HIGHLIGHTS
- More flooding in Greater Monrovia
- Repatriation efforts continue
Major flooding affects communities:
Exactly 20 days after the first floods of this year's rainy season, which occurred on 20 July 2008 and displaced hundreds of people in and around Monrovia, another flooding occurred in the Popo Beach and Banjor communities in lower Virginia, Greater Monrovia on 9 August 2008. This was due to heavy rains that led to the overflowing of a swamp around the Bajor community area. This over-filled swamp created a river-like outlet to the nearby ocean dividing the Banjor community in two, and destroying four houses and two commercial businesses.
Some 103 persons including those most vulnerable were relocated and transported to a temporary shelter in a nearby community unaffected by the flooding. The Government and the Liberia National Red Cross Society (LNRCS) provided food and non-food items respectively to the victims. A rapid assessment by the Government and key partners including the LNRCS, Oxfam and the UN was conducted on 10 August. Initial results revealed that some 250 homes and an estimated 1,860 people were directly affected in both communities. Numbers for those indirectly affected as still being compiled. The assessment also found that although the floodwaters were receding in some parts, pending rains and stagnant waters increased the risks of malaria and water-borne diseases. Priority areas for intervention were highlighted as provision of safe drinking water, and the prevention of malaria and water-borne diseases.
Refugee return and resettlement:
From 1 - 10 August, UNHCR facilitated the return of 1,151 Liberian refugees from Ghana. This brings the total number of the refugees repatriated since the start of the voluntary return programme on 13 April to 5,503 (5,068 from Ghana, 257 from Guinea, 170 from Nigeria, eight from the Gambia).
National Policy on Non-governmental Organizations in Liberia launched:
On 29 July, the Minister of Planning and Economic Affairs officially launched the National Policy on Non-Governmental Organizations in Liberia. The National Policy seeks to prescribe a reasonable set of guidelines aimed at delivering four key results, namely: ensure better coordination among ministries dealing with NGOs; ensure a coherent process for the accreditation of NGOs; provide a conducive environment for smooth NGO operations and ensure stronger accountability and transparency; and, to arrange a systematic approach to capacity building. The next step is the establishment of an NGO Council at national and county levels.
Liberian civil society organizations have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) pledging to work together to enhance their participation in national development. The MOU signed by all civil society umbrella groups, as well as some individual organizations, provides for the establishment of a National Civil Society Organization Advisory Committee that will guide the affairs of civil society organizations, enhance cooperation among them, and provide a point of contact for engaging the government and international partners. It is intended to lead to the establishment of the National NGO Council mentioned above.