15 - 22 March 2006
Highlights
- UNDP Liberia and Dfid sign agreement for US$3.9 million
- Human Rights, UNHCR & IRC organize International Women's Day Program
- 1,487 Mt of assorted commodities distributed to 210,512 beneficiaries
An agreement for US$ 3.9 million has been signed between UNDP and the United Kingdom's Department for International Development (Dfid) during the reporting period. The Dfid contribution targets Security Sector Reform and strengthening the Rule of Law through the decommissioning of those officers of the Liberia National Police (LNP) who have not met the basic criteria for service.
The Head of the West Africa Equatorial Department, Mr. Martin Elliott, signed on behalf of Dfid while the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General and UNDP Resident Representative, Mr. Jordan Ryan, signed on behalf of UNDP.
The agreement covers the identification of non-qualifying LNP officers and their phased decommissioning, in line with the plan developed by the Rule of Law Implementation Committee, which includes representatives from UNMIL and the Government of Liberia. The criteria for decommissioning include age, length of service, physical fitness for duty, and educational qualifications.
Dfid is expected to conduct an independent evaluation of the decommissioning process, and the report from this exercise will be shared with UNDP and UNMIL.
In a related development, the United Kingdom has expressed its intention to contribute an additional US$ 221,050 through UNDP to provide essential equipment to already trained and graduated LNP officers, the LNP headquarters, regional and county offices and key LNP directorates.
Special program to mark International Women's Day
On 16 March 2006, Human Rights, UNHCR and IRC organized a program in Gbah Town to celebrate International Women's Day. The occasion was used to educate community members on SGBV and women's rights.
The 2006 WFP 'Work the World' coordinator for Africa, Mr. Femme Amure arrived in Liberia during the week to help with the preparations of the global event due to take place in May 2006. He is expected to meet with partners working with WFP in organizing the event (World Vision and Ministry of Education), plus some key corporations and sponsors.
IASC Country team Meeting
The IASC Country Team met during the reporting period. The concept note for the Cluster Approach in Liberia is being revised. HCS in conjunction with NGOs and UN agencies are drafting Terms of Reference and revising the CAP to incorporate the Cluster Approach.
WFP chaired the Committee on Food Aid (CFA) meeting held on March 17. CFA members included UNMIL/HCS, CRS, FAO and ICRC. Members reviewed and revised the terms of reference and membership to be in line with the new food cluster approach. CFA will be one of the technical advisory bodies for the food cluster. ICRC was proposed to be included as a new member of the CFA as one of the food pipeline agencies, since the organization is expected to start distributing food in the country this year.
In preparation for the Protracted Relief, Recovery Operations (PRRO) document for 2007 and 2008, WFP is holding bilateral discussions with stakeholders to inform them of their programme plans for the next two years, as a way of harmonizing aid interventions in the country. During the week, consultative discussions were held with Catholic Relief Services.
FAO and WFP are finalizing the crop assessment report of the country-wide survey done in January 2006. The final copy is expected to be out by end of this month.
During the week, WFP conducted training for all the Cooperating Partners (CPs) on the updated monitoring and reporting tools for various WFP feeding activities. The training was also aimed at increasing the CPs' awareness to the WFP reporting requirements.
A. HUMANITARIAN ACTIVITIES
Internally Displaced Persons
There are currently 14,026 IDPs remaining in the last two camps (Conneh & Basaymah) who have not yet received their assistance packages. Almost all of these IDP are in the later camp where distribution of assistance packages commenced on 20 March. As of March 17, 2006, 309,799 IDPs representing 59,685 families have received their packages.
Second Ration Food Distribution
A total of 241,709 former IDPs have received their second ration food provide by WFP and her partners in the return areas since the return process began. This figure represents 78.02% of the total number of IDPs who have been assisted to return to their communities and qualify for the second food ration
Emergency School Feeding (ESF)
WFP delivered a total of 992 Mt of food to feed over 189,892 school children located in various counties including Lofa, Maryland, Montserrado, Nimba and Grand Bassa.
In Lofa County, some 13 schools received cooking utensils in addition to the food commodities. The NFIs included, drinking cups-3,882; plastic plates-3882; eating spoons-3,882; Cooking pots-14; tubs-2 and cook spoons-22.
Food Support for Local Initiatives (FSLI)
A total of 22 Mt. of assorted food commodities was distributed to 2,889 persons involved in various FSLI projects including community farming, rehabilitation of roads and income generation training activities.
In Harper, Maryland country, food assistance was delivered to some 21 casual workers working along side with the UNMIL Pakistan Engineers to repair the Harper /River Gee High way. This was as a result of the recently signed MOU between UNMIL and WFP to support infrastructure rehabilitation projects UNMIL is undertaking in various communities through provision of food aid.
Assessment of community projects that can be supported through FSLI programme continued in all the eight WFP sub-offices. FSLI projects assessment missions are jointly carried out by representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture, LRRRC, Districts development Commissioners, INGOs and NGOs that are providing humanitarian services in these communities that are recovering from conflict.
In Buchanan, Gand Bassa Country, rehabilitation of two bridges being supported under FSLI was completed during the reporting period. Construction of a Youth Library is also on-going in the same area. Beneficiaries working on these projects expressed their gratitude for WFPs' food support and mentioned that food distribution motivated more people to participate in these community rehabilitation projects.
WFP and Partners continued to assess community projects that can be supported through FSLI programme. In Montserrado county, agricultural projects expected to cultivate over 355 acres of land were assessed during the week. FSLI projects assessment missions are jointly carried out by representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture, Districts development Commissioners, INGOs and NGOs that are providing humanitarian services in the communities.
Food Supply Situation and the WFP Pipeline
WFP Liberia operation has a total food shortfall of 2,449 Mt valued at US$ 1.83 million over the next six months, March to August 2006.
The pipeline break will start in April with cereals and a critical food shortfall affecting other commodities will commence in August. Additional pledges and resources are needed to avert shortfalls of 1,935 Mt of cereals, 416 Mt of pulses, and 98 Mt of vegetable oil expected in the next six months.
On 10 March, WFP Country office received a shipment of 397 Mt of CSB. This consignment is one of the 1790 Mt. of CSB expected to arrive this month, courtesy of the generous contributions from the US/Food for Peace programme ( FFP).
A total of 842 Mt of assorted food commodities was dispatched from Monrovia to various sub offices in the country, in continuation of the March 2006 food distributions. Of this quantity, the private commercial transporters moved 704 Mt. or 84%, while the WFP Fleet moved 138 Mt. or 16%.
Data collection for the comprehensive food security and nutrition survey started in 13 out of the 15 Counties in Liberia. The exercise did not commence Maryland and Grand Kru Counties due to the closure of a road in Mary Land and breakdown of one of the main bridges in Grand Kru. Rehabilitation of the bridge is on-going. The survey is being conducted with the support of four Government Ministries, Liberia Institute of Statistics, UNICEF, WHO, FAO, UNMIL, UNDP, CRS, World Vision, Africare and LINNK (network of national NGOs).
Human Rights & Protection
UNDP Human Rights and Protection unit participated and presented a paper on human rights and environment during the Environment workshop held at St. Peter High school in Kakata on 10th March 2006.
The international consultant editing the UNDP Human rights violations mapping project, arrived in Liberia on 12th March 2006 to present the synopsis to the TRC commissioners, hold discussions with institutions and individuals who participated in the project. He is also scheduled to participate in some field visit to Bomi to verify the information contained in the report.
The Gender Officer held a meeting with the CBR team to discuss the training workshop for the Community Credit Unions in Bong and Nimba Counties as the start point of implementing the "Economic Empowerment of Women" project. The meeting agreed to conduct the training workshop from 29 March to 01 April 2006 at the Pastoral Center in Gbarnga.
The WFP Country office received a Protection mission from their headquarters in Rome. The key issues the mission is expected to handle include; providing programme support to integrate protection issues into the WFP work plan; holding consultative meetings with members of the protection working group in Liberia and visiting some return communities to review WFP beneficiary protection concerns.
Water, Environmental Sanitation & Hygiene
UNICEF hosted the second meeting of the Water and Sanitation (WATSAN) Cluster to discuss strategies for the implementation of activities. The 17 participants of government, UN agencies, national and internal NGOs agreed on a three-prong strategy comprising coordination and preparedness, sector implementation capacity building and emergency response. Regarding coordination and preparedness, the WATSAN Cluster will map all coordination mechanisms now operational in the country. On capacity building, the WATSAN Cluster will strengthen county and district sector coordination with logistics skills training for artisans and local contractors and orientation for all county coordination forums. Regarding emergency response, the Cluster will develop emergency action plan for implementation.
UNICEF and thirty one (31) national and international NGO partners during the week discussed cholera and diarrhea prevention and preparedness.
During the meeting, a booklet containing guidelines on basic hygiene (hand-washing, etc) and for health and hygiene promotion was approved and will be sent to the printer.
UNICEF and its implementing partner CODES have completed the construction of a water tower at the Catholic Hospital with a 4000 gallon storage capacity. The hospital will now have running water even when the power supply is cut off.
Health & Nutrition
UNICEF participated in the first meeting of the Inter-agency Coordination Committee (ICC) on the Expanded Programme on Immunization at the Ministry of Health & Social Welfare. The ICC approved the EPI strategic plan covering 2006-2010, the 2006 Annual Work Plan for EPI and the revised EPI structure.
UNICEF and the Ministry of Health delivered and installed six (6) solar refrigerators to six clinics in Grand Cape Mount County. They are: Lofa Bridge, Damala, Jundu, Gondama, Kanga and Mbaloma clinics. The refrigerators will help to maintain the potency on vaccines.
WFP distributed a total of 107 Mt. of food to 6,523 beneficiaries in various institutions under the Nutrition Intervention Programmes, including supplementary and therapeutic feeding centers; pregnant and nursing women attending antenatal and post-natal clinics; people affected with HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and leprosy; as well as institutions caring for orphans, the elderly, and the handicapped during the past week. An additional amount of 77 Mt. of food was distributed to 5,556 beneficiaries this week. The office continues to expand the Mother & Child Health (MCH) nutritional programme throughout the country to encourage pregnant and nursing women in various communities to attend ante-natal and post-natal clinics.
B. FIELD COORDINATION
Gbarnga
A joint UNHCR and Liberian Government delegation recently visited the Republic of Guinea to participate in a "go and see" visit to refugees camps aimed at encouraging Liberian refugees to return home and participate in reconstruction of the country. An issue raised by some of the refugees who are from the Mandingo speaking ethnic group is the repossession of their land and other properties. A 3 day meeting is being planned to take place in Ganta, Nimba to address the issue.
The WFP Food for Local Support Initiative Project Review Committee has being re-activated in Saclepea, Nimba County. The first batch 21 community related development projects have being approved by the committee and subsequently approved by WFP Headquarters.
Harper
The Water and Sanitation Sector suffered a setback with the announcement that UNHCR will not support any activities in the sector for the year 2006 due to budgetary constraints. In an earlier meeting, UNHCR had informed the Sector Working Group that they will support CARITAS Cape Palmas to implement 12 wells and 6 latrines in River Gee County. However, the agency will fix a water pump at the Baraken refugee village but appealed for assistance from other agencies to provide water and sanitation facilities at the Baraken Clinic.
The Harper HCS office completed a small proposal to be used by the Monrovia office to search for funding to improve rehabilitation of the road from Harper to Fishtown. The proposal focuses on supplies to enable the Pakistani contingent to construct proper drainage for those areas of the road which are problematic. The Pakistani contingent also explained that some vehicles promised to be supplied by the Senegalese are present in Harper but are not functioning.
Tubmanburg
On 13 March 2006, HCS Tubmanburg Office participated in the sixth Bomi County Road Task Force (RTF) meeting in Tubmanburg facilitated by RRR Field Unit-3 in collaboration with the Superintendent's Office; discussion focused on the identification of priority roads/bridges, in view of the concentration of IDPs/returnees and current status of roads/bridges in said locations; six (6) routes including the Klay-Tubmanburg Bridge (wooden Portion) were agreed upon by the Bomi RTF as priorities.
Voinjama
According to information brought to HCS Voinjama by PakBat4, there is an outbreak of lassa fever in Sierra Leone refugee camps. HCS has requested information from WHO Monrovia while UNHCR Voinjama is consulting their counterparts in an attempt to get more information.
Due to the repatriation program of refugees from Sierra Leone, imported cases of Lassa fever are a potential risk in Lofa County. MSF-F, IMC and PMU in Kolahuan and Foya have been informed by HCS.
Ex-combatants are threatening the UN community in an attempt to draw attention to alleged failures in the disbursal of their subsistence allowances. Local authorities and UNMIL have been able to diffuse the situation but there is a concern about the perceived effectiveness. Future threats are likely to take place in the future.
Zwedru
The County Health Team held an emergency meeting with humanitarian actors, UNMIL, the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA), Human Rights Groups, Joint Security and the Police on 14th of March 2006 to inform about the MOH's decision to launch a campaign against the sale of drugs on streets in Grand Gedeh County. The purpose of the meeting was to come up with an approach and timeframe on how to effect this action as street drugs selling is dangerous to health. This is because the drugs sold are likely to expire, exposed to heat and are purchased without medical prescriptions. The "stop street drugs selling campaign" was launched in Monrovia and other parts of the country about four months ago.