Liberia: OCHA Daily Situation Update No. 2

MILITARY AND POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS
Fighting was reported to have subsided this morning in the Liberian capital after the rebels were pushed back over St. Paul's bridge yesterday, into the Brewersville area. The Government claims to have captured 80 LURD rebels and reports that it is continuing a "mop up" operation in the western part of the city. The LURD, however, has announced that they have ceased their advance on Monrovia for 72 hours to avoid a "bloodbath" and give President Charles Taylor time to resign.

Central Monrovia remains tense. Civilians are cautiously moving about, attempting to make contact with friends and relatives, as well as acquire food and other essential goods. Reports from fleeing civilians indicate that Government troops are looting private homes and businesses, and taking valuables and cash from civilians in Bushrod Island, in the western part of the city.

Scores of international staff of UN agencies, NGOs, ICRC and diplomatic missions are sheltering in the EU compound as they await evacuation.

HUMANITARIAN CONSEQUENCES

The streets of Monrovia are full of displaced people who are still searching for safe havens, carrying whatever belongings they were able to take with them. The Government has told displaced people to go to the Samuel Kanyon Doe sports complex, located some ten kilometers southeast of Monrovia, on the road leading to Robert International Airport. A local NGO has already registered 1,900 displaced people at the sports complex, and the numbers are increasing rapidly. Thousands more are occupying schools and other public buildings in central Monrovia. Some of these sites include the Newport Junior High School on Newport street, the G.L. Gibson school on Capitol bypass and the Junior High School in Slipway. Many have also found shelter with relatives and friends in safer areas of the city.

HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE

OCHA's national field officer, who is currently the officer in charge, is making efforts to hold an emergency coordination meeting with the various remaining NGOs and humanitarian staff, in order to respond rapidly to the situation. ICRC is supporting the local Red Cross to begin assisting IDPs in schools with non-food items. According to the Liberian National Red Cross Secretary-General, the distribution of blankets, mats, jerry cans and other non-food items was due to begin today at the G.L. Gibson school and be extended to Slipway school and other locations in Monrovia. Action Contre la Faim (ACF) is planning to intervene in the water and sanitation sector at the sports complex.

It has been further reported that the Government has stationed heavy security in the port area, where WFP warehouses are located. It appears that the warehouses of UN and other humanitarian relief organisations are secure for the moment.

We will continue to provide daily updates on developments in Liberia.

For further information, please contact:
Mr. Muktar Ali Farah, Head of Office, OCHA Liberia (currently in Abidjan) tel: +225-07-443392 (cell) / muktarfarah@yahoo.com / +225- 2240-5174/75 (OCHA RSO WA)