DISPLACEMENT IN CENTRAL LIBERIA COULD OVERBURDEN HUMANITARIAN RESOURCES

DISPLACEMENT IN CENTRAL LIBERIA COULD OVERBURDEN HUMANITARIAN RESOURCES

NEW YORK, 25 March (OCHA) -- United Nationshumanitarian agencies fear that humanitarian needs created by continuing fighting in Liberia could quickly overburden their scarce aid resources.  Fighting between Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD) rebels and Liberian government forces, which has spread from western to central Liberia this week, has resulted in a new wave of displacement of civilian populations from their homes.  In the past week, residents of Gbarnga, the provincial capital of Bong County, and its surrounding areas have been fleeing southwards to Monrovia and Totota, while others fled towards the town of Ganta, which is on the border with Guinea.  The road between Ganta and Gbarnga is now cut off as a result of the fighting.  The sharp increase in the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) raises concerns as to whether there will be enough food, water, and health materials with which to provide IDPs, and that health and food security among IDPs could deteriorate rapidly.

Aid agencies fear overcrowding in the camps could lead to heightened public health risk.  While existing facilities were still adequate to absorb the new influx, the current population movement to camps in Montserrado and Bong Counties could overstretch existing water and sanitation facilities, which could lead to epidemic.  With the rainy season fast approaching, there were already IDPs in camps at Bong and Montserrado without tarpaulin sheets.  The influxes of new arrivals in the camps place further strain on stocks of shelter materials that were already grossly insufficient.  Food security has become a critical issue as food aid stocks are being depleted quickly.  Unless resources are found to cover the needs pending the arrival of shipments scheduled for May, a break in the pipeline is anticipated for pulses in April, and for cereals in May.

Aid agencies will provide immediate assistance to the new arrivals.  The World Food Programme (WFP) is providing food aid to residents of eight IDP camps near Monrovia and others in Bong County and working with inter-agency teams to register influxes, and plans further distribution this week. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and other non-governmental organizations are repairing hand pumps and installing additional water bladders and increasing the number of sanitation facilities.  Several other non-governmental organizations are working to expand on the existing shelter to accommodate additional influxes, bolster health clinics in Totota and Maimu, and supply food and water for people trekking towards Totota.

Humanitarian agencies are being forced to meet emergency needs on a shoe-string budget.  To date, the United Nations Inter-Agency Consolidated Appeal for 2003 has received just 1.5 per cent of the total requirement of $42.6 million.

For further information, please contact, in New York, Brian Grogan, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, tel. 212 963-1143.

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