Sierra Leone Humanitarian Situation Report: 16-25 Jun 2000

1. SECURITY
   UNAMSIL described the security situation in the country in the past week as "calm and unpredictable", and the overall situation remains poor for humanitarian actors. The withdrawal of the British taskforce on the 15th June was followed by a number of exploratory actions by armed groups believed to belong to the RUF in areas as close as 40 miles from Freetown. At the same time, the offensive by forces supporting the government halted, in both the areas to the North of Port Loko and East towards Lunsar and Makeni. Tensions within the pro-government forces have continued to develop, leading to a withdrawal from the key town of Lunsar last week.

Freetown and Western Area.

A 'horseshoe' of UNAMSIL deployments protects the Freetown and Lungi peninsula areas, following the route from Lungi to Port Loko, Rogberi Junction, Masiaka, and Waterloo. In most of these areas, Sierra Leone Army (SLA) detachments can be found. There have been no major attacks in these areas in the past week. Insecurity was mostly confined to food foraging in undefended villages.

In Freetown, reports of RUF infiltration have prompted a tightening of security in Freetown itself, with new checkpoints, and inspections of vehicles in some cases. UNAMSIL intends to implement a 'no-guns' policy in Freetown, by setting up a weapon check-in facility at Rokel. However, humanitarian agencies and security sources fear that many weapons are currently hidden inside Freetown by RUF and other armed groups. Tension inside Freetown focuses primarily on groups currently under the auspices of the SLA, including the Occra Hills and West Side groups. Some commanders are currently detained by the authorities for civil crimes, and their supporters often confront each other, or civil / UNAMSIL authorities. This tension explains incidents such as that at the Pademba Rd Prison on Saturday 16th June, when an accidental firing provoked sustained fire from other groups. One person was reported killed in the incident, and another wounded. Calm returned to the city after the 11pm curfew. The prison area is now a restricted area after 7pm.

Security for humanitarian agencies remains poor past Waterloo, due to tension between pro-government forces (including the CDF), and harassment of civilian traffic by some pro-government forces. In particular, within the horseshoe area, the Occra Hills area is again risky, while the road between Rokel Bridge and Rogberie Jct is seen as a no-man's land. Harassment of civilians and occasional raids has been a feature of towns and villages in the Lungi peninsula, particularly in Loko Massama chiefdom.

The Northern Province

Insecurity continues to threaten IDPs and humanitarian agencies in Mile 91, as over 50,000 IDPs have entered the area in the last three weeks. Security in this area is barely sufficient for operations at this time. The resources required to provide even a minimum level of care can act as a real incentive for an attack by an armed group. To prevent this, UNAMSIL has agreed to reinforce the area in the near future. The importance of this has been underlined by a series of incidents near the town, including an attack on the village of Maessema on the 18th June.

The regular and West Side components of the Sierra Leone Army abandoned Lunsar by the end of Sunday 18th June. This followed a number of disagreements between the forces in Lunsar, focused on control of resources, promotions, and strategic differences. The SLA regulars left first, having reportedly lost their rations and support weapons to the West Side 'boys'.

The Eastern and Southern Province

The movements of the Indian Battalion in Kailahun continue to be constrained, particularly with the patrol of 20 soldiers detained currently in the town of Pendembu. There has also been a build up reported of CDF along the Joru - Zimmi axis, following heightened tension between Sierra Leone and Liberia.

Other parts of the East and South are reported to be quiet.

2. POLITICAL

The SRSG will depart for New York on Monday, 26 May for consultations with the UN Secretary-General on matters relating to UNAMSIL's activities in Sierra Leone. Three Security Council resolutions are currently in draft, focusing on the expansion of UNAMSIL's mandate and the illegal trade in diamonds.

3. HUMANITARIAN HIGHLIGHTS

Critical needs and current capacity

The deteriorating security situation continues to cause significant population displacements, leading humanitarian agencies to shift their focus and resources to meeting immediate needs of the newly displaced, while continuing efforts to support rehabilitation programmes in more stable areas. Since the resumption of fighting between government forces and the RUF in May, up to 200,000 people have been displaced.

Already, humanitarian agencies have registered about 150,000 people whose immediate needs are being addressed through a coordinated inter-agency effort. However, the worsening security situation in the country continues to constrain efforts to track all affected populations and adequately address their needs. To respond to the needs of those who are able to reach safer locations, humanitarian agencies and government partners are launching a rapid intervention programme targeting about 240,000 people with a range of assistance programmes including shelter, non-food items, food aid, access to water and sanitation, as well as health facilities. This requires a major re-focusing of plans and mobilization of additional resources to facilitate timely and effective service delivery.

Summary of Priority Needs

Category 1: At least 95,000 newly displaced (registered) IDPs require shelter at new campsites as well as food, non-food, health, WATSAN facilities and other relief assistance.

Category 2: An additional 165,000 displaced and war affected living in villages and towns, require shelter materials, non-food items, food, and adequate access to health and WATSAN facilities.

Category 3: Continued relief support for some 175,000 previously registered IDPs and about 800 ex-child combatants in Bo, Kenema, Western Area, and Port Loko Districts. Current needs include booth rehabilitation, improved WATSAN facilities, maintenance of food distribution and non-food distributions, improved health services and adequate education facilities for children.

RESOURCE GAPS

1. Shelter

• 2,400 rolls of plastic sheeting
• Construction materials

Current Capacity: DFID 515 rolls in-country; NCRRR; 50 rolls in-country; WVI: 200 rolls - Total available in-country: 765. These already allocated for Port Loko and Western Area.

2. Non-food Items

• Mats, kitchen kits, blankets, jerry cans/buckets for 30,000 family heads
• Tarpaulin for 15,000 family heads

Current Capacity: ICRC - adequate for 10,000 family heads

3. Health:

• Equipped health clinics for each camp (7)

Current Capacity: Only three camps operate fully equipped and regular clinics in FTN camps. Facilities in host communities are inadequate and need to be boosted to cope with current population pressures.

4. WATSAN

• Water Bowsers required for servicing new camps.
• Disinfectants for Latrines, clothes and beddings urgently required for both existing and new camps.
• 3 Sludge trucks needed to service camps in Western Area, Mile 91 and Lungi area.

Current capacity: Latrine facilities currently inadequate for existing camps: Problem of overflowing latrines in the middle of the rainy season is a serious health hazard. Only one commercial sludge truck is available in Freetown for emptying latrines. Not readily available for use in camps due to cost. DFID has donated a new sludge truck, which arrived in the country during the wkd. Many camps lack disinfectants despite prevalence of rat infestation and other hazards. Urgent need for adequate supply to all camps and other facilities being used by displaced people.

5. Food Aid

• Vulnerable Group Feeding, Institutional Feeding and support for Therapeutic and Supplementary Feeding Programmes needed to support IDPs in camps and within host communities.

Current Capacity: Food Pipeline agencies have adequate resources to cover needs in the next 4-6 months.

6. Camp Management

Camp management is complex, difficult and expensive. Donor support for this activity has been lean. Agencies are not very keen to take on camps due to these constraints. We propose that new camps be managed on the basis of partnership between national and international NGOs. A lead agency may need to be identified for overall coordination and management of IDP issues - to maintain good standards and ensure quality service delivery. While some camps are relatively well maintained, others are in deplorable condition. At present, there are no systematic training programmes for camp managers and officials. Sensitization on beneficiary rights and agencies' constraints and limitations is lacking. The guiding principles for assisting IDPs need to be widely disseminated and sensitization workshops organized for all stakeholders. Protection issues for IDPs are not being addressed. Human Rights organizations will need to be supported and encouraged to follow-up on all protection issues relating to IDPs.

Focus on Newly Displaced Populations

1. Mile 91

Food and Non-food Support

CARE is in the process of verifying an additional caseload of 40,000 people registered by the Sierra Leone Red Cross Society in Mile 91 town during the past week. Although CARE expects the numbers to be considerably lower after verification, they are working on the basis of providing 15-day rations to at least 40,000 new IDPs. Plans are also in place to serve the previously registered 12,000+ people with a second round of 15-day VGF rations. More people are reportedly pouring into the town. In the villages along the Masiaka-Mile 91 highway, WFP completed distribution to 8,786 IDPs, while making plans to distribute food-for-agriculture for about 10,000 farm families along the same route who are currently hosting IDP populations, to enable them cope better with the situation. Meanwhile, CARITAS also distributed 112 mt of rice for IDPs in Mile 91 and Masmera.

Non-food Items

ICRC & SLRC have now completed distribution of non-food- items to 3,309 registered families (21,149 beneficiaries) in 11 villages along the Masiaka-Mile 91 highway. An additional 10,345 who were registered in the area during the week also received supplies of tarpaulin, blankets, sleeping mats buckets and soap over the weekend, bringing the total assisted by ICRC since the beginning of the recent influx to approximately 31,500 in the Mile 91 area.

Site approved for camp construction

The NCRRR and humanitarian agencies have identified a suitable campsite for the accommodation of up to 40,000 IDPs in Mile 91, if security conditions allow. The site, located along the Mile 88 and Yonibana road, some two miles from Mile 91, is a large expanse of land, which provides land for agricultural activities, and has room for expansion. It is also close to water sources - one stream and a non-functional pumping station. The proximity to the AFRICARE health center in Yonibana and clinics in Mile 91 is reasonable. Both the local authorities and UNAMSIL have given their consent for the site to be used for camp construction. UNAMSIL said it is committed to provide the necessary security for the town and the IDPs, particularly as the area becomes a center for considerable relief interventions. However CARITAS Makeni , which maintains a number of relief programmes in the area has accepted responsibility for camp management following a request by NCRRR. They will however need the support of other agencies and donors to complete the work in a timely fashion. As the area is mainly savannah grassland, bush sticks are not readily available and would have to be purchased and hauled from villages about 10 miles away. The Government has committed some funds for the procurement of the items.

Plastic sheeting urgently required

The biggest need at present is for rolls of plastic sheeting. OCHA is working closely with NCRRR and NGO partners to mobilize the quantity required to meet the overall needs of IDPs located in different parts of the country. The recent donations of 515 rolls by DFID and 50 rolls by NCRRR will be used to expand camp facilities in Port Loko and the Western Area to accommodate extra caseloads. This means that the needs for Mile 91 are still outstanding. Agencies have agreed to start with construction of booths for 20,000 people and expand if necessary. About 600 rolls will be required to begin work immediately. CARE has committed 1,000 rolls from OFDA funds, which are expected to arrive in two batches of 500 each. However, these are still outside the country and it is not clear how quickly they can be brought in. The urgency of the problem cannot be over-estimated. The health situation of the IDPs is likely to worsen if they continue to be exposed to rains and other health hazards. Once resources are made available, it will take CARITAS another 2-3 weeks to complete work on the site.

Water and Sanitation

A water and sanitation team led by UNICEF conducted a comprehensive assessment of the Mile 91 area to determine immediate needs and develop a plan of action for improving access to water and sanitation for the growing number of people who are mainly occupying public buildings in the centre of town. In the coming week, UNICEF will begin chlorination activities targeting 200 water wells in Mile 91 town. In collaboration with ACF, UNICEF also plans to support the construction of 100 new latrines to serve the new IDPs in Mile 91 and surrounding villages. MSF-H has completed four, 3-squat-hole block latrines at the Amadhiya health centre and at the former school in Mile 91 where IDPs are concentrated. The latrine blocks at the former school will serve up to 250 people. They hope to expand the facilities in the coming week. Meanwhile, the Water Supply Division of the government plans to assess the Yoni bana water supply station to determine the possibility of pumping water from the station to new camp locations in Mile 91. CARE has agreed to be responsible for WATSAN activities in the Mile 91 area, covering the new campsites.

Health

The health situation is gradually being addressed with the involvement of more agencies and the Ministry of Health and sanitation (MOHS). UNICEF has pre-positioned resources to support the efforts of MSF, CARITAS and AFRICARE who are operating three clinics in Mile 91 and one in Yonibana run by AFRICARE. They are prepared to support the establishment of new health centres as the need arises. MSF is closely monitoring the situation for any outbreaks. Reported cases of diarrhea are also being investigated. Up to 3,000 patients are seen each day between the three functioning clinics. At present, the most common ailments reported are Acute Respiratory Infection, malaria and muscle pain due to several weeks of trekking. Sexually Transmitted Diseases are also said to be common among the female population. MSF-H has expressed interest in running camp clinics in the area. They have recommended that at least one clinic be established per 5,000 people. They have the current capacity to run four clinics.

2. Lungi/Port Loko Area

Port Loko and Lungi activities interrupted

Interventions in the Port Loko area have suffered a set back following the attack on the town on 14 June. The incident delayed food distribution to some 14,300 IDPs (of which more than 7,000 are newly displaced), as the WFP/NRC team had to be temporarily withdrawn from the area before they could begin the distribution process. The team highlighted the growing food needs of the IDPs, noting that most of them had arrived without their possessions and were having to depend on the already overstretched host community. Over 70% of the total caseload of IDPs are said to be women and children. WFP plans to re-assess the security conditions in the area in the coming week, and to complete distribution to the vulnerable groups as soon as possible. As a precautionary security measure, WFP also withdrew its staff members from the Lungi area in the middle of a distribution to the newly registered 16,188 IDPs in the Lungi area. They were only able to distribute to 6,176 IDPs before they were evacuated. Distributions were however resumed over the weekend, and would likely be completed by Monday 26 June. As in the Mile 91 case, the bulk of this new caseload is women and children. They are presently occupying schools, stores, and makeshift huts.

The overall nutritional status of most of the IDPs in this area is believed to be poor. Some 38 severely malnourished cases mainly from Kaffu Bullom and Loko Masama are already being treated at ACF's therapeutic feeding center (TFC) in Freetown. ACF and the Children's Aid Direct (CAD) are closely monitoring the situation, and plan to open a TFC in the area when security improves.

Meanwhile, ICRC has now completed the distribution of non-food items to 5,538 registered families in the Lungi area.

IDPs in Masemera get help

In Masemera, where 25,000 people were recently registered, CRS provided food rations to 7,077 family heads, while CARITAS is assisting a registered caseload of 1,500 IDP farmers in the Yoni and Masimera chiefdom with live-stock rehabilitation and seed supply.

8,168 people to benefit from food aid in Tasso Island

In Tasso Island and the surrounding Islands, WFP and local NGOs completed a registration of the IDPs and the host community due to the alarming food security situation. Some 8,168 people consisting of the IDPs and the host community will receive food aid distributions next week.

3. Western Area

Overcrowding in IDP camps - a major health hazard

The steady influx of IDPs into congested camps in Freetown continues to pose a major concern for agencies, given the limited health facilities in the camps. Responding to the problem, UNICEF carried out a quick assessment of the situation in the worst affected camps. In the Approved School camp in Wellington, they confirmed that up to 75% of the IDPs are women and children under five years of age; 20 per cent of the women are of reproductive age, and 5 per cent are pregnant. In this regard, UNICEF has supported the recruitment of Maternal Child Health (MCH) Aides at the Wellington camp to provide antenatal care and supervise Traditional Birth Attendants. Community Health workers are being trained to promote good hygiene practice and ORT preparation. During the weekend, UNICEF supplied additional MCH and ORT kits, 1,000 sachets of ORS, and iron foliate supplements to the camps.

New camps for Western Area

Responding to the accommodation needs of a growing number of IDPs in Freetown and the Western Area, NCRRR and agencies have identified new sites in Waterloo and Grafton for immediate construction.

Concern Worldwide has already started clearing the land in Waterloo and would require 250 rolls of plastic sheeting to start work on the first site. It is hoped that the plastic sheets for the project will be provided by DFID and NCRRR. The organization will however need additional resources to purchase other materials and cover necessary costs. Additional plastic sheets will also be required for construction in the Grafton site. (see section on resource gaps). Interested donors please contact either the OCHA office in Sierra Leone or NCRRR, for details of needs.

Nutritional Status relatively stable

ACF reported that the nutritional status of vulnerable groups in the Freetown area has been relatively stable over the past two months. The number of severely malnourished cases has in fact decreased from 136 in April to 79 in June. Around 60 per cent of the admissions at the TFC in Kissy were referrals by CAD, including 10 new IDPs from Bombali and Tonkolili districts.

4. Yele/Malal Mara/Tonkolili District

During the period under review, CARE completed registration of approximately 12,500 new IDPs in Yele, Tonkolili district, and are currently addressing the food needs of the beneficiaries. ACF is monitoring the nutritional status of the new arrivals while MRC is managing the health situation. Water and sanitation conditions are described as deplorable. In Malal mara chiefdom, also in Tonkolili district, CARE is providing food rations to the 21,000 newly registered IDPs. Meanwhile, ICRC continues its agricultural aid programme (seeds & tool distribution), to nearly 13,000 resident farmers in Tonkolili district.

5. Kabala

Given the improved security conditions in the Kabala area, CRS was able to distribute food to 1,316 vulnerable beneficiaries in the town. Priority was given to patients at the MSF-run general hospital, and newly displaced people.

6. Other Humanitarian Highlights: Southern and Eastern Provinces

Bo and Kenema have remained safe for most humanitarian operations. WFP and other food pipeline agencies are continuing to provide food supplies for agriculture, rehabilitation and education programmes. (see chart on specific distributions by WFP). WVI distributed seeds and tools to 1,400 farm families in the eastern province, while CRS is considering FFAg distribution in collaboration with the Lutheran World Federation in Kenema. They are also planning a verification exercise in the IDP camps to ensure targeted intervention. WVI was unable to deliver food to northern Kailahun and Kono due to security concerns. In Kenema districts, ICRC has continued agricultural assistance to12,614 farming families in Kenema and 5,203 families in Pujehun.

The health situation in the IDP camps in Bo and Kenema appear to be under control, with no major outbreaks of diseases at present. Meanwhile, UNICEF has delivered 300 filled gas cylinders to the MOHS for distribution in the regional areas. They have also purchased an additional 290 gas cylinders.

In Kenema District, UNICEF hired local contractors to construct three wells in all interim care centres. This will facilitate access to safe drinking water to demobilised children.

In Bo, ACF is undertaking nutritional screening in IDP camps and within the communities. By June 16, the number of beneficiaries at the center was 169, coming mainly from Bo and Bonthe districts. Few are from Pujehun.

There is an acute need for shelter materials in all the camps in Bo, especially Kendeyella 1 & 2, where the mud huts are beginning to crumble due to the heavy rains. Over 150 booths have been affected. IDPs are left with no alternative but to relocate to the already over-populated Splendid camp. CARE and the Council of Churches of Sierra Leone (CCSL) are taking action to address the problem.

CHILD PROTECTION

Interim Care policies reviewed

UNICEF and its child protection partners in Bo & Kenema reviewed policies related to the length of stay of children in interim care centres. They agreed on the need to consolidate reintegration strategies so that UNICEF and other agencies could implement programmes within a clear policy framework, and strengthen the family tracing network in order to enhance the reunification of children in both regions. UNICEF has also provided technical input for the standardization of forms used in foster care homes.

Sierra Leone marks the Day of the African Child (DAC)

UNICEF supported a children's rally to commemorate the DAC in Freetown on 16 June. Children marched from the centre of town to the National Stadium, where they were addressed by Government officials, religious leaders and the UNICEF Representative. Social Workers, a cross section of NGOs, teachers and children from various schools attended this function where awards were given for excellence. During the two-week long activities, radio and television discussions, children's forum essays and painting competitions were organised. These activities were replicated in Bo and Kenema where 1, 500 children participated in the rally in Bo town. The theme for this year's DAC was "Able Children, Able Nation" which was specifically chosen to compliment efforts of the eradication of poliomyelitis.

EDUCATION, YOUTH AND DEVELOPMENT

UNICEF has held discussions with Action Aid Sierra Leone (AASL) and the Methodist Church of Sierra Leone (MCSL) to collaborate on the improvement of school facilities in accessible areas. They also agreed to support the rehabilitation of 13 schools run by AASL and four others by MCSL. UNICEF will further supply 50 sets of furniture and school materials and conduct in-service training for teachers. They conducted a training of trainers workshop for 40 school inspectors in Bo during the week, while a three-day in-service training for 120 primary school teachers would begin on Monday 26 June at Negbema, Bo district.

Meanwhile, UNICEF has expressed concern about the rapid increase in enrolment rates in primary schools, which is largely triggered by school feeding programmes. Classrooms are presently overcrowded which reduces the quality of education. They have appealed to food pipeline agencies and donors to look into providing additional resources to build new classrooms, train and support teachers to deal with the increasing numbers.

INTER-AGENCY COORDINATION

Fast-tracking response to acute emergencies

Amid concern about the ability of humanitarian agencies to respond rapidly to newly developing situations, the Committee on Food Aid met and agreed to start consultations on how to speed up emergency interventions. An attempt will be made to cut response times of the humanitarian agencies to seven days, primarily by moving the management of the response to the field where security allows. A one-month, instead of two-week, VGF ration would be distributed to IDPs in areas when the security situation is unstable. Discussions will follow with other sectoral committees.

OCHA launches Humanitarian Information Centre (HIC)

An OCHA team from Geneva has been working with agencies in the field to improve the gathering, analysis and dissemination of humanitarian and security information. A Humanitarian Information Centre (HIC) has been created in the annex to the WHO office in Brookfields. Information on security, breaking humanitarian emergencies, agency deployment /activity, and other resources will be provided in the center, which is expected to be operational in the near future.

UN Agencies undertake mid-year review of the Consolidated Interagency Appeal for 2000

On 23 June, representatives of UN agencies, including the Heads of Agencies, participated in a one-day retreat to review the 2000 Consolidated Inter-Agency Appeal. A draft of the mid-term review will be shared with UNAMSIL and government partners in the coming week for further consultations on the way forward. The 2000 appeal had requested approximately $71 million for humanitarian programmes in Sierra Leone. To date, less than 50 per cent has been pledged by donors. Given the radical change in the security scenario, humanitarian objectives and strategies as outlined in the CAP document are being refocused to address the unfolding emergencies, while maintaining ongoing support for beneficiaries in stable areas. One key lesson learned, is the need to maintain a flexible approach both at the perational and