Liberia humanitarian briefing issue 4

15 - 21 Sep 2003
I. GENERAL SITUATION

This week humanitarian actors have forged ever further into the interior. Successful missions to Harper (Maryland Country) and Gbarnga (Bong County) enabled a rapid assessment of vulnerable populations living within these counties, while paving the way for additional missions, notably to Zwedru (Grand Gedeh County) next week. In this context, serious concerns remain for the protection of civilians from human rights abuses committed by armed elements in Grand Bassa, Bong and Lofa counties.

II. KEY DEVELOPMENTS

The Security Council this week established a stabilization force for Liberia of up to 15,000 troops to assist in implementing a ceasefire and peace agreement, which was signed in August and aims at national elections by the end of 2005. Through the unanimous adoption of resolution 1509 (2003), the Council determined that the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) will also consist of up to 1,115 police officers, and a civilian component. The Secretary-General will transfer authority to UNMIL on 1 October from forces led by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

A 15 member joint inter-agency United Nations (UN) and non-government organisation (NGO) security and humanitarian assessment mission returned from Harper (southern Liberia) this week. The Mission visited the neighbouring town of Pleebo (30 km north), a transit refugee camp on the outskirts of Pleebo, and a refugee camp in Little Wlebo (14 km east), including a visit to the Liberian/Côte d'Ivoire (RCI) border. Harper town had been extensively looted - including the WPF and UNHCR sub-offices. To access the full report go to www.humanitarianinfo.org/liberia

A United Nations inter-agency Mission will travel to Zwedru (east of Monrovia) next Monday to assess the security conditions for the resumption of UN operations, including undertaking an assessment of the humanitarian situation in the region. The Mission will comprise the UN World Health Organisation (WHO), UN Office for the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), UN World Food Programme (WFP) and UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Zwedru is the latest area to be targeted in a concerted effort by the UN to access civilian populations nationwide to assess their humanitarian conditions and security needs.

III. PRIORITY ISSUES

a) Health and Nutrition

The UN World Health Organisation (WHO) have reported that 10,043 people have been affected by cholera in Liberia's capital, Monrovia, since hostilities started in June 2003. Approximately 110 people are reported to have died as a result. According to reports from NGOs working in the camps for displaced people, in Monrovia alone, there are over 2035 new cholera cases every week. The movement of thousands of people to the capital, seeking safety and shelter, has led to a complex situation - with insufficient water and sanitation for the displaced people. To decrease the risk of a larger outbreak, WHO and its health partners are undertaking a massive chlorination of wells in Monrovia. Cholera has also been reported outside of Monrovia and WHO is now assessing the situation in towns surrounding the capital in order to get more data on how many people are affected. Chlorination of wells outside of Monrovia has already started.

b) IDPs

In Liberia, registration is nearly completed in five camps for internally displaced people (IDPs) in and around Monrovia. UNHCR and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) have been providing relief supplies, while new data collected through registration will allow another round of food distribution by the World Food Programme. Other aid agencies have also been working to improve medical and sanitation facilities at the IDP camps. The International Medical Corps has set up a clinic in Wilson camp, World Vision will re-open another at Jahtondo camp, while Save the Children Fund is running a clinic through all the camps once a week. Work is also continuing on the camps' water and sanitation facilities that were damaged either during the recent fighting or after years of disuse. The transit shelters at these IDP camps are almost full, and the relocation of displaced Liberians from Monrovia has been put on hold until more shelters can be built.

c) Food aid

I) The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) commenced a general food distribution to four IDP camps (housing 65,759 beneficiaries) in Totota this week. Managed by Lutheran World Federation (LWF) WFP's implementing partner, WFP food aid monitors will also participate.

II) A general food distribution by WFP implementing partner Catholic Relief Services (CRS), targeting 32,000 people in the city of Buchanan, also commenced this week. According to initial reports, the distribution to Buchanan was carried out successfully. WFP commenced food distributions this week to tens of thousands of displaced Liberians, and refugees from Sierra Leone, in camps outside Monrovia, with no security incidents reported.

VI. COMMON SERVICES

a) Humanitarian Information Centre (HIC)

A 15 sheet county map series has been produced and is available on hard copy from the HIC office, Monrovia, Liberia, and as a PDF file on the www.humanitarianinfo.org/liberia website. Visit the website for the entire range of products available, or for regular updates write to hic.liberia@undp.org

b) UN Joint Logistics Centre (UNJLC) www.unjlc.org

The fifth weekly Joint Logistics Meeting was held in the Humanitarian Operations Centre (HOC), in Monrovia. Issues included a brief on the United Nations World Food Programme Air Service and clarification of charges levied at Monrovia Freeport.

c) Civil Military Coordination

The UN Civil-Military Liaison Officer (CM-LO) is compiling additional ECOMIL focal point details in case of an emergency. The emergency contact numbers for ECOMIL are 530 172 and 530 373.

d) Access

The Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Liberia conducted a mission to Sierra Leone and assessed road conditions for travel through the border. Mission members went to Zimi and described the road condition as disastrous. A 5 Km stretch between Zimi and Bo Waterside was particularly bad. UNHCR has begun work to repair the road, which may take 3-4 weeks.

VII. FUNDING

a) Consolidated Appeal for 2004

The Consolidated Appeal for Liberia 2004 is being drafted (due for completion 1 October). Agency Focal Points and working groups are responsible for compiling the relevant sector analysis. All agencies and donors are urged to report requirements and contributions through www.reliefweb.int

For more information:

Rosemary Musumba, Spokesperson, OCHA
rosemary.musumba@undp.org +377 47 530 048

Nicholas McGowan, Reports/Information Officer, OCHA
nicholas.mcgowan@undp.org +377 47 530 433