LIBERIA:  NON-ESSENTIAL MISSIONS ON HOLD

New York, 8 October (Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) -- Although the situation in Monrovia has stabilized, there are reports of fighting between Government troops and rebel factions in Nimba and Bong Mines in north/central Liberia.  Agencies are exercising caution in operating outside of Monrovia, and non-essential missions are on hold, for now. 

On 6 October, the World Food Programme (WFP), resumed food distribution to the Montserrado camps for displaced persons and up country, following the suspension of its activities due to the clashes between the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD) and Government militias in Paynesville on 1 October.  This week, WFP, through its partners, will provide food in VOA, Blamacee, and Sawegbeh camps to over 27,000 people.  In addition, Catholic Relief Services will begin distributions in Harbel where 4,846 internally displaced persons will receive food in Unification Town, one of the 5 camps in the city.

A recent inter-agency assessment comprising Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR), United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), Action Contre la Faim, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, and Liberia Refugee Repatriation Resettlement Commission (LRRRC) visited Harbel and the Fendell campus areas on the weekend.  The assessment aimed to identify alternative sites in the Harbel area to house the relocation of internally displaced persons (IDPs), including those currently sheltered in the Firestone Plantations complex.  It also assessed the possible use of the Fendell campus to house IDPs to be relocated from shelters in Monrovia.  Movement to the new site at Fendell started on 7 October.  Meanwhile, UNICEF and other partners are also conducting initial IDP site assessments in Harbel, where there are some 3,000-5,000 internally displaced persons, and Fendell, with 8,000-10,000.  They are attempting to identify suitable sites for 20,000 people in both Harbel and Fendell where the humanitarian community can provide proper health care, water, sanitation, support in camp layout, movement of IDPs and shelter materials.

For further information, please call Rosemary Musumba OCHA Liberia tel:  (377 47) 53 00 48; Stephanie Bunker tel: +917 367 5126  (OCHA NY), Elizabeth Byrs +41 22 917 2653 (OCHA Geneva).

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