World Health Organization



HUMANITARIAN SITUATION REPORT

AUGUST 2002

Security update

1.1. Two counties (Lofa and Gbaporlu) out of fifteen in Liberia continue to be the theater of fighting between the state’s militaries and the rebels of Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD), particularly around Bopulu, Voinjama and Kolahun.

1.2. With UN Security phase 4 and a “state of emergency” declared by the government in February for 3 months and extended for additional 6 months, all UN International staff are now relocated from their residence in River View (Virginia in the suburb of Monrovia) to Mamba Point (in town).

1.3. Meanwhile, the situation in Monrovia, the nation’s capital, remains calm but tense with significant increased presence of armed elements of the various security forces who have erected multiple check points throughout the city and this is certainly due to the National Peace and Reconciliation Conference, inaugurated on 24 August in Monrovia and expected to run for one month (with only one participant from the opposition).

1. Humanitarian Situation

2.1. According to the Liberia Refugee, Repatriation, Resettlement Commission (LRRRC), the official figures of displaced population in Liberia as of august 31, 2002 is as follow: 196,055 Internally Displaced Populations; 21,750 Refugees; 376,537 Returnees and 250,000 Host populations.

2.2. More than fifty per cent of the IDP population (99,240 IDPs) is settled in five IDP camps in Montserado County (in the suburb of Monrovia): Jartondo camp (17,000 IDPs), Wilson camp (25,700 IDPs), Blamasse camp (15,346 IDPs), Sergbeh camp (28,300 IDPs), Ricks Camp (12,894 IDPs) and Plumkor (a new camp population not yet defined).

2.3. Other IDPs are located in various camps in the Northwest part of Liberia: Cari 1 & 2 and Totota camps in Bong County, Kakata camp in Margibi County, Ganta camp in Nimba county and Buchana camp in Grand Bassa County. Sinje camp in Grand Cape Mount County was closed due to rebel’s attack of late June in this County.

2.4. With the fighting ongoing in Lofa and Gbaporlu counties, Liberia remains a great concern for Mano River Union and Cote d’Ivoire as far as stability in the region is concerned.

2.5. There is still an urgent need for food, health services and shelter for displaced persons victimized by this civil war in Liberia.

2.6. Five nurses of MERCI (International NGO) abducted from Sinje in mid-June by the LURD were

released.

2. Programme activities

3.1. An Inter-Agency rapid assessment mission to Grand Cape Mount County was

organized the 5 august 2002 with the participation of OCHA, UNICEF, UNFSO and WHO and some Government Members (the National Security Adviser of the President and a Member of the Parliament). The objective of the mission was to evaluate the

Humanitarian situation after the recent rebels attack (June 20th) in Grand Cape Mount

County. The assessment team observed that the population is slowly returning to their homes because the area became safer than before. Thus another assessment mission after one month is recommended before humanitarian partners can provide any assistance. WHO planned to intervene in this county through the Ministry of Health to assist the districts health services with training of the health personnel and essential drugs supply.

3.2. Individual contacts and meeting were undertaken by WHO with partners intervening in Health Sector for IDPs (UNICEF, OCHA, MSF, SCF, WV, LWF, and key focal persons of the Ministry of Health). These contacts were followed by an initial visit in the five IDP camps in Montserado County (Jartondo, Wilson, Blamasse, Ricks and Seigbeh).

3.3. WHO and the Ministry of Health organized a joint IDP camps assessment in Montserado County on 27-28 August 2002. The specific objectives were to identify the existing NGOs in the camps, to assess the water and sanitation conditions and the adequacy of existing response capacity and immediate additional needs.

The following observations came out from the assessment:

- More than five multi-sectoral NGOs are intervening in each IDP camp with a lead NGO for the camp management.

- Water is provided to IDPs by hand pumps installed in the camps. However the chlorination of the water remains insufficient and can be the main causes of the increasing of diarrhoea cases in the camps.

- Health care is deficient in the camps with lack of 24 hours health services, poor nutrition, no epidemiological surveillance and uncoordinated routine immunization services with high risk of measles epidemic.

3. Coordination Meetings:

- IDP Multi-sectoral coordination meetings on 8 august 2002 at EU conference room where a review of the security situation was presented and the update of the activities by sector (Food and Nutrition, Health, Water and Sanitation, Shelter and Non-food items, Protection and Education) was done by agencies.

- Humanitarian coordination Meeting at UNDP conference room on 29 august 2002 where an update of humanitarian situation and other related issues were discussed.

- Health Coordination meeting at MoH conference room on 29 august 2002, meeting discussed the only agenda of increase of diarrhoea cases in Monrovia and the coordination of health activities in IDP camps: each agency should be prepare for Cholera prevention, twenty four hours health services and immunization should be implemented in all IDPs, all NGOs involved in Health activities in IDP camps should attend the Health coordination meetings.

4. Others: Liberia war affected map.

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EMERGENCY AND HUMANITARIAN ACTION

WHO Liberia

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