Aid delivery mechanisms established in Makeni

A United Nations mission to Makeni established on Thursday procedures with rebel leaders in the area to provide humanitarian aid to northern and north-eastern Sierra Leone, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Freetown said in a report.

Humanitarian agencies have been unable to access Makeni since January when the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rebels launched their offensive on Freetown.

Led by the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for Sierra Leone, Kingsely Amaning, the team included UN and NGO specialists in health, food aid, human rights and children.

In meetings with the team, rebel commanders pledged to facilitate
assessments and humanitarian interventions in areas north of Makeni, to return all stolen assets to their respective owners, and to accept the presence of Sierra Leonean relief personnel in areas under their control.

In light of these commitments, it was agreed that Medecins sans Frontieres (MSF) and Action contre la Faim would send teams to Makeni within 24 hours to assess the nutritional status of children. Food agencies would send a team within 72 hours to determine requirements. It was also agreed that UNOMSIL would make a human rights assessment in Makeni within a week.