Evacuation of Liberian refugees from Tabou, Côte d Ivoire, February 2003 (Photo: UNHCR/N.Behring) Repatriation & Reintegration of Liberian Refugees

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1 Evacuation of Liberian refugees from Tabou, Côte d Ivoire, February 2003 (Photo: UNHCR/N.Behring) Repatriation & Reintegration of Liberian Refugees

2 Supplementary Appeal Contents Page Major developments... 3 Protection concerns... 3 Strategy... 4 Operations... 6 Co-ordination... 7 Financial requirements... 8 Maps Liberia and neighbouring countries Expected number of Liberian returnees by county of origin 2

3 Major developments The month of August 2003 marked an important turning point in the history of Liberia raising hopes of a gradual return to stability after fourteen years of bitter strife. The Liberian Government, rebel groups, political parties and civil society leaders signed a Comprehensive Peace Agreement in Accra, Ghana, and reached consensus over the formation of a National Government of Transition which was installed on 14 October For hundreds of thousands of refugees and IDPs the main victims of the protracted civil war which produced a death toll exceeding 200,000 there are noteworthy indications that this time the peace will hold. The Comprehensive Peace Agreement stipulates the disarmament and demobilization of fighters as a prelude to elections within two years. Moreover, for the first time in the recent history of the Liberian conflict the international community has demonstrated its willingness to mobilise the resources needed to bring peace and stability to the country. On 19 September, under Resolution 1509, the UN Security Council established the United Nations Mission in Liberia with Chapter VII powers to restore peace. UNMIL s mandate includes inter alia supporting the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of excombatants, and assisting the National Government of Transition to restructure the security sector and re-establish national authority throughout the country. The 15,000- strong UN peacekeeping force is scheduled to reach full strength by June Improvements in the security situation are expected to create a pull factor for Liberian refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) to return to their places of origin. Returns are expected to intensify in the run up to general elections, which should take place in the second half of More than 320,000 Liberian refugees remain in exile mainly in Guinea (146,699), Sierra Leone (67,637), Côte d Ivoire (67,032) and Ghana (42,400). Meanwhile, an estimated 500,000 IDPs are scattered across Liberia, of whom some 200,000 are in and around Monrovia. Repatriation & Reintegration of Liberian Refugees Protection concerns The active involvement of the international community will be crucial to the restoration of stability in Liberia. Issues on which the Government will need support as a matter of urgency include enhancing the protection and physical safety of civilians (including returnees and IDPs), peace building and reconciliation, property restitution and restoration of the dysfunctional police and judiciary. Long years of civil war gave rise to serious violations of human rights by state and non state actors. The protection of civilians was compromised severely and the condition of IDPs thousands of whom were displaced repeatedly inside Liberia is characterised by poverty, trauma, malnutrition and deteriorating health. In addition to the masses that took shelter in public facilities (schools, clinics, stadiums) in Monrovia during the last round of fighting, there are large IDP concentrations in Harbel, Totota-Salala-Kakata, along the Gbarnga corridor, Buchanan and in Nimba County. The effective handling of ex-combatants will be critical to the consolidation of peace in Liberia; failure could be a dangerous Up to 58,000 combatants from different factions are believed to still be armed inside Liberia. (Photo: UNHCR) 3

4 Supplementary Appeal destabilising factor for the country and its neighbours, given that the sub-region is home to a floating population of veterans from multiple conflicts who are available to fight for anyone who will pay and give licence to loot. Therefore, along with other actors, UNHCR is advocating for and will contribute to the implementation of regional disarmament, demobilisation, reintegration and rehabilitation (DDRR) programmes. UNMIL estimates put the number of fighters in Liberia between 48,000 and 58,000 and there remain grave concerns that in the absence of effective regional DDRR programmes, fighters may simply drift into neighbouring countries in search of employment. Addressing gender-based violence and its root causes, continues to be a key objective for humanitarian agencies in the region. Entrenched gender inequalities have left women and girls vulnerable to different forms of gender-based violence, including sexual exploitation. Strategy Main objectives Participate with other stakeholders in developing frameworks to ensure the safety and dignity of Liberians who opt to repatriate. Facilitate the voluntary repatriation of Liberians who express the desire to return to areas where minimum security conditions are in place. Conduct monitoring activities to ensure that returnees are properly reintegrated into society and that their civil rights are respected. Initiate community-based reintegration activities in the main areas of return to ensure that returnees have access to basic facilities. Extend assistance to IDPs, particularly in areas where they are mixed with refugees or returnees. UNHCR s programmes will be governed by an overall strategy of facilitating the voluntary repatriation and reintegration Liberian refugees in areas that are deemed safe for return. Along with other stakeholders, UNHCR will be involved in establishing criteria, concerning mainly security, upon which to base decisions on the durable return of displaced Liberians. At the sub-regional level, UNHCR will begin collaboration with governments hosting Liberian refugees aimed at developing frameworks (including Tripartite Agreements) to ensure that return is safe and dignified. This collaboration will focus inter alia on legal matters, screening, registration, mass information campaigns and convoy operations. At the political level, UNHCR will endeavour to ensure that refugee and returnee protection issues are taken into account in the reconciliation process. Refugees who opt to return to their places of origin before these areas are declared safe will, security conditions permitting, benefit from community based assistance programmes. Meanwhile, UNHCR will monitor the situation of returnees in their places of origin and support Government efforts to help them recover their property and gain access to land by way of promoting reconciliation. UNHCR will continue to collaborate with other United Nations agencies, the ICRC and NGOs to respond to the needs of IDPs in Liberia. Where IDPs are mixed with refugees or returnees, UNHCR will provide them with material assistance and if conditions permit transportation to their places of origin, where they will receive limited support for their reintegration. UNHCR s support for the IDP population is provided at the request of the UN Emergency Relief Co-ordinator and in line with relevant General Assembly Resolutions and EXCOM Conclusions 1. 1 A/RES/47/105 (1992), A/RES/53/125 (1999), EXCOM Conclusion 75 (1994) 4

5 UNHCR will implement short-term community based reintegration projects aimed at mitigating the pressures that returning populations will impose on existing social and economic infrastructure. In most areas of return access to food, water and basic services is expected to be poor or non-existent due to widespread dilapidation and war damage. Humanitarian needs in Liberia are extensive and the capacity of Government, NGOs and other partners will take time to build. UNHCR s reintegration projects will be limited in both time and scope, and will be designed in accordance with the High Commissioner s policy on the 4Rs (Repatriation, Reintegration, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction). The 4Rs defines UNHCR s role in the post-conflict reconstruction of war-affected societies and the reintegration of displaced populations, and is the subject of partnerships with organisations such as UNDP and the World Bank which are devoted to the delivery of longer-term development programmes. Lessons will be drawn from experiences in Sierra Leone where the 4Rs is being put into practice effectively. The active involvement of beneficiaries will be sought during all stages of programme implementation. A position of Gender Advisor has been established to support efforts to enhance the participation of women in both the peace process and reintegration programmes. The Advisor will also provide guidance and technical support to UNHCR and implementing partner staff, building on ongoing efforts to promote gender equity among refugees in countries of asylum. Priorities include enhancing women s participation in decision-making, building the capacity of groups to address the individual needs of survivors of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and facilitating increased involvement of men in addressing SGBV issues. Meanwhile UNHCR will collaborate closely with UNICEF and other child protection organisations to ensure that the specific needs of children are met. Repatriation & Reintegration of Liberian Refugees Roads that are substandard at the best of times swiftly become impassable during the rainy season (Photo: UNHCR) 5

6 Supplementary Appeal Operations Beneficiaries Direct beneficiaries of the supplementary programme include 150,000 returnees who are described in the table below. Most of the Liberian refugees in neighbouring countries originate from the counties of Grand Cape Mount, Lofa, Bong, Nimba, Grand Geddeh and Maryland. Meanwhile, intense conflict during the first half of 2003 and the ensuing population flows led to a blending of IDPs with refugees, of whom 50,000 mainly Ivorians and Sierra Leoneans are registered in Liberia. Therefore, direct assistance will be extended to some 100,000 IDPs who are mixed with returnees and/or refugees. Returnees who will have arrived from 6,000 neighbouring countries by the end of 2003 (spontaneous returns have already begun to take place) Returnees who are expected to arrive in 100,000 Liberia in the course of 2004 most of them spontaneously once a degree of security has been restored in their places of origin. This figure is estimated on the basis of preliminary indications from camp-based refugees in the main countries of asylum. Returnees who fled back to their country 44,000 when war broke out in western Côte d Ivoire in March 2003, and who remain in eastern Liberia. Internally displaced persons who are mixed 100,000 with refugees or returnees TOTAL DIRECT BENEFICIARIES 250,000 with infrastructure in the vital sectors of water, sanitation and shelter. Investments will be made in trucks and light vehicles to transport beneficiaries and relief items to the main areas of return. Repatriation Without prejudice to discussions to be held with other stakeholders on criteria for durable return of displaced Liberians, the following basic conditions will have to be in place in areas of return before UNHCR can facilitate repatriation: absence of hostilities; security maintenance by UNMIL; ongoing disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration of ex-combattants; unhindered access for humanitarian workers; sizeable spontaneous return of IDPs to the particular area(s). UNHCR will facilitate return by providing beneficiaries with transportation to their counties of origin. During transit beneficiaries will receive hot meals and medical care. Upon arrival in their areas of origin, beneficiaries will be provided with repatriation packages containing basic domestic and personal items as well as multi-purpose agricultural and construction kits. 6 Indirect beneficiaries will comprise returning IDPs and local populations in the main areas of return, who will benefit from communitybased assistance in the sectors of health, sanitation, education, community services and protection. Support to operations The anticipated large-scale return will necessitate the urgent mobilisation of staff, equipment and relief items. As soon as security conditions permit, UNHCR will reestablish its presence in Harper, Zwedru and Saclepea, and establish new offices in Gbarnga, Voinjama and Bopulu. Provision has been made to construct ten 7,000 capacity transit centres Reintegration UNHCR, UNDP, UNICEF and other key partners have initiated consultations in the Field and at Headquarters on the implementation of the 4Rs in Liberia. Activities will be focused on providing community based assistance to needy populations by pooling and co-ordinating the resources of humanitarian and development actors. UNHCR s reintegration efforts in Liberia will seek to ensure that returnees have access to basic facilities. Therefore provision has been made for community-based assistance in sectors such as water, primary health care, sanitation, education, agricultural support and skills training as key priorities.

7 Repatriation & Reintegration of Liberian Refugees IDP children pump water in Brumskine Centre, Buchanan, which rebels looted the following day (Photo: UNHCR) Co-ordination A broad-based group of stakeholders comprising the UN Country Team, ICRC and NGOs is participating in the response endeavour through the Consolidated Appeals Process and other mechanisms. In 2004, the overall goal of the humanitarian community will be to support the peace process by focusing on key humanitarian priorities, including providing protection and assistance to vulnerable groups, implementing DDRR processes, promoting human rights and resuming basic services in the critical fields of health, nutrition, water, sanitation and education. UNHCR will take an active part in coordinating sectors such as water and sanitation, shelter, food, health, education, protection as well as DDRR programmes. The Liberia reconstruction conference, which is scheduled to take place in early 2004, will help ensure that immediate humanitarian interventions dovetail into long term development programmes. Given the sub regional dimensions of UNHCR s programme, co-ordination at the field level will be overseen by a Regional Coordinator based in Accra. Co-ordination meetings have been taking place at both policy and technical levels to guide the operation. A multiyear plan for the repatriation and reintegration of all Liberian refugees will be finalised in early Cross-border collaboration with UNHCR Offices in countries hosting Liberian refugees will be strengthened with a focus on screening, registration, documentation, tracing and family reunification modalities as well as convoy operations. Information will provided on a regular basis on conditions in the main areas of return. 7

8 Supplementary Appeal Financial requirements The UN Country Team is seeking some USD 137 million through the 2004 UN Consolidated Inter-Agency Appeal for Liberia. It incorporates UNHCR s requirements under the Annual Programme budget (USD 7.5 million) and the Supplementary Programme budget (USD 39.2 million). The Appeal also includes food requirements for Liberia of USD 40.3 million. UNHCR s Supplementary Programme budget is broken down as follows: SECTOR USD Protection, Monitoring and Co-ordination 9,129,130 Community Services 685,000 Crop Production 1,530,000 Domestic Needs 2,400,000 Education 2,000,000 Food 300,000 Forestry 100,000 Health 1,219,730 Income Generation 400,000 Legal assistance 1,160,000 Operational Support (to Agencies) 1,648,041 Sanitation 1,042,000 Shelter 4,000,000 Transport 5,955,100 Water 1,001,000 Total Operations 32,570,001 Support Cost (7% of Operations) 2,279,900 Programme Support 4,392,082 TOTAL 39,241,983 8

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