World Vision is continuing to assess the
of needs of civilians living in LURD rebel held areas in western Liberia.
Areas where World Vision previously operated health and food security programmes
were targeted in the latest assessment mission.
Those people that remain in these areas
are either returnees who fled into the bushes during the height of the
war or people who remained in their homes and were not able to walk for
days to the camps in Monrovia and environs.
The assessment team, comprising of program officers and a health manager visited the Grand Cape Mount County towns of Madina, Tiene and Bo Waterside. Prior to this assessment, WV had formed part of a joint interagency assessment to the areas and thought it necessary to further investigate.
The mission sought to assess the security situation, investigate access by road, re-establish contact with key community stakeholders, assess the humanitarian situation/needs and investigate the existence of other INGO/NGOs providing assistance.
The inhabitants are in dire need of food and medicine. People are surviving on cassava and bush yam.
Accessibility in the areas by road is good. Rebel commanders assured World Vision that humanitarian organisations wanting to provide services in the areas would be provided maximum security.