Date: Fri, 22 Sep 95 14:25:50 EDT
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From: Emergency Information Administrator
Subject: Liberia: Civil OFDA-02
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U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (USAID)
BUREAU FOR HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE (BHR)
OFFICE OF U.S. FOREIGN DISASTER ASSISTANCE (OFDA)
LIBERIA - Civil Strife
Fiscal Year 1995 - Situation Report #2 September 21, 1995
Note: The last situation report was dated February 3, 1995.
Overview
After almost six years of war, the leaders of the main warring
factions -- the National Patriotic Front for Liberia (NPFL), the
ethnic Mandingo-based United Liberation Movement for Democracy in
Liberia (ULIMO/M), the Armed Forced of Liberia (AFL) -- and the
Liberian National Transitional Government (LNTG), which has been
responsible for the political administration of Liberia since
March 1994, signed a new peace agreement on August 19, 1995,
known as the Abuja Accord. The Accord, named for its signing in
Abuja, Nigeria, is Liberia's thirteenth peace agreement. It has
been embraced by Liberians and the international community alike
who see it as a peace accord with a difference. It is viewed as
a sincere effort to restore peace to the country and represents a
reconciliation between long-time adversaries Charles Taylor and
Nigeria, a consensus among West African States on Liberia and
direct involvement of faction leaders in implementing the accord,
all essential factors to lasting peace. In addition, the Accord
has enticed a small number of Liberian refugees to return home.
Prior to the Abuja Accord, Liberia had been in the throes of a
civil war since December 24, 1989. Peace-keeping forces from the
Economic Community of West African States' (ECOWAS) Military
Observer Group (ECOMOG) arrived in August 1990 to separate the
warring factions. ECOMOG policed and provided security for the
Monrovia area. At least seven major rebel groups were vying for
power in Liberia: 1) Charles Taylor's NPFL, 2) Alhaji
Kromah's (ULIMO/M), 3) a Krahn-based ULIMO splinter group led
by Roosevelt Johnson, 4) an NPFL splinter group named the
Central Revolutionary Council (CRC-NPFL) led by former Charles
Taylor supporter Tom Woewiyu, 5) another Krahn-based group
called the Liberia Peace Council (LPC), led by George Boley 6)
the Lofa Defense Force (LDF) headed by Francois Massaquoi which
is thought to have its origins with the NPFL and 7) the AFL --
the Krahn-dominated army of the late President Samuel Doe, now
headed by Hezekiah Bowen -- which had a hand in creating the LPC.
The parties to the conflict have had a consistent track record of
failing to honor the numerous peace agreements negotiated by the
United Nations (U.N.) and ECOWAS. As such, poor security in much
of the country and threats against relief personnel hindered the
delivery of humanitarian assistance to those most in need in
Liberia's interior. On September 18, 1994, U.N. relief agencies
and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) officially suspended
up-country humanitarian assistance. For the past year, relief
activities, for the most part, have been limited to Monrovia,
Buchanan and their immediate environs.
Numbers Affected
Out of a population of approximately 2,500,000, 725,000 Liberians
remain refugees in neighboring Guinea (397,000), Cote d'Ivoire
(305,000), Sierra Leone (3,000), Ghana (16,000), and Nigeria
(4,000). Approximately 1,000,000 Liberians have been internally
displaced, and while an exact number may never be known, it is
estimated that more than 150,000 people have died as a result of
the war. Liberia also hosts approximately 120,000 Sierra Leonean
refugees.
TOTAL U.S. GOVERNMENT (USG) ASSISTANCE for FY 1995 (to date) . $57,332,312
Political/Military Situation
So far, implementation of the Abuja Accord has been on track. A
cease-fire was put in place on August 26 and is generally
holding. A new LNTG Council of State (COS) was sworn in on
September 1, 1995. This new government, known as LNTG II, is
headed by Wilton Sankowolo, a civilian not affiliated with any of
the rebel groups and a respected language professor. Charles
Taylor, Alhaji Kromah and George Boley serve as COS Vice
Chairpersons, equal in status but each administering a distinct
government portfolio. Presidential elections have been scheduled
for August 20, 1996. The faction leaders have agreed to withdraw
from the COS during the electoral phase of the transition if they
become candidates.
Disarmament and Demobilization
Among other things, the Accord calls for the creation of
"assembly areas" to contain the estimated 40,000-60,000 rebel
fighters for a "demobilization, disarmament and reintegration
(DDR) program." Previous data showed that 6,000 of these
fighters were child soldiers who will require special assistance
to reintegrate into civilian society. Current estimates indicate
that the number may be higher. The assembly areas are supposed
to be in effect by mid-September with DDR to follow soon after.
The responsibility of monitoring the cease-fire and supervising
the disarmament and demobilization process lies with ECOMOG and
the U.N. Observer Mission in Liberia (UNOMIL) which was
established on September 22, 1993. Harassment and abuse of
UNOMIL at the hands of rebel fighters in late 1994 led the U.N.
Security Council (UNSC) to scale back UNOMIL's presence from 366
to about 44 soldiers. The UNSC also warned that, absent serious
progress toward peace, UNOMIL would be recalled.
The Abuja Accord prompted the UNSC to extend UNOMIL's current
mandate to January 31, 1996, and to increase immediately the
number of military observers by 42. The UNSC will consider
further augmentation of UNOMIL based on progress on the ground in
implementing the peace agreement.
ECOMOG also scaled back its presence in Liberia in 1995. The
supplemental troops from Tanzania and Uganda, which joined ECOMOG
following the July 1993 Cotonou Accord, have departed and the
core Nigerian and Ghanaian forces have diminished their troop
levels. The current size of ECOMOG is estimated to be about
7,000 troops. However, the signing of the Abuja Accord has
inspired new confidence on the part of ECOWAS toward Liberia.
ECOMOG estimates it may need as many as 12,000 troops to fulfill
its obligations under the Abuja Accord and continue the West
African multi-national peace-making force for an additional year.
Relief Efforts
In the spring of 1995, prior to the signing of the Abuja Accord,
relief agencies were beginning to have some access to up-country
Liberia after an absence of many months. Medecins Sans
Frontieres (MSF) successfully negotiated cross-border medical
deliveries, albeit limited, from neighboring Cote d'Ivoire and
Guinea for needy displaced persons trapped by fighting in the
interior. WFP, in addition to operating in Greater Monrovia, has
been working with various international and local NGOs to provide
food assistance up-country as areas become accessible. Recent
WFP/NGO convoys include: WFP/Save the Children Fund/U.K.
(SCF/UK) to upper Margibi County, WFP/Liberian Islamic Union for
Reconstruction and Development (LIURD) to rural Montserrado
County and WFP/Lutheran World Federation (LWF)-Lutheran World
Services (LWS) to central Liberia. In addition, WFP, Catholic
Relief Services (CRS) and SCF/UK continue to deliver needed food
assistance to lower Bong, Margibi and Grand Bassa Counties.
In May and June, NGOs conducted preliminary nutritional surveys
in Greater Liberia which indicated an alarmingly high incidence
of malnutrition. In July, SCF/UK conducted a rapid nutritional
survey in upper Margibi and lower Bong Counties, an area
estimated to have a total population of 330,000. The height and
weight of 900 children under the age of five years from 16
communities along the Kakata-Gbarnga highway were recorded. The
results of the survey revealed that 56.2% were acutely
malnourished (having less than 85% the normal weight-for-height
ratio), 42.3% were severely malnourished (less than 75% the
normal weight-for-height ratio), 37% suffered from kwashiorkor
(swollen lower limbs due to nutrient deficiency) and 19.1%
suffered from marasmus (skinniness due to nutrient and caloric
deficiencies.) It is estimated that a total of 20,000 children
fall into the severely malnourished category.
SCF/UK concluded from the survey that the lack of access to the
population and the consequent insufficient supply of nutritious
food, substandard water, sanitation and hygiene conditions in the
area was creating a nutritional emergency. SCF/UK also observed
that children between the ages of five and ten are just as
malnourished as the younger children. As a result, SCF/UK is
distributing food to the population and is working with
MSF/Holland (MSF/H) and MSF/France (MSF/F) to implement
therapeutic feeding programs, reactivate health services --
including immunizations -- and to address hygiene, water and
sanitation services.
WFP commenced its 21st general food distribution in Monrovia on
August 30, 1995. Over 7,440 metric tons (MT) of food are being
distributed to 161 communities in the city. For the first time,
rice, one of Liberia's staple foods, is being substituted with
bulgur wheat. Bulgur wheat is more nutritious and is a self-
targeting commodity that reaches those most in need. This
prevents emergency food aid from becoming a disincentive to local
production and reduces the beneficiary population's dependency on
international assistance.
USAID's Role in Liberia's Transition to Peace
After nearly six years of war, the successful transition from
emergency to rehabilitation and development activities in Liberia
will require a consolidated approach among donors, International
Organizations (IOs) and the U.N. USAID currently is working with
other USG agencies and donors to develop such a strategy to
support the peace process and assist Liberia in its transition to
self-sustaining development.
Much of the emergency needs will shift from Monrovia to the
interior as the displaced population returns to their homes and
as improved access uncovers heretofore unreachable populations in
need. Monrovia itself is likely to move from an emergency to
reconstruction phase rather quickly. Furthermore, emergency
relief requirements throughout Liberia are expected to diminish
following the return and reintegration of refugees, displaced
persons and combatants. It is anticipated that this
recovery/transition phase will take one to two years.
Due to problems with access in Liberia's interior over the past
year, BHR/OFDA has structured its grants to allow maximum
flexibility for the location of NGO projects. This has enabled
NGOs to relocate their emergency programs based on access
realities. This practice of geographic flexibility in grants
will be an asset to BHR/OFDA-funded relief providers in Liberia
as the peace process allows displaced persons to return to their
counties and villages.
U.S. Government (USG) Assistance FY 1995
Thus far in FY 1995, BHR/OFDA has provided $4,376,874 of
emergency relief assistance to Liberia. Negotiations for
additional grants worth approximately $3,000,000 will be
completed by September 30, 1995, the end of FY 1995. In FY 1995,
BHR/OFDA replenished 400 rolls of plastic sheeting sent to
Liberia in late FY 1994 from a BHR/OFDA stockpile. BHR/OFDA also
contributed funds toward the repair of the Mechlin River Bridge
which was in serious disrepair and is essential for the overland
delivery of relief commodities to Buchanan. The following NGOs
were awarded grants: 1) CRS for the distribution of emergency
Title II food, seeds and tools, 2) Action Internationale Contre
la Faim/France (AICF/F) for an emergency water/sanitation
program, 3) MSF/H for emergency health, nutritional and
water/sanitation activities and 4) Salesian Missions to train
health care workers and laboratory technicians. BHR/OFDA also
provided grants to two U.N. agencies: 1) the U.N. Development
Program (UNDP) for emergency assistance to displaced persons and
2) the U.N. World Food Programme (WFP) to support its food
distribution activities. BHR/OFDA expended $308,400 for
assessments and to support an Emergency Disaster Relief
Coordinator (EDRC) in Monrovia for one year.
In FY 1995, the Bureau for Humanitarian Response's Office of Food
for Peace (BHR/FFP) has provided 30,000 MT of food commodities to
CRS under the P.L. 480, Title II program. The value of the food
commodities, combined with the cost of ocean transport and
internal transport, storage and handling, totals $14,575,800.
BHR/FFP also has provided WFP with 80,830 MT of Title II food
commodities for the Liberia region so far in FY 1995 totaling
$37,101,700. The value of all Title II food commodities,
combined with the cost of ocean transport and internal
transportation, storage and handling, totals $51,677,500.
USAID's Bureau for Africa (AFR/WA) has provided $780,000 in
Economic Support Funds to Ghana to support the efforts of
Ghanaian President Jerry Rawlings, in his role as ECOWAS
Chairperson, in the Liberian peace process.
The State Department's Bureau for Population, Refugees, and
Migration (PRM) has approved funding in FY 1995 for: 1) $234,312
to the International Rescue Committee (IRC) for education
programs for Liberian and Sierra Leonean refugees in Guinea, 2)
$112,604 to IRC for assistance to Liberian refugees at Buduburam
refugee camp in Ghana and 3) $151,022 to IRC for assistance to
Liberian refugees in Cote d'Ivoire. PRM also has made
contributions to the general programs of the following U.N. and
International Organizations in FY 1995 in response to their
Africa-wide Appeals:
1) $44,000,000 to UNHCR, 2) $38,500,000 to the International
Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and 3) $10,000,000 to the
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
(IFRC.) Portions of these contributions are being used to assist
Liberian and Sierra Leonean refugees.
USG Assistance in FY 1995 (to date)
BHR/OFDA
Grant Amendment to CRS for emergency Title II food, seeds and
tools distribution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,346,147
Grant Amendment to AICF/F for emergency water and sanitation
project. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $538,917
Grant to MSF/H for an emergency health, nutritional, water and
sanitation activity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $600,918
Grant to Salesian Missions for training of health care workers
and laboratory technicians . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $134,572
Grant to UNDP for emergency assistance to displaced persons. . . . $800,000
Grant to WFP to support distribution of emergency Title II food
commodities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $500,000
Replacement costs for plastic sheeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$87,920
Repair of Mechlin River Bridge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$60,000
Support for EDRC and assessments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $308,400
BHR/FFP
Food donation to CRS and related transport costs
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$14,575,800
Food donation to WFP and related transport costs
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$37,101,700
AFR/WA
Contribution of Economic Support Funds to Ghana
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $780,000
State Department/PRM
Contribution to IRC for education programs for Liberian and
Sierra Leonean refugees in Guinea
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$234,312
Contribution to IRC for assistance to Liberian refugees at
Buduburam camp in Ghana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$112,604
Contribution to IRC for assistance to Liberian refugees in Cote
d'Ivoire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $151,022
USG Assistance FY 1995 (to date)
Total BHR/OFDA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $4,376,874
Total BHR/FFP.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$51,677,500
Total AFR/WA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $780,000
Total PRM.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $497,938
TOTAL FY 1995 (to date). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..$57,332,312
Historical Summary of USG Assistance (to date)
FY 1990. . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$48,486,065
FY 1991. . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$88,613,973
FY 1992. . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$69,456,785
FY 1993. . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$57,161,764
FY 1994 . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $108,427,667
FY 1995 (to date). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$57,332,312
TOTAL USG ASSISTANCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $429,478,566
William J. Garvelink
Acting Director
Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance
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