UN AGENCIES INCREASE AID TO DISPLACED LIBERIANS

NEW YORK, 14 November (OCHA) -– United Nations humanitarian agencies continue a wide range of activities to meet the needs of vulnerable Liberians, especially internally displaced persons.

Earlier this week, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) led an assessment mission to three temporary camps for the displaced -- New Lands, Soul Clinic and Barclay near Careysburg, which is roughly 20 kilometres from Monrovia.  The camps, populated mostly by people from Lofa County, were found to be in need of shelter, improved water and sanitation facilities, as well as increased capacity to deal with huge demand for scarce medical services.

In Montserrado County, adjacent to Monrovia, the World Food Programme (WFP) continued distributions to the displaced.  For example, more than 26 metric tonnes of food were provided to roughly 1,800 beneficiaries at the “Rick’s”, “VOA” and “Fendell” camps.  Also in Montserrado County, a measles vaccination campaign continued, bringing to more than 440,000 the total number of children under 15 who have received vaccines.

Further from Monrovia in Bong County, United Nations agencies and their non-governmental organization partners increased the amount of services rendered to camps near Totota, roughly 75 kilometres from Monrovia.  Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) will be delivering more than 200,000 litres of water to the Maimu 1, 2, and 3 camps, nearly double the previous amount delivered.   Action Against Hunger (ACF) is developing a plan to increase water and sanitation capacities as the campsites expand.  In the health sector, Save the Children-UK began construction of a reproductive health facility, and the Liberian Ministry of Health sought additional water and sanitation facilities in response to recent diarrhoea outbreaks near Salala.  To cope with the destruction of the hospital at Phebe, planning for a number of activities, including increased supplies of medicines and the provision of a mobile clinic, is under way.   The Lutheran World Service registered some 510 displaced families in Bong County and was providing support for the construction of temporary shelters.

Near Liberia’s border with Côte d’Ivoire, United Nations agencies followed up on a 10 November assessment mission to Saclapea.  The WFP was to deliver 24 metric tonnes of food to 2,700 internally displaced persons in the village of Lovee, 11 kilometres from Saclapea.  The WFP also plans to send an overland convoy to Saclapea in the next few days.

For further information, please call:  Stephanie Bunker, tel.: +917 367 5126 (OCHA New York); or Elisabeth Byrs, tel.: +41 22 917 2653 (OCHA Geneva).

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