LibeRIA BULLETIN Bimonthly published by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees - Liberia

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1 LibeRIA BULLETIN Bimonthly published by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees - Liberia 1 October 2004 Vol. 1, Issue No. 4 Voluntary Repatriation Started October 1, 2004 The inaugural convoys of 77 Liberian refugees from Sierra Leone and 97 from Ghana arrived to Liberia on October 1, 2004, which marked the commencement of the UNHCR voluntary repatriation. Only two weeks prior to the beginning of the repatriation, the County Resettlement Assessment Committee (CRAC) proclaimed four counties safe for return Grand Cape Mount, Bomi, Gbarpolu and Margibi. The first group of refugees from Sierra Leone is returning to their homes in Grand Cape Mount. UNHCR is only facilitating returns to safe areas. Upon arrival, returnees have the option to spend a couple of nights in transit centers (TC) before returning to their areas of origin. At the TC, they received water, cooked meals, health care, as well as a two-months resettlement ration and a Non- Food Items (NFI) package. With the signing of the Tripartite Agreements, which took place in Accra, Ghana, on September 22, 2004 with the Ghanian government and in Monrovia, Liberia, on September 27, 2004 with the governments of Sierra Leone, Guinea and Cote d Ivorie, binding agreement has been established between UNHCR, asylum countries and Liberia. WFP and UNHCR held a regional meeting on September 27, 2004 in Monrovia and discussed repatriation plans for Liberian refugees and IDPs. WFP explained that despite the current food pipeline constraints, the repatriation of refugees remains a priority for the Country Office. Signing of Tripartite Agreement with Guinea Signing of Tripartite Agreement with Cote d Ivorie Signing of Tripartite Agreement with Ghana Signing of Tripartite Agreement with Sierra Leone This document does not necessarily reflect the official position of the United Nations 1

2 EDUCATION Grand Cape Mount In Gola Konneh District currently six schools are operational, while in Porkpa District two schools are currently open. In Tewor District, four schools are running. Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is carrying out Emergency Education Program in 15 different areas in the county. To reach the adequate educational coverage in the county, additional 52 schools will be rehabilitated. Two schools operational in the county, and 70 more to be rehabilitated to provide adequate education in the area (Bokomu District - 33, Bopolu - 25, Belleh - 6 and Gbarma - 11). Peace Winds Japan (PWJ), with UNHCR funding, is currently rehabilitating the Zorzor Central High School. HEALTH Grand Cape Mount County In Garwula District, Sinje Health Center 90% rehabilitated. Gola Konneh District - Lofa Bridge Clinic is 80% rehabilitated, in Porkpa - Damballh Health Center 80% rehabilitated and in Talla - Sombehum Clinic and Robertspot Clinic are providing medical services. Furthermore, rehabilitation works have already started on more health facilities. In Bopolu District - Henry Town Clinic 70% rehabilitated, and Bopolu Health Center 95% rehabilitated. In Bokomu District - Gbangay Clinic 70% rehabilitated, in Gbarma District - Tarkpoima Clinic and in Lango Lippaye School, Margibi, renovated by UNHCR and Liberian government Kongba District - Kungbor Clinic both 70% rehabilitated. Currently, three clinics, mainly mobile, operating in the county. Returnees to this county will be using Sinje and Teneh transit centers for medical activities and medical escort under the coordination of the African Humanitarian Action (AHA). In Zorzor District - Borkeza Clinic is fully operational. Luyema Clinic, also in Zorzor District, is undergoing rehabilitation and should be open by mid-october. Bolahun Health Center in Kolahun District is fully operation, but currently inaccessible due to poor road conditions. Maryland County. In Borobo District - Glofakeh Clinic provides basic services,. In Harper District - Cavalla Health Center, Fish Town Clinic and Rock Town Clinic all providing basic health services. In Kurluway - Karloken Clinic has basic services, and in Pleebo - Pleebo Clinic and Little Wleebo Clinic basic services. SPECIAL NEEDS GROUP During the repatriation exercise, UNHCR will ensure that special needs population is given an appropriate attention. Community services have already completed workshops for their field staff during which they were sensitized on treatment of special needs groups. Similar workshops are being organized for all partners involved in the repatriation exercise in collaboration with other agencies such as UNICEF and Save the Children Fund (SCF). The first of its kind was organized in the Grand Cape Mount County where the first facilitated movement of Liberian returnees is expected to take place on October 1, In the course of the repatriation, UNHCR and its partners will ensure that people with special needs are identified and assisted upon their arrival. Once they reach the transit center, the 2

3 identified community services partner will disseminate information on returnee entitlements, available services and the transport arrangements to their final destination. Separated children, with or without foster parents, will be identified, assisted and referred to the child protection agencies for follow-up monitoring, tracing and reunification. Child Protection agencies like UNICEF,SCF-UK, ICRC and IRC will be fully involved. UNHCR will ensure that the Extreme Vulnerable Individuals (EVI) are assisted and accompanied to their final destination. Follow up and monitoring of the same will be done in collaboration with the UNHCR partners. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS enough so that two people can loaded onto a truck. If you have a lot of livestock, then discuss with UNHCR field staff beforehand. Will I receive food while at the way station and during the trip? Yes, every refugee will be served cooked food at the way stations. There will be bread and sardines and water during the convoy. Will women receive any sanitary kits? Refugee women between the ages of 12 and 50 will receive sanitary kits with the Non-Food Items package (NFI). My district has not yet been declared safe, what do I do? UNHCR and the government will only facilitate movement to the areas that have been declared safe. Also, UNHCR will make sure to inform you of decisions related to the declarations of safe areas. What is medical screening? HOUSING AND PROPERTY COMMITTIES UNMIL Civil Affairs has been initiating the establishment of the Housing and Property Committees in all 15 counties in Liberia upon the completion of the DDRR process. So far, the committees have begun operating in Grand Bassa, Bong, Grand Cape Mount and Gbarnga counties. The Committees serve as mediating bodies in the cases when property of community members (including refugees, returnees and IDPs) is illegally occupied by excombatants. Before the Committee becomes involved in property disputes, owners of the property are encouraged to attempt to negotiate with the illegal occupier the property return. If the owner fails to reach a peaceful solution with What can I take as hand luggage? You are advised to pack your hand luggage with essential items you may require for overnight stay at way stations, particularly for children (i.e. sleeping mats, blankets, change of clothing etc). What can I take home? You will receive a travel bag per person and you will be allowed to take 50 kg. of luggage per person. To protect your belongings, the luggage truck will be sealed and won t be opened until arriving to Liberia. No luggage will be taken off the truck at the way stations. Can I take my live stock (i.e. chicken, goat, sheep)? Yes, you can. UNHCR will carry livestock as long as the animals are properly caged and provision for feeding en route are made by the owner. The cage should be big Refugees traveling by road can take 50 kg. and by air 30 kg. This is the general medical check that will be provided to all refugees at the transit centers. Also serves to identify sick people and provide appropriate care for them. the illegal occupier, the next step is to contact the superintendent or UNMIL Civil Affairs office, who will then organize a meeting between the Committee and the illegal 3

4 occupier. During the meeting, the Committee requests from the illegal occupier to vacate the property within two to four weeks, after verification of both parties claims. If the illegal occupier still refuses to leave the property, the case is then referred to the court and they have the authority to involve the police for eviction purposes. So far, however, the Committees decisions have been upheld and housing disputes have been resolved peacefully. The Committee is equally dedicated to helping community members as well as ex-combatants. Excombatants who vacated the properties voluntarily were assisted by the Committee in re-locating. GENERAL SECURITY SITUATION Security Council session voted unanimously on September 17, 2004, to extend the UN peacekeeping mission in Liberia (UNMIL) for another year. Grand Cape Mount County UNMIL s presence in the County, and their troops are based in Gbah, Sinje, Robers Port and Bo Water Side. Daily patrols along the main highway between and hours. Disarmament was completed on September 10, UNMIL s presence in the county, and their troops are based in Tubmanburg and Clay. Regular patrols between Tubmanburg and Poo- River Bridge on the main highway (24 hrs), and also in Bopolu and Lofa Bridge. Disarmament ongoing. Currently, no UNMIL presence in this county, but plans are underway to deploy by the end of October Patrols twice a week in Bopolu and plans to start patrolling UNMIL training for the new police recruits in Paynesville once a week to Lofa Bridge. DDRR completed in this county. Maryland County The DDRR exercise to commence on September 30, The food distribution to MODEL excombatants in the Harper District has begun. Nimba County The DDRR started in Sanniquellie and is expected to be completed by the beginning of October. The DDRR operations will continue in Nimba officially until 31 October for residual caseloads. River Cess County As of recently, the security phase in this county has been downgraded from level V to level IV. The DDRR process continued as planned although at a slow pace. The cantonment sites occupied at full capacity, meaning that large numbers of ex-combatants are disarming. Montserrado County The security situation remains relatively calm, but unpredictable. EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES The UNMIL International Police Service (IPS) in collaboration with the National Transitional Government of Liberia is offering the youth of Liberia employment opportunity to join the police. Take up this challenge and join the new Liberia Police now! If you are Liberian and have sat for the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) exams recently, then you are the right candidate to apply. Simply obtain an application for from our Information desk located at greater Diamond Building, 3rd Street, Sinkor, Monrovia, or at any of our Zones or Depots outside of Monrovia and submit it after completion to your nearest International Police Service office. We will process your application and advise you of the outcome without delay. (Advertised by UNMIL International Police Service in local Liberian newspapers.) 4

5 UNHCR Interventions by Counties UNHCR OFFICES SACLEPEA VOINJAMA ZWEDRU MONROVIA TUBMANBURG GBARNGA HARPER COUNTIES Nimba, Rivercess Lofa Grand Gedeh, Sinoe Montserrado, Margibi, Grand Bassa Gbarpolu, Bomi, Grand Cape Mount Bong Maryland, Grand Kru, River Gee TRANSIT CENTERS Ganta Saclepea Soleyea Voinjama Zorzor Zwedru Toe Town Perry Town Sinje Gbarnga Pleebo Harper WAY STATIONS Ganta Yekepa under construction Loguatuo under construction Bopolu Bo Water Side Salayea HEALTH 1)Methodist Hospital in Ganta operating. 2) Catholic-run clinic in Tappita operating. 3) Saclepea community clinic to be rehabilitated by MERCI 1)Borkeza Clinic operational 2)Rehabilitation of Luyema Clinic starts mid- October 3) Kolahun Hospital rehabilitated Rehabilitated 80% Gorwrogba Town Clinic, Kumeh Town Clinic, Polar Gberzon Clinic, Janzon Clinic, Putu Jaiwodee Clinic, Toe Town Clinic, Zai Town Clinic, Zleh Town Clinic, Putu Pennokon Clinic 1)HCR provides two ambulances. 2) UNHCR IP supporting health activities in Perry Town and Seighbeh camps. Operational: Bopolu Health Center, Henry s Town Clinic, Gbangay Clinic, Tarkpoima Clinic, Kungbor Clinic, Sinje HC, Lofa Bridge Clinic, Damballa Clinic, Sembehun Clinic and Robertspot 1) Needs adequately covered by health agencies. Basic services: Glofakeh Clinic, Cavalla Clinic, Fish Town Clinic, Rock Town Clinic, Karloken Clinic, Pleebo Clinic, Little Wleebo Clinic Barraken Clinic being rehabilitated WATSAN 1) Over 30 wells identified for rehabilitation. 2) Six hand pumps available. 3) Several private toilettes rehabilitated. 1) Assessment in Lofa for Watsan activities completed. 1)Over 54 hand pumps to be rehabilitated in 13 priority villages. 2) Several hand pumps/few private wells available. 3) 18 hand pumps identified for rehabilitation. 1) 15 wells to be rehabilitated in key districts of Montserrado County and will be involved in community training and slab making for individual family latrines. 1)Hope Int. Mission completed rehabilitation of 4 wells and 7 (two room) latrines in Totoquelle. 2) ADEN and JPF will be constructing wells and latrines in 6 districts in Grand Cape Mount 1) Water points and sanitation facilities have been rehabilitated in five primary schools. 1) Three hand pumps constructed in Karnweaken. 2) ICRC installed 3 new pumps in Harper. 3) In Fish Town 4 hand pumps being repaired EDUCATION 1) One public school in operation. 2) Mempa and Bellewaley community schools under construction. 3) PWJ rehabilitating 5 schools 1) Several schools rehabilitated as a part of the UNHCR school renovation project. 2) 10 Schools to be rehabilitated in Lofa. 1) 28 schools identified for rehabilitation by community and local authorities. 1) UNHCR partner to rehabilitate seven schools to in Montsserado County with community involvement. 1) Seven primary schools, including education offices in Tubmanburg and Robertsport, identified for rehabilitation by UNHCR implementing partner. 1) Gorpuldoloboi Primary School in Belefenai undergoing rehabilitation 2) Rehabilitation of 5 schools 1) One govt. school in Karnweaken 2) Little Wlebo elementary school under construction 5