responsibilities. The concept of the
project is to provide heads of families a shelter package including plastic
sheeting and construction tools at the point of destination. There are no
more food distributions to take place in the shelters, instead a final
ration will be issued also at the community level on their return. The
project also provides for the provision of a substantial tool kit to each
community of 500 people. This supplement to the community will assist them
in accommodating those IDPs returning from the shelters and also those
returning spontaneously who have not been residing in official displaced
shelters but will require assistance at the community level. At this
juncture, shelter supplies are being propositioned in 14 communities in
Cape Mount, Bomi, Lower Lofa and Montserrado, The communities, and those
IDPs in the shelters in Monrovia, are being sensitised to the
rehabilitative activities in their communities, the assistance they are
likely to receive and the need to return home and become productive.
There are some elements within the shelters who would rather not leave as
they have become involved in commercial activities in the city. However,
many IDPs are anxious to be back in their communities before the rains.
Refugees
By the last week of the reporting month some 40,000 new arrivals sought
refuge from the conflict in Sierra Leone in Vahun, Upper Lofa. This has
resulted in a major problem due to the fact that Vahun will be cut off
during the rainy season. The roads and bridges between Voinjama and Vahun
are in very bad condition and will not facilitate the delivery of relief
assistance after the rains have begun. With this in mind, a meeting was
called by UNHCR to which the Government/LRRRC and other UN Agencies and
NGOs came together to come up with a response strategy. It was agreed that
a site in Kolahun some 30 kms from Vahun should be identified and refugees
encouraged to move from Vahun to the new location. Although the route is
difficult from Voinjama to Kolahun, it was felt that with some repairs,
which GTZ will carry out, would render the route passable and facilitate
sustaining assistance to the population. It was also recognised that
assistance into Vahun must continue to the extent feasible. A small working
group including Merlin (Health), Action Contre la Faim (ACF), Tear Fund
(WATSAN), GTZ (Roads and Bridges), WFP and World Vision (food) and UNHCR
have been tasked to begin preparations for the continuation of assistance
in Vahun and the preparation of an alternate site in Kolahun. Meanwhile,
the agencies on the ground continue to provide emergency assistance. Merlin
has established an in-patient medical facility with 30 beds, in addition to
first aid posts at the border and an outpatient clinic in Vahun itself.
World Vision is distributing two weekly WFP rations to arriving refugees
while Tear Fund continues to install wells. The trucking of water continues
as the needs far outweigh the supply of potable water.
Infrastructure Rehabilitation
A fund for the rehabilitation of 80 miles of secondary roads in Zorzor
district in Lofa was made available by UNOPS. Since January, Concern has
completed rehabilitation of six bridges in Cape Mount and Bomi Counties. An
additional three are under repair and a further three planned and expected
to be completed by June. The Ministry of Public Works and Concern are
carrying out a joint evaluation of those bridges already completed to
ensure that they meet minimum national standards.
GTZ has completed repairs on the road from Zorzor to Voinjama. They plan to
begin repairs on Voinjama to Kolahun route. GTZ road maintenance teams will
be on those routes during the rains.
Food Distributions
WFP allocated a total of 15937 MTs of various food commodities to 184,930
beneficiaries as at 19 March. WFP has despatched food assistance to Vahun,
where WVI is distributing to the new arrivals. In addition, food
commodities are being propositioned by WFP at various points along the
Vahun to Voinjama route and also Foya. It is hoped that by the time the
rains begin 1,200 MTs will be propositioned in that area, where there is a
high concentration of refugees. This should cover a period of five months
during which access will be extremely difficult if not impossible to some
areas.
|--------------------------------+--------------+-----------------------|
| | | |
| Type of Programme | Total MTs | Nos. of beneficiaries |
| | allocated | |
| | | |
|--------------------------------+--------------+-----------------------|
| | | |
| School Feeding | 1,286 | 155,257 |
| | | |
|--------------------------------+--------------+-----------------------|
| | | |
| Vulnerable Group Feeding | 60,8 | 6,758 |
| | | |
|--------------------------------+--------------+-----------------------|
| | | |
| Returnees | 2,8 | 456 |
| | | |
|--------------------------------+--------------+-----------------------|
| | | |
| Refuges/Lofa | 98,8 | 19,416 |
| | | |
|--------------------------------+--------------+-----------------------|
| | | |
| Food for work/Food for | 144,8 | 3,043 |
| Training | | |
| | | |
|--------------------------------+--------------+-----------------------|
By mid-March CRS distributed a total of 334 MTs food to 17,616
beneficiaries. 35 MTs were loaded on a ship destined for propositioning in
Greenville. Sinoe County. The breakdown of that distribution is as follows:
|--------------------------------+--------------+-----------------------|
| | | |
| Type of Programme | Total MTs | Nos. of beneficiaries |
| | allocated | |
| | | |
|--------------------------------+--------------+-----------------------|
| | | |
| Vulnerable Group Feeding | 156 | 7,415 |
| | | |
|--------------------------------+--------------+-----------------------|
| | | |
| IDPs | 63 | 4,982 |
| | | |
|--------------------------------+--------------+-----------------------|
| | | |
| Food for work | 110 | 1,702 |
| | | |
|--------------------------------+--------------+-----------------------|
| | | |
| Community/Sinoe | 5 | 3,517 |
| | | |
|--------------------------------+--------------+-----------------------|
CRS food stocks stand at 5,284 MTs of bulgur wheat, one MTs of beans, 910
MTs of lentils, 4,255 MTs of CSB, 1,664 MTs of oil, making a total of
12,176 MTs.
Agriculture
CRS have registered a total of 38,000 farmers, including returnees, for
seeds and tools. A request to the Seeds and Tools Committee to obtain the
amounts required has been submitted for approval. Cassava cuttings were
delivered by CRS to returning farmers in Lofa county.
The Seeds and Tools Committee have received to date 815 MTs of seeds rice.
The bulk of this amount is programmed for the South East. Tool distribution
has commenced in Maryland and Grand Kru.
In Rivercess, ACF has completed seeds and tool distribution, these items
were provided by FAO under its Swedish funded project for the Supply of
Essential Inputs to Vulnerable Farmers. ACF distributed tools to 12,611
beneficiaries in Grand Gedeh County. Some 2,600 farming families have
benefitted from this distribution. Tools from FAO have been released to
Children's Aid Direct and LWF/WS for Nimba, Bong, Lofa, Sinoe and Grand
Cape Mount Counties. A consignment of 259,200 tools are expected by the
Seeds and Tools Committee from the EU and will arrive in the coming days.
World Vision has submitted its request for seeds and tools for 51,000
beneficiaries to the Seeds and Tools Committee. FAO has taken delivery of
20,000 locally fabricated scratching hoes through its support to two local
NGOs. These will be distributed to vulnerable farmers.
Of the 40 blacksmiths FAO intends to rehabilitate, eight were rehabilitated
in March in eight Villages in Nimba County.
Tools and planting materials were provided by UNOPS to 18 agricultural
projects in seven counties.
FAO has received 4,661 kgs of assorted fishing gear, including nets which
will benefit 1,500 fishermen and 200 ex-combatants. These are provided
under FAO/TCP and UNHACO projects.
HEALTH
Revitalisation of Primary Health Care
Six clinics, renovated in Cape Mount County by OXFAM GB, are now fully
operational. The communities themselves participated in the reconstruction
of these facilities.
UNOPS concluded a partnership arrangement with UNICEF to rehabilitate the
G.W. Harley hospital in Nimba County. In addition, UNOPS has also funded
Medecins Du Monde (MDM) to rehabilitate one clinic in Margibi County and
two in Cape Mount. Funding from OFDA has enabled IRC to rehabilitate 10
clinics in Nimba County. Drugs are provided by NDS through UNICEF. Another
10 clinics are being planned for rehabilitation by the International Rescue
Committee (IRC) in Nimba, Lofa and Bong Counties. This phase will be funded
by the Dutch Government/S.V. World Vision continues to support 17 health
facilities in Bomi, Cape Mount, Grand Gedeh and Nimba Counties. Save The
Children (SCF UK) is supporting 20 clinics in Bomi, Bong, Lower Lofa and
Margibi. In Lofa and Nimba Counties, Merlin continues to support 21
clinics. Tear Fund and MDM are collaborating to rehabilitate six clinics in
Grand Bassa and Rivercess Counties. All clinics NGOs are rehabilitating are
done so in cooperation with the Ministry of Health. WHO delivered
traditional birth attendant kits and sanitation tools in Bomi, Grand Bassa
and Lofa Counties. The rehabilitation of a health clinic at the Catholic
Secretariat in Tubmanburg Counties. The rehabilitation of a health clinic
at the Catholic Secretariat in Tubmanburg, Bomi County was completed by
Concern. They are in the process of renovating a second clinic for the
Secretariat at Klay in Bomi County. ACF conducted training for 80
traditional birth attendants in Grand Bassa.
Nutrition
ACF carried out nutritional training at its clinics and two day care
centres in Grand Bassa County. A training programme for Phebe Hospital
staff in Bong County on how to manage severe malnutrition was also carried
out by ACF. Twenty-two mothers are participating in a UNICEF run
breast-feeding advocacy programme in an effort to improve nutritional
status.
In the Monrovia shelters, ACF continues to provide supplementary feeding to
748 beneficiaries and therapeutic feeding to 43 beneficiaries. Of those
severely malnourished, 19 per cent are Sierra Leonean refugees. In a survey
carried out by ACF in Bo Waterside, Cape Mount, a moderate malnutrition
rate of 7,8 per cent was found. In the Sinje refugee camp, the moderate
malnutrition rate was found to be 17 per cent.
Immunisation activities
World Vision promptly addressed a measles outbreak in Ziah a small town in
Nimba County. Out of 35 cases reported there were four deaths. All children
under five were subsequently immunised against measles. World Vision also
carried out immunisation activities in Grand Gedeh and other parts of Nimba
County.
In Sinoe County a four day training workshop for health care workers in
preparation for a vaccination campaign was conducted by UNICEF. Similar
training exercises are to take place in Maryland and Grand Gedeh. UNICEF
together with the New African Research and Development Agency (NARDA),
mobilised seventeen communities in three counties on the ongoing
immunisation campaigns in those areas.
A five-day vaccination campaign is to be undertaken by UNICEF in
collaboration with the county Health Team. UNICEF will provide vaccines,
equipment and financial support. UNICEF has provided cold chain equipment
to the County Health Team in Bong County to facilitate an immunisation
campaign.
Water and Environmental Sanitation Sinoe January Concern. In Cape Mount and
Bomi Counties, have completed 10 hand pumps, are awaiting pumps for the
completion of another 12 and are in the process of establishing 13 more wells
in those counties. A total of 66 wells will be completed by the end of June
according to Concern. In the IDP shelters in Monrovia, UNICEF in cooperation
with the United Methodist Community of Relief (UMCOR), dislodged seven
latrines. In upper Lofa, UNICEF and the Water Sanitation Incorporated (WSI)
have installed seven hand pumps at schools and clinic in Kolahun. The same
team also rehabilitated and repaired two wells and nine hand pumps in Vahun
to assist with the influx of refugees. In Lower Lofa, UNICEF with LWS/WF,
constructed 12 wells, rehabilitated 13 more and installed 12 institutional
latrines. Also, in Lofa County, OXFAM GB has initiated a project for the
construction of nine wells and nine blocks of latrines or 30 family latrines
in Kolahun and Vahun. This project is being funded by UNOPS. In Greenville,
Sinoe County, OXFAM has completed its project which included the construction
of 10 wells and six blocks of latrines. ACF has completed the installation of
12 wells in Voinjama.
Health educators from Tear Fund have completed a campaign in upper Lofa to
prepare the community for the construction of 20 family latrines. Sanitation
tools were also distributed to refugees and residents in the Upper Lofa area
by Tear Fund. Four wells are being dug by Tear Fund in Vahun. The water level
has been reached in three of these wells.
The President of Liberia issued a statement on World Water Day: 22 March,
stressing the importance of this sector. These sentiments were endorsed at a
three-day symposium organised by UNICEF in Monrovia with the theme of "Ground
Water Resource Management: Policy Options and Priorities for Sustainable
Development in Liberia." Thirty-four participants attended.
Education
The Education Sectoral Committee was restructured and a number of
sub-committees established to include the broad range of activities in this
sector. Discussions to address the issue of returning students and teachers
from neighbouring countries were held between UNICEF, UNESCO, NGOs and the
Ministry of Education. Incentives for teachers, assistance to and
rehabilitation of schools and teacher training were earmarked as priorities.
UNICEF has facilitated the provision of educational supplies for 50 schools
in the South East. These will be distributed in the near future. UNICEF and
ILO have concluded plans to produce desks for schools which are being
renovated by UNOPS.
IRC is negotiating an agreement with UNHCR for the revitalisation of 80
schools in Nimba and Bong Counties.
Tear Fund completed the renovation of one school in Lofa and commenced
renovation activities on five more in Upper Lofa.
An assessment of 15 schools in the Margibi and Todee areas were carried out
by CRS. This was done with a view to including these schools in the school
feeding programme. Between all these schools a total of 2,795 pupils are
enrolled.
The renovation of three schools in Grand Bassa, three in Margibi, two in Cape
Mount and one in Lofa County was completed by UNOPS, through its implementing
partners, during the reporting period. Support to the school feeding
programmes has also been provided by UNOPS through the provision of cooking
utensils in Lofa.
WHO launched an initiative, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education,
to strengthen the School Health Club programme which provides health bulletin
boards in schools and government ministries.
SCF (UK) together with the Ministry of Education are revising materials on
population and family life education.
Children in Difficult Circumstances
The NGO, PMU Interlife distributed supplies to children in orphanages
throughout Monrovia. Items included soap, cans of beef, salt and clothing.
SCF (UK) reports that unaccompanied children continue to arrive at their
centres where family tracing and reunification remains the focus.
Vulnerable Group
PMU Interlife assisted the elderly and various prisons with relief supplies
including soap beef, salt and charcoal. PMU offers trauma healing counselling
at these centres covering several counties.
Training and Workshops
Support was provided by UNOPS for a workshop on Community Based Participatory
Planning and Action in Bong County.
Two workshops on Community Participation were held by OXFAM for residents in
Cape Mount County. Dramatisations for these workshops were done by the
Talking Drum Studio. Each workshop lasted a week. OXFAM plans to conduct six
more of these workshops in Cape Mount County.
A one-week community-based training programme was conducted by UNICEF for 25
participants at Phebe Hospital in Bong County.
This report is available on the internet through RELIEFWEB:
http://www.reliefweb.int
Mr. Pascal Karorero
Deputy Resident Representative UNDP
Monrovia, Liberia
Tel.: (231) 226 194
Fax: (231) 226 210
Complex Emergency Response/Consolidated Appeal Process (CER/CAP)
Mr. David Bassiouni - Chief
Mr. Thierry Delbreuve
Tel.: (41 22) 788.1402
Fax: (41 22) 788.6386
Registry E-Mail: Abu.Conteh@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
Information Service
Ms. Thirhse Gastaut - Director
Tel.: (41 22) 917.2300
Fax: (41 22) 917.0030
E-Mail: tgastaut@unog.ch
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