SAMPLE OF ORGANIZATIONS PARTICIPATING IN CONSOLIDATED APPEALS

Transcription

1 Liberia Revision Revised 24 March 2011

2 SAMPLE OF ORGANIZATIONS PARTICIPATING IN CONSOLIDATED APPEALS AARREC ACF ACTED ADRA Africare AMI-France ARC ASB ASI AVSI CARE CARITAS CEMIR INTERNATIONAL CESVI CFA CHF CHFI CISV CMA CONCERN Concern Universal COOPI CORDAID COSV CRS CWS Danchurchaid DDG Diakonie Emergency Aid DRC EM-DH FAO FAR FHI Finnchurchaid FSD GAA GOAL GTZ GVC Handicap International HealthNet TPO HELP HelpAge International HKI Horn Relief HT Humedica IA ILO IMC INTERMON Internews INTERSOS IOM IPHD IR IRC IRD IRIN IRW Islamic RW JOIN JRS LWF Malaria Consortium Malteser Mercy Corps MDA MDM MEDAIR MENTOR MERLIN NCA NPA NRC OCHA OHCHR OXFAM PA (formerly ITDG) PACT PAI Plan PMU-I PU RC/Germany RCO Samaritan's Purse Save the Children SECADEV Solidarités SUDO TEARFUND TGH UMCOR UNAIDS UNDP UNDSS UNEP UNESCO UNFPA UN-HABITAT UNHCR UNICEF UNIFEM UNJLC UNMAS UNOPS UNRWA VIS WFP WHO World Concern World Relief WV ZOA

3 HUMANITARIAN AND DEVELOPMENT INDICATORS FOR LIBERIA EXECUTIVE SUMMARY... 2 Table I: Summary of Requirements and Funding (grouped by sector)... 4 Table II: Summary of Requirements and Funding (grouped by appealing organization) CONTEXT AND HUMANITARIAN CONSEQUENCES CONTEXT AND RESPONSE TO DATE HUMANITARIAN CONSEQUENCES AND NEEDS ANALYSIS SCENARIO RESPONSE PLANS MULTI-SECTORAL FOOD SECURITY NUTRITION HEALTH WATER, SANITATION AND HYGIENE PROTECTION EDUCATION LOGISTICS ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES ANNEX I. LIST OF APPEAL PROJECTS ANNEX II. ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS Please note that appeals are revised regularly. The latest version of this document is available on Full project details can be viewed, downloaded and printed from iii

4 Nig er LIBERIA - Reference Map Kérouané Kissidougou Yéndé Milimou GUINEA Koidu (Sefadu) Beyla Guéckédou Macenta Mendekoma Foya City SIERRA LEONE Boola Voinjama Touba Irié Kolahun Kailahun Buedu Vahun Zigida Koulé L O FA Daru a ey Gb Zuie Kongo GRAND CAPE Sulima MOUNT Bo o an Tiene M Lake Robertsport an i Gumgbeta Palakwekkeh Tahn Bopolu Gbarma Sanoyea Tubmanburg aul St.P Haindi da Gbarnga Zorgowee Zuluyee Gahnpa Butuo NIMBA Belefanai Zekepa Zuolay MONROVIA Harbel G R A N D B A S SA Ca val ly Gboleken Dorgbor Zwedru GRAND GEDEH Toffoi Town Babu Chayee Town Garpu Town Kporkon Buchanan Ce ss Duabo Zeegbozohn Town SINOE RIVER GEE Fish Town 5,000 and above Tawake Neekree Klowen Greenville Sinoe Bay Nana Kru Martuken Kodeke GRAND KRU 2,000-2,500 1,500-2,000 National capital 1,000-1,500 County capital 800-1, Below sea level Tabou Garraway Beach Legend Grabo Gbawaken Boniken Barclayville Grand Cess 2,500-3,000 Nékaounié M A RY L A N D Blebo 4,000-5,000 3,000-4,000 Niébé Nyonken Saybliyah A TLANTIC O CEAN Nigré Yibuke Betuoken Kopo Bame Town Dube Yakakahn Juazohn Kayweah Town Bilibo Pelokhen Shabli River Cess Elevation (meters) Taï Boundary Town RIVER CESS Timbo Zagne Zleh Town Bolowhea Edina Guiglo Tobli Kangbo Town Marshall Hartford Guidobli Toulépleu ohn St.J Careysburg Duékoué Yourpea Jenne Chan CÔTE D'IVOIRE Toweh Town Klay Bensonville Blaneu Gborplay Bainakpale Palala BONG Yela M A R G I B I Wohn Kakata Kpawee MONTSERRADO Town Danané Bayleglay Tiayee Suakoko Zienzu Man Sanniquellie Diéké Belefuanai Foequelleh Salala Gbarta BOMI Yéalé Yomou n Nia Sinje Piso Salayea Belle Baloma M oa Lola Nzérékoré Zorzor GBARPOLU M Yella Via Kenema Harper Populated place International boundary County boundary Main roads Secondary roads Railroads km Disclaimer: The designations employed and the presentation of material on this map do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Map data sources: CGIAR, United Nations Cartographic Section, UNDP, ESRI, EuropaTechnologies, GEBCO, Natural Earth. iv

5 HUMANITARIAN AND DEVELOPMENT INDICATORS FOR LIBERIA 1 Population (2009) (1) 4 million Infant mortality rate per 1,000 (under 1 year old) (2008) (2) 100 Children under five mortality rate per 1,000 (2008) (3) 145 Maternal mortality ratio per 100,000 live births (2007/08) (4) 1,200 Life expectancy at birth (years) (2010) (5) 59.1 % of under fives ( ) Under-weight (moderate & severe) 24% suffering from (6): Stunting (moderate & severe) 39% Proportion of population not using an improved water source % (2006) (7) Number of Ivorian refugees and asylum seekers in country 36% Before Ivorian political crisis (8) 6,445 Since Ivorian political crisis (9) 93,683 as of 21 March 2011 Number of refugees abroad (9) 71,572 Percentage of population living below income poverty line ($1.25 /day) ( ) (10) ECHO GNA score(2010/11) (11) GNI per capita (2009) (12) UNDP HDI score and rank (out of 169) (13) 83.7% 3 (most severe) US$ :162 th (low) 1 Sources: (5, 7, 10, 13) United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Human Development Report The HDI is a summary composite index that measures a country's average achievements in three basic aspects of human development: longevity, knowledge, and a decent standard of living. The ranks run from one to 169, where 169 reflect the lowest level of human development in 2010 ( (2, 3, 4, 5, 6) United Nations Children s Fund (UNICEF), State of the World s Children 2010: Under-five mortality per 1,000 in Underweight (NCHS/WHO) Moderate and severe: Percentage of children aged 0 59 months who are below minus two standard deviations from median weight for age of the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS)/WHO reference population. Stunting (NCHS/WHO) Moderate and severe: Percentage of children aged 0 59 months who are below minus two standard deviations from median height for age of the NCHS/WHO reference Population. (1, 12) World Bank, Key Development Data and Statistics. Atlas Method, 2008/2009; ( (8) United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Statistics for Ivoirian refugees and asylum seekers residing from referenced country before the Ivoirian political crises can be found at Regional Representation Dakar (9) United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Statistics for Ivoirian refugees and asylum seekers arriving from referenced country after the Ivoirian political crises can be found at Regional Representation Dakar (10) United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Statistics for refugees originating from referenced country can be found at (unhcr.org/statistics/4a7303d39.html). (11) ECHO, European Commission s Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection Office, global needs assessment (GNA) can be found at: ( 1

6 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The ongoing post-electoral crisis in Côte d Ivoire continues to have huge humanitarian implications on the lives and livelihoods of people in the country and the region as whole, Liberia in particular. The violent incidents that followed the second round of the presidential elections of 28 November 2010 in Côte d Ivoire increased fear of an internal conflict. This generated an initial displacement of population both internally and in neighbouring countries, mainly Liberia. The humanitarian community immediately intervened to support the Liberian Government in addressing the needs of thousands of Ivorian families seeking refuge along the Liberian border. While life-saving assistance was being scaled up to meet the primary needs of the refugees, the political crisis in Côte d Ivoire further deteriorated. Subsequent violence and armed clashes forced thousands of Ivorians to flee into Liberia. To date, over 93,000 Ivorian refugees have already been registered in Liberia, with more than half of them crossing since 24 February. The majority of these refugees are currently in Nimba County. During the last week of February, sporadic arrivals started to be reported in Liberia s southern counties of Grand Gedeh, River Gee and Maryland. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Liberia Refugee, Repatriation and Resettlement Commission (LRRRC) monitoring teams make daily visits to the host communities to register people arriving from Côte d'ivoire at first sight. UNHCR and Governmental authorities have reported that the increasing presence of new arrivals is stretching the absorption capacity of the host communities whose resources are already limited. Given the ongoing political deadlock in Côte d Ivoire, it is expected that these population movements will further increase and generate a large-scale humanitarian crisis. While enhancing the current emergency response, the humanitarian community is now projecting that an additional 100,000 refugees will enter Liberia and will require humanitarian aid in the coming months. In addition, it is likely that Liberian nationals in Côte d Ivoire will return to their country, and third country nationals will also leave Côte d Ivoire for safety reasons. This group of returnees/third country nationals is estimated at 25,000 people. Therefore, this revised Emergency Humanitarian Action Plan (EHAP 2 ) appeals for resources for a projected total of 150,000 refugees, three times the initially expected refugee numbers under the original EHAP issued in January 2011, plus an additional 25,000 returnees and third-country nationals pouring into the country. (There is a separate regional EHAP for Côte d Ivoire and four other neighbouring countries to address the needs of refugees, IDPs, returnees and third country nationals in Côte d Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Ghana and Mali.) UNHCR and the Liberian Government together with other humanitarian actors are working to provide humanitarian aid to these refugees in Liberia. Clean water, shelter, food, health, protection, sanitation, education and security all remain the most urgent needs for refugees and local communities alike as they have very little to survive on. The Government of Liberia has agreed to recognize all Côte d Ivoire nationals fleeing their country in the aftermath of the election s crisis as refugees on a prima facie basis. The response plans developed for the EHAP for Liberia are in line with the four strategic objectives of the 2011 Regional CAP for West Africa: 1. reduce excess mortality and morbidity in crisis situations; 2. reinforce livelihoods of the most vulnerable people severely affected by slow or sudden onset crisis; 3. ensure humanitarian access and improve protection of vulnerable people; 4. strengthen coordination and preparedness of emergencies at national and regional levels. 2 Emergency humanitarian action plan is a term that has been used in West Africa to denote what are essentially flash appeals for sudden-onset or steeply worsening crises, but which are counted as supplements to the regional West Africa Consolidated Appeal rather than parallel appeals. 2

7 The financial requirements for the revised EHAP for Liberia amount to US$ 3 146,511,863, to cover the most urgent humanitarian needs for 150,000 individuals for six months (up to the end of June 2011). $35 million in funding has been received or committed to date, leaving $111 million still required. Key Parameters Planning and budgeting horizon Affected population Key areas of response Key target beneficiaries Total funding requested January to June 2011 (six months) 93,683 refugees who have arrived from Côte d Ivoire as of 21 March 2011; host communities; plus 57,000 more refugees and 25,000 Liberian returnees and third-country nationals projected Multi-sectoral Food security Nutrition Health Water, sanitation and hygiene Protection Education Logistics 150,000 refugees and 25,000 returnees and third country nationals $146,511,863 (equivalent to $837 per target beneficiary) 3 All dollar signs in this document denote United States dollars. Funding for this appeal should be reported to the Financial Tracking Service (FTS, fts@reliefweb.int). 3

8 Table I: Summary of Requirements and Funding (grouped by sector) Sector Liberia Emergency Humanitarian Action Plan 2011 as of 24 March Compiled by OCHA on the basis of information provided by donors and appealing organizations. Original requirements Revised requirements Funding % Covered Unmet requirements ($) ($) ($) ($) AGRICULTURE 2,931,500 5,863, ,930 9% 5,364,070 COORDINATION AND SUPPORT SERVICES 3,108,534 4,975, ,907 18% 4,076,961 EDUCATION 1,662,277 6,952, ,191 9% 6,334,405 FOOD 7,860,424 31,850,478 15,173,721 48% 16,676,757 HEALTH 3,742,496 7,361, ,221 11% 6,527,203 MULTI-SECTOR 31,016,007 79,775,368 15,466,375 19% 64,308,993 PROTECTION/HUMAN RIGHTS/RULE OF LAW 3,313,500 6,643,825 1,019,685 15% 5,624,140 WATER AND SANITATION 1,391,000 3,089, ,596 18% 2,539,708 Grand Total 55,025, ,511,863 35,059,626 24% 111,452,237 Table II: Summary of Requirements and Funding (grouped by appealing organization) Appealing organization Liberia Emergency Humanitarian Action Plan 2011 as of 24 March Compiled by OCHA on the basis of information provided by donors and appealing organizations. Original requirements Revised requirements Funding % Covered Unmet requirements ($) ($) ($) ($) FAO 2,931,500 5,863, ,930 9% 5,364,070 IOM 2,206,000 2,206,000-0% 2,206,000 UNAIDS 568, ,305-0% 547,305 UNFPA 813,250 1,433,800 99,636 7% 1,334,164 UNHCR 31,016,007 79,775,368 15,466,375 19% 64,308,993 UNICEF 5,715,593 18,882,133 2,730,961 14% 16,151,172 WFP 10,968,958 36,826,346 16,072,628 44% 20,753,718 WHO 806, , ,096 20% 786,815 Grand Total 55,025, ,511,863 35,059,626 24% 111,452,237 NOTE: Pledge: Commitment: Contribution: "Funding" means Contributions + Commitments a non-binding announcement of an intended contribution or allocation by the donor. ("Uncommitted pledge" on these tables indicates the balance of original pledges not yet committed.) creation of a legal, contractual obligation between the donor and recipient entity, specifying the amount to be contributed. the actual payment of funds or transfer of in-kind goods from the donor to the recipient entity. The list of projects and the figures for their funding requirements in this document are a snapshot as of 24 March For continuously updated information on projects, funding requirements, and contributions to date, visit the Financial Tracking Service ( 4

9 2. CONTEXT AND HUMANITARIAN CONSEQUENCES 2.1 CONTEXT AND RESPONSE TO DATE a) Context In the West African state of Côte d Ivoire, a political deadlock following last year s Presidential elections is pushing the country into an internal conflict, resulting in hundreds of casualties and a mass exodus of people fleeing the violence and bloodshed. Côte d Ivoire has been in turmoil since the second round of Presidential elections of 28 November 2010, with supporters of incumbent president Laurent Gbagbo and internationally accepted winner of the polls Alassane Ouattara clashing on the streets of the capital Abidjan and violence spreading to the west of the country. A majority of the people are fleeing into north-eastern Liberia, which shares a border with Côte d Ivoire. The population movements, which started immediately after the elections, have ranged between people per day. However following a sudden upsurge in fighting in Côte d Ivoire on 24 February, the number of civilians fleeing into Liberia has seen an alarming increase, with more than 53,000 people crossing over in a matter of days. Some of these have already been registered by UNHCR. The influx added to the existing registered refugee caseload of 39,784 people (11,517 families) is putting a severe strain on the host communities in Nimba, Grand-Gedeh and other counties located along the border in Liberia, where the local population already lives below the poverty line in an underdeveloped infrastructure weakened by several years of civil war. The Government of Liberia recognized the refugees on a prima facie basis and UNHCR and humanitarian actors have mobilized a response to serve their needs. It is assumed that more refugees could potentially seek sanctuary in Liberia over the next three months because the political situation in Côte d Ivoire is worsening. There were some 38,000 internally displaced people (IDPs) in the vicinity of the border on the Ivorian side before the conflict started, which indicates that with further violence these people could decide to move across the border into Liberia with the possibility of daily peaks of 10-20,000. Other factors such as clashes between supporters of the two parties, lack of access to cash due to bank closures, and price escalations are further aggravating the situation. Taking into account the developments in Côte d Ivoire and the current rate of arrivals, the humanitarian community has revised planning figures for emergency response in Liberia to 150,000 people by end of June, three times the number of refugees initially expected under the previous appeal issued in January The critical needs include food, health care services, shelter, registration, water and sanitation as the refugee influx is putting a massive burden on the already depleted facilities and services along the border. It is also essential to improve the poor infrastructure in these areas such as dilapidated access roads and bridges, to ensure the timely and uninterrupted delivery of humanitarian aid. If reconstruction work is not carried out as a matter of priority, the condition of the infrastructure will worsen with the onset of the rainy season in April, making some essential roads and bridges dangerous and unusable. The response plan will also focus on helping the local populations along the border, who have been hosting these refugee populations for an extended time. However, humanitarian agencies overall in Liberia are struggling with limited resources and capacity available because funding has been so limited. $35 million in funding has been received or committed to date to projects and activities in the EHAP, leaving $111 million still required. An additional $15.7 million has been reported for activities in Liberia outside of the EHAP. The support of the international community is therefore imperative to meet the immediate, essential protection and assistance needs of Ivorian refugees, many of whom have already experienced difficult conditions in their country of origin. 5

10 b) Response to date The response to the needs of the Ivorian refugees in Liberia is under way. In line with its mandate, UNHCR is coordinating the UN assistance in Liberia under the overall leadership of the Humanitarian Coordinator and in close coordination with the LRRRC, the entity mandated by the Government to collaborate with the humanitarian aid response. UNHCR and LRRRC provide strategic direction for the refugee operation jointly with other agencies. UNHCR and its implementing partners are carrying out actions across the spectrum including (among others) border monitoring, registration of new arrivals, camp preparation, shelter construction and distribution of life-saving items such as food and non-food items (NFIs). The Government of Liberia initially adopted a non-encampment policy, with the view that Ivorian refugees would be easily assimilated into the communities given their shared cultural and ethnic backgrounds and languages. However, taking into account the strain of the influx on the communities absorption capacity, increased vulnerability, poor road conditions and the distance of villages, the Government together with UNHCR decided to relocate refugees away from the border, on a voluntary basis. Two relocation options were provided: relocation to a camp or to one of 15 identified villages with better facilities. UNHCR has completed the preparation of a 140-acre camp in Bahn, some 50 km away from the border, with essential facilities and services such as water, sanitation and health, with capacity to accommodate up to 15,000 people. A second camp in Gerwee with an absorption capacity of 20,000 people is also being prepared to accommodate refugees. In addition, the Liberian Government is also in the process of identifying two additional camps for the increasing arrivals from Côte d Ivoire. Following a mass information campaign among refugees about their relocation options and a verification process to ascertain the numbers, on 18 February UNHCR and partners started relocating refugees away from the border. Since then, 495 people have been transported from host families to the Bahn refugee camp. In addition, up to 20,000 people have also been provided with food and NFIs. A secondary distribution was put on hold until the start of the relocation process. Those who opt to remain along the border would continue to benefit from community-based assistance, but it was decided not to provide them with individual assistance. However, with the onset of the mass influx after 24 February, UNHCR and partners were forced to temporarily revise the relocation strategy to deal with the large numbers concentrated at the border with host families and public buildings allocated by the Government. Therefore, UNHCR and partners have set up way stations and transit centres along the way, where refugees can stay temporarily while camps are installed. Until they are moved, refugees along the border area require immediate humanitarian aid. Therefore some limited life-saving actions will be implemented for those along the border including distributions of essential NFIs such as mats, blankets, jerry cans and plastic sheeting. With the start of movements to the transit centres and the way stations, further distributions are being carried out. UNHCR has also strengthened its protection monitoring network and registration capacity in Nimba County. It will also expand this capacity to the four counties bordering Côte d Ivoire. UNHCR is now working at directly registering refugees with its refugee registration software, to help ensure the reliability and efficiency of the data collected. While the mass information campaign for relocation, listing of intentions and actual relocation were ongoing, the surge in arrivals from Côte d Ivoire has increased the pressure on the international community to rapidly organize its response. UNHCR, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MoH&SW) through the County Health Team (CHT), and partners (Médecins sans frontières-belgium / MSF-B, International Rescue Committee / IRC, EQUIP, Council on Health, Education, and Social Services / CHESS) are providing health and nutrition services, including emergency referrals to clinics and hospitals, situated close to locations where refugees are accommodated in Nimba county. All refugees being relocated to the Bahn 6

11 refugee camp are undergoing observational health screening pre-departure by implementing partners and County Health Team, and systematic medical screening by MSF-B on arrival. Measles vaccination and screening for malnutrition (mid-upper-arm circumference), visible pregnancy, chronic illnesses, disabilities and injuries were also conducted. Some children between the ages of six months and five years were also screened to ascertain their nutritional status. All children between the ages of six months and 15 years have been vaccinated against measles (those who need it). Guidelines have been disseminated for the medical screening. Mobile clinics are being conducted in areas where there are no health facilities, and in areas where the nearest clinic is more than an hour s walk or more than 5km. The Emergency Health Information System has been established and reporting formats distributed to the implementing partners. UNHCR conducted an assessment in Maryland and River Gee counties as part of the preparedness for possible refugees influx into these counties. UNHCR is regularly participating in the health sector coordination meetings both at Monrovia and at field level. The World Health Organization (WHO), after supporting the rapid health assessment, has provided to NGOs 20 health kits supporting refugees in Liberia. Each covers 1,000 people among the refugees and host communities during three months in support to the provision of basic health care services including malaria treatment. WHO is also strengthening disease surveillance for early detection of and response to outbreaks in areas hosting refugees, endemic of Lassa fever and prone to other outbreaks such as yellow fever, cholera, and measles. In addition, and as part of the global agreement between UNHCR and the World Food Programme (WFP), the latter is providing food assistance to refugees. WFP has airlifted from the humanitarian depot in Accra, Ghana five metric tons of high-energy biscuits to assist the growing number of people crossing the border into Nimba County in Liberia. The United Nations Children s Fund (UNICEF) is supporting the Government and NGO partners such as EQUIP, Christian Impact for Rural Development (CIPORD), Action Contre la Faim (ACF), Danish Refugee Council (DRC), Save the Children (SC), and many more in urgently providing safe drinking water, nutrition, education programmes and protection of children from violence, abuse and exploitation. While UNHCR through its implementing partners is developing water and sanitation facilities in camps and transit centres, UNICEF is providing access to safe water for 17,500 people in the refugee influx areas. Distribution of soap, jerry cans, water purification tablets and sanitation materials has already begun. Supplies for water and sanitation for 10,000 people in a camp scenario have been pre-positioned in Ganta. A recent assessment showed a significant number of malnourished children. Nutrition screening and therapeutic management of acute malnutrition has already started in clinics in northern Nimba, and more clinics will initiate these in the next few days. UNICEF is supporting activities to prevent deterioration of the nutrition status of children and pregnant and lactating women, and provide nutrition support for HIV-affected families. With several reports of unaccompanied and separated children, UNICEF is working with the Government, the child protection network, including the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Liberian National Red Cross (LNRC), on priority actions: family tracing and reunification including prevention of separation; child-friendly spaces (CFS) in collaboration with the education sector; prevention and response (referral) to violence and abuse including GBV and child recruitment; and, monitoring of child protection issues. In the education sector, UNICEF will help establish, in the next few weeks, temporary learning spaces for children in partnership with the Ministry of Education (MoE) and SC with participation of local communities and Ivorian refugee teachers. Education and recreation kits are being pre-positioned, and more kits have been ordered. Sensitization and awareness campaigns on gender-based violence (GBV) and provision of psychosocial services to survivors of GBV are being negotiated and will be implemented through IRC, SC and EQUIP as part of the GBV network in Liberia. The overall coordination of these activities will be 7

12 established through UNHCR in partnership with the Ministry of Gender, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the GBV network. UNHCR is teaming up with IOM to identify and assist Liberian migrants and third-country nationals returning from Côte d Ivoire with the outflow of refugees. IOM teams are being deployed at the border to organize logistics of these returns in cooperation with UNHCR. Other long-term capacity-building interventions to respond to the migration management challenges are also planned at the request of the Government. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) launched a preliminary emergency appeal for $1.45 million to strengthen the Red Cross National Societies of Côte d Ivoire s neighbouring countries, including Liberia HUMANITARIAN CONSEQUENCES AND NEEDS ANALYSIS The current political crisis has led thousands of Ivorian to flee to neighbouring countries, with Liberia receiving the brunt of the influx. From November 2010 to mid-february 2011, UNHCR registered 39,784 Ivorian refugees. The rate of refugee arrivals then decreased to some a day in the first weeks of February, but swiftly increased again between 24 and 28 February with some additional 53,000 refugees coming to Liberia, following intensified conflict in Côte d Ivoire. The influx of Ivorian refugees into Liberia s Nimba County is taking place in a fragile socio-economic context. Liberia is recovering from a long conflict which had a negative impact not only on its resource capacity but also on the basic services provision and the public infrastructure conditions. Refugees are currently living among some 76 local communities along the border. While they were initially well received by populations which are often from the same ethnic group, the influx of additional population is stretching the limited resources and hence ultimately is expected to affect the self-sufficiency of the communities. The possible impact on host communities resources and coping capacities was already outlined in the Joint Rapid Assessment of the Humanitarian Response and Coordination of February 2011 carried out by OCHA, the Humanitarian Coordinator s Office, the LRRRC and UNHCR. Furthermore, health, water and other social services are limited and cannot sustain the pressure created by a sudden population influx. Finally, although the Government has increased the presence of law enforcement officers in the area, the border with Côte d Ivoire remains largely porous. UNHCR teams together with the Government of Liberia and NGOs continue daily border monitoring which will have to be enhanced to cover the considerable number of crossing points existing along an extremely porous border. Current efforts to swiftly move refugees away from the border for security and logistical reasons (as per the principles of the 1969 Organization of African Unity Convention governing specific aspects of refugee problems in Africa) will have to be enhanced especially with increasingly large numbers of people crossing the border. It is necessary to ensure that refugees live in a safe environment, have access to essential services including shelter and food, and attain a good level of self-reliance to avoid long-term dependence on aid. As a consequence, the humanitarian aid provided to refugees in the border villages, transit centres, refugee camps and in the designated relocation villages needs to be scaled up to meet the basic needs of shelter, food, water, sanitation, and hygiene of different categories of refugees and host communities. Profiling of the refugee families shows that majority are elderly, women and children. The number of single-women-headed families, adolescent girls, pregnant and lactating mothers among the affected population is significantly high. Number of unaccompanied and separated children and children at risk require immediate attention and referral. It is also necessary to provide survivors of GBV access to basic protection and assistance

13 The majority of the families abandoned their homes in a rush without being able to carry any personal belongings or household items and moved to safer locations in Liberia. While fleeing, families sought refuge wherever possible along the border: some found accommodation within the host families; some are squatting in public buildings (i.e. schools). Many grouped and live in the open while waiting to be transported to camps. The priority remains to complete the sites development and facilitate the transfer of refugees to camps where decent living conditions and better facilities can be provided. The Government of Liberia is committed to allocating additional sites to set up camps for refugees in order to have better access, protect and deliver services. However, as part of preparations for proper reception in the camps and designated relocation villages, the selected areas need to be cleared of vegetation and properly levelled. This requires time and adequate heavy machinery. In addition it is important that trees are marked to avoid cutting down perennial and seasonal crops to minimize harm on the ecosystem and habitat and reduce risk of serious environmental damage. Increased awareness-raising and environmental interventions among the refugees and host communities are required for sound environmental management and to prevent future conflicts from occurring over critical resources such as firewood, farmlands, water and other forest products. An initial food security assessment indicates that refugees food consumption is currently inadequate, and they along with the host population face risks of increased acute malnutrition. There is a need for full or partial food rations complemented by supplementary feeding of vulnerable groups. Shelter in camps and within the host communities is an utmost priority. Transit centres with the capacity to carry 500 people for two weeks are under construction in the camps to accommodate refugees pending construction of their individual family shelters. With the forthcoming heavy rainy season, additional emergency shelters have to be constructed to reduce risk of epidemic and disease outbreaks. NFI packages are being distributed to provide families with the minimum household domestic kit for cooking, personal hygiene and shelter roofing/flooring. More are required to address the needs of new arrivals. Refugees arrive without subsistence and depend on host communities. General food distribution providing basic food commodities started with arrival of refugees. Nonetheless considering that the price of rice, the preferred local food, has increased by more than 50% and casual labour costs decreased by less than 40%, food assistance will need to be regular in the next few months. Agricultural production and marketing support will mitigate food access constraints and will provide additional income opportunities to these vulnerable populations. Food security and nutrition joint assessments will be undertaken soon while urgent procurement and supply of necessary therapeutic foods, essential drugs and nutrition commodities has to be carried out. It is essential to provide blanket-feeding with ready-to-use high-energy and micronutrient-dense complementary food to prevent deterioration of nutrition status in children under five, pregnant and lactating women, and HIVaffected families for six weeks. To reduce potential vectors of disease transmission, water-borne diseases and potential epidemics, there is dire need for availability of sufficient amounts of clean water, safe access to improved sanitation and complementary hygiene supplies, and hygiene education. Temporary measures are established in transit locations through provision of bladders, water tanks and treatment plants, while hydrologic and geophysics surveys are undertaken to ensure access to water in camp sites and to facilitate development of adequate water systems for a regular provision of water as per international standards. With regard to health, institutional capacity-strengthening, deployment of adequate human resources, and adequate supply of essential drugs and medical supplies are critical. There is a need to address the leading causes of morbidity by strengthening child survival interventions, maternal and new-born health services, GBV referral, management of surgical and obstetric emergencies, psycho-social and mental health services, integrated nutrition services, surveillance of epidemic-prone diseases and malnutrition, and health information management. 9

14 In addition, poor sanitary facilities and inadequate access to safe water have the potential for outbreaks of water-borne diseases especially cholera and acute bloody diarrhea. One of the main causes of outpatient visits is diarrhoea and this could have severe consequences if there are no drugs to treat the severely sick. Access to quality and relevant educational opportunities in a safe learning environment is critical to promote the protection and psycho-social well-being of children and youth. Construction of temporary facilities for learning, teaching and play opportunities are required in camps while there is a need to expand classrooms in the designated relocation villages to accommodate additional students and provide furniture and scholastic equipment. Hiring of francophone teachers within the refugee and designated relocation communities is essential to ensure continuity of learning, maintaining the same curriculum used in Côte d Ivoire. Overall, humanitarian action is challenged by the dilapidated state of roads and broken bridges which make accessibility cumbersome in various areas where refugees are dispersed. The trucks delivering humanitarian aid have continuous breakdowns due to the road conditions, which need to be improved to facilitate logistics of the relief operation. The half-year long rainy season, expected to begin in April, will make roads even more difficult to pass. Urgent action is required to strengthen and accelerate the on-going road rehabilitation and bridge repairs. It is assumed that more refugees could seek sanctuary in Liberia over the next three months as the political situation in Côte d Ivoire is worsening: clashes between supporters of the two parties, lack of access to cash due to bank closures and price increases are further aggravating the situation. Thus the number of refugees recorded since December could increase with a possibility of daily peaks of new arrivals in groups of thousands. At this stage, relief needs to be scaled up not only to meet the current humanitarian needs but also to reduce the potential pressure that an increase of refugee influx in the forthcoming months could exert on the population at large. 2.3 SCENARIO The revised Liberia EHAP is based on the scenario of worsened security and large-scale humanitarian needs developed in the contingency plan for Côte d Ivoire which was updated on 31 December The scenario foresees a stalemate with no solution to the present crisis resulting in continuous escalation of the fighting and violence generating movements into Liberia of up to 150,000 people. Third-country nationals (TCNs) and Liberian refugees now in Côte d Ivoire could also be affected by the situation and flee into Liberia. While it is not foreseen that the 24,000 Liberian refugees living in Côte d Ivoire will be compelled by the situation to return to their country in the near future, some 25,000 TCNs and Liberian citizens residing in Côte d Ivoire as migrants may do so. IOM has foreseen assistance to some 25,000 Liberian non-refugees who may return until the end of June. The situation in Côte d Ivoire remains extremely fluid while the humanitarian community continues to monitor its daily development. A contingency plan for the scenario of additional population movements (estimated to be of 100,000 individuals by the end of June) is being developed. This will be reviewed regularly to take into account any deterioration of the crisis which may generate a mass influx. Therefore, the new planning figure of beneficiaries, including those already arrived in Liberia, is 175,000 people (plus host communities whose beneficiary numbers are hard to define). 10

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16 3. RESPONSE PLANS LIBERIA EMERGENCY HUMANITARIAN ACTION PLAN 2011: REVISION Overall strategy and priorities In order to address these humanitarian needs, the present appeal comprises: (1) a multi-sectoral project presented by UNHCR, the organization responsible for refugee protection, which includes core resource requirements in all assistance sectors; and (2) resource requirements developed by sector leads in close cooperation with UNHCR to reinforce existing programmes or establish new ones to address the pressure created by the new arrivals on the existing services and infrastructures. The main priority is to move Côte d'ivoire nationals along the border in Liberia away from their current locations due to safety concerns, specifically risk of forced recruitment, incidents of GBV, etc. Therefore, it was decided to move refugee families on a voluntary basis away from the border in safety and dignity. Initially the relocation plan involved transporting people from the border areas directly to camps and the relocation villages. With the increased movements into Liberia, the humanitarian agencies initiated a more pragmatic approach in providing protection and assistance. The relocation plan has been revised to include transitional measures in the form of waypoints and transit sites which have been activated, in parallel to the shelter construction in the camps. However, in case of a mass influx (steady influx of 1,000 refugees per day) it is envisaged that refugees will be encouraged to move on their own toward camp locations while way stations will support them with provision of basic services. Refugees will then be assisted directly in camps. Until they are moved, refugees along the border area require immediate humanitarian aid. Therefore some limited life-saving interventions will be provided for those along the border. This includes distributions of essential NFIs such as mats, blankets, jerry cans and plastic sheeting. With the start of movements to the transit centres and the way stations, further distributions will also take place. Overall, through the EHAP, humanitarian agencies aim to ensure a favourable protection environment, documentation, security from violence and exploitation and basic needs and essential services of the refugee caseload in Liberia. The Liberian post-conflict environment presents both challenges and opportunities to relief agencies and organizations involved in protection and assistance to Ivorian refugees. Among the challenges is the need to ensure that the remarkable results achieved since the end of the Liberia conflict are not threatened. At the same time, the response effort is a great opportunity for agencies to join forces in strengthening interventions and increasing the resilience of both refugee and host populations. For the sake of clarity and coherence, since all projects target primarily refugees, projects outlined hereafter in distinct sectors are grouped in the on-line Financial Tracking Service (FTS) under the multi-sectoral category. 12

17 3.1 MULTI-SECTORAL LIBERIA EMERGENCY HUMANITARIAN ACTION PLAN 2011: REVISION Sector Lead Agency UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES (UNHCR) Sector Members UN agencies, Government and other partners Number of Projects 1 Overall Sector Objectives Ensure that all refugees fleeing Côte d Ivoire into Liberia have access to multisectoral assistance under the leadership and coordination of UNHCR Total Number of 150,000 refugees Beneficiaries Funds Requested $79,775,368 Contact Information Ibrahima Coly: coly@unhcr.org a) Context and Strategy UNHCR in consultation with the Government of Liberia and the international community has decided on a two-pronged approach to this crisis: (a) a camp-based approach, where collective efforts will be made to provide basic services using the internationally recognized standards of camp management; and, (b) a community-based approach which will allow refugees to be absorbed into existing designated communities that have similar cultural backgrounds. The Government of Liberia in collaboration with UNHCR has already provided land to set up two refugee camps which will accommodate an estimated 30,000 people and has also identified 15 villages in Nimba County where some 20,000 refugees will be relocated. The current refugee sites are located within forest areas which require massive investments in terms of clearing, building of shelter and other infrastructure in order to make them habitable. UNHCR has begun the voluntary movement of the refugees away from the border to Bahn camp in Nimba County. Liberia and Côte d Ivoire share a 500 km border and therefore it is not possible to determine the span of territory that would be affected by an eventual influx. This revised plan is based on the scenario of worsened security and large-scale humanitarian need and preparedness measures for all four Counties of Grand Gedeh, Nimba, River Gee and Maryland neighbouring the border with Côte d Ivoire. The plan foresees a stalemate with no solution to the present crisis, resulting in continuous movements into Liberia with up to 100,000 people crossing the border in the next three months. TCNs, Liberian migrants and Liberian refugees in Côte d Ivoire could also be affected by the situation in Côte d Ivoire and flee into Liberia. The refugee influx is expected to take place in four counties: Nimba, Grand Gedeh, River Gee and Maryland. It is anticipated that 65% of the refugees will go to Nimba and 35% to the three other counties. The refugees will be hosted in camps and host communities. It is expected that 70% of refugees will be in camps while 30% will be in host communities. b) Main Objectives Ensure all refugees are legally protected in keeping with basic human rights standards and respect for the principle of non-refoulement. Ensure that vulnerable populations are protected and their specific needs addressed. Ensure the civilian nature of camps, relocation villages, transit sites and way stations. Ensure that GBV is addressed in conjunction with UNFPA. Provide safe and orderly emergency return assistance to Liberian migrants and third country nationals fleeing Côte d Ivoire in conjunction with IOM. Ensure that water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) needs are addressed in the refugee camps and ensure an appropriate collaboration with the WASH Sector lead (UNICEF) to address wash needs in the host communities. Ensure provision of preventive and curative health care services to refugees and host communities, including reproductive health services, in collaboration with the Health Sector lead (WHO) and partners. Ensure the assessment and the monitoring of nutrition, in collaboration with the Nutrition Sector lead (UNICEF). Ensure the provision of basic education, in collaboration with the Education Sector lead (UNICEF). Ensure the provision of safe and efficient transportation for refugees, humanitarian workers and relief goods/items. 13

18 Ensure repair or maintenance of access roads around refugee settlements and camps to facilitate access. Promote self-reliance and sustainable livelihoods for refugees. Ensure rehabilitation of air strips. Ensure that all refugee households have adequate, appropriate and secure shelter. Ensure the provision of food assistance in collaboration with WFP. Ensure availability of complementary foods for targeted feeding programmes. Mitigate environmental degradation due to the presence of refugees in the community and the camps. c) Proposed Activities Monitor the border and reinforce protection teams on the ground. Train partners in protection and human rights. Register, document and profile refugees upon arrival to provide necessary protection and assistance. Maintain the civilian and humanitarian character of asylum, safety of refugees at reasonable distance from the border, and safety and well-being of unaccompanied and separated children in conjunction with concerned UN agencies. Identify and provide support to women and children who have experienced SGBV during flight, including referral for psycho-social and health care services. Specific UNICEF support addresses child protection issues. Design and develop camps for refugees who will not remain in host communities. Construct transit centre to temporarily accommodated refugees in transit from the border to camp locations. Purchase and distribute shelter and building materials, including other NFIs for domestic household use. Construct adequate shelter as and when necessary in camps and in relocation villages facilitating beneficiaries participation in the construction process. Rehabilitate or construct educational facilities and provide material and furniture. Hire French teachers among the refugee communities. Conduct medical and nutrition screening upon arrival, identify and refer emergency cases to the closest health facilities, conduct required vaccinations. Provide basic primary emergency health care services and referral system, provide a minimum health care package and ensure the continuity of treatment for those in need in collaboration with WHO. Ensure access to health care in existing health services and support the strengthening of these facilities by providing additional drugs, supplies, and technical support in conjunction with WHO. Assess nutrition conditions of the refugee population in collaboration with UNICEF. Monitor nutrition programmes in collaboration with UNICEF and the Government. Provide water and sanitation facilities, including development of hygiene support in the camps and transit centres. Collaborate with UNICEF to provide water and sanitation facilities in host communities and relocation villages. Organize the secondary transportation of food and other materials and their distributions to the beneficiaries. Stimulate food production as a mean of income generating activity for refugees in camps and in the relocation villages through the provision of tools, seeds and vocational training. Awareness-raising on environmental protection and development of environmental intervention targeting refugees and host communities to prevent conflict and strengthen adequate environment management. Carry out rehabilitation or maintenance of access roads and bridges leading to refugee hosting areas. Rehabilitate three air strips (Ganta, Luguato, Butuo). Provide administrative, logistics, information technology/telecommunications to staff/partners and security support for the coordination and the implementation of interventions. 14