UN FOOD PROGRAMME RELIEF SHIP BOUND FOR SOUTHERN LIBERIA

UN FOOD PROGRAMME RELIEF SHIP BOUND FOR SOUTHERN LIBERIA

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MONROVIA, 12 September (OCHA) -- The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) relief-ship, Martin I Majuro, steamed out of Monrovia harbour this afternoon (1300 GMT) bound for the small coastal town of Harper, some 236 nautical miles south of the Liberian capital, Monrovia.

On board, an inter-agency United Nations and international non-governmental organization (NGO) mission is poised to dock and enter Harper, territory held by forces from the rebel group “Movement for Democracy in Liberia” (MODEL).  The mission members, experts in humanitarian relief operations, logistics and security, will assess the humanitarian conditions on the ground, and the capacity of Harper port, and airfield, to facilitate future aid deliveries.  Harper is one of five regional hubs the United Nations has identified.  Access to Harper will widen the international net of assistance to Liberia’s most vulnerable.

“Reaching those populations in the interior is key, whilst at the same time preparing these smaller communities for the eventual return of thousands of internally displaced persons and refugees presently concentrated in and around the capital, and neighbouring countries”, said Daniel Augsburger, mission leader.

It is the first time the United Nations will visit Harper since June, after MODEL forces took control of the town, forcing humanitarian operations to an abrupt halt.  At the Port for the departure, the WFP Country Director, Justin Bagirishya, declared this mission an important first step in expanding the grasp of humanitarian assistance nationwide.  “Inroads are being made.  For the first time we are reaching out to the most vulnerable and offering them tangible prospects for stability, and a return to some sense of normalcy after years of war and poverty.”

Elsewhere in Liberia, a nutrition survey carried out this week has found that severe malnutrition is on the rise among children outside Liberia’s capital city, Monrovia.  The survey carried out by World Vision, World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the Ministry of Health indicated that children of ages six months to 59 months in the city of Tubmanburg (71 kilometres west of Monrovia) severe malnutrition is very high.  Of the 680 children screened, 22 of them are suffering from oedema, the worst stage of starvation.  If security were adequate, World Vision would move in quickly to provide general rations to children and adults in dire need of food and establish a supplementary feeding centre for the sick children.

Due to heightened insecurity and restricted accessibility, distributions outside of Monrovia are limited to small caseloads of targeted beneficiaries mainly under maternal-child health and children under five feeding programmes.  The WFP will cooperate with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and launch an Emergency School Feeding program for the beginning of the school year next month.  School assessments, determination of caseloads and locations are to be completed.  The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) indicated interest in partial funding for schools rehabilitation.

Within Monrovia, the food security situation is much better.  From 16 August until 5 September, WFP has aided 419,177 beneficiaries with 2,994 metric tons of food.  In addition, WFP distributed 337 metric tons of food to an estimated 62,130 people through special feeding programmes.  A WFP food-aid monitor was sent out to Buchanan on 10 September to assess the situation after the first distribution this week, notably with regard to protection of the beneficiaries.

An inter-agency United Nations and non-governmental organization mission yesterday re-visited Kakata some 50 kilometres away from Monrovia to assess the situation of vulnerable people in the BWI vocational institute and Felela primary school, in northeast Liberia.  While food aid remains the pre-eminent requirement, water and sanitation needs remain significant.  The international non-governmental organization Concern has renewed its sanitation assistance at the BWI Institute, where an estimated 3,000 internally displaced persons are located.  Concern will also recommence sanitation work in Totota.

For further information, please call Nicholas McGowan, tel.: +377 47 530 433 (OCHA Liberia); Stephanie Bunker, tel.: +917 367 5126 (OCHA NY); Elizabeth Byrs, tel.: +41 22 917 2653 (OCHA Geneva).

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