Slow start to Sierra Leonean refugee relocation

Although UNHCR received an agreement in principle for the relocation of thousands of Sierra Leonean refugees fleeing insecurity in northern Liberia a month ago, it has yet to obtain clearance from the Liberian government for the move to a safer site nearer Monrovia, UNHCR reported. Around 5,000 Sierra Leonean refugees have regrouped in Tarvey, some 200 kms from Monrovia in Lower Lofa County. They fled there in August after armed attacks on villages in northern Lofa which forced the relocation of aid workers and left humanitarian stocks and offices looted. UNHCR is seeking to transfer the 5,000 Sierra Leoneans in Tarvey and another 8,000 who remained in Kolahun in Upper Lofa. UNHCR has been able to move only 350 particularly vulnerable cases to Sinje, an existing camp which can accommodate another 15,000 - 20,000 refugees, according to UNHCR. There are 90,000 Sierra Leonean refugees in Liberia, around 35,000 of whom were in Lofa County before fighting broke out there in early August. Medical care and supplies, ferried by helicopter, are still available to refugees in Tarvey and Upper Lofa, but UNHCR is concerned for their security and that of aid workers. It also fears that access to the remote area could be cut off by fresh fighting. MSF, in collaboration with WHO and the Ministry of Health, has launched a vaccination campaign against yellow fever in Lower Lofa County, Star radio reported. Last month's fighting also caused the suspension of the repatriation of Liberian refugees to Lofa County. However, Liberians continue to volunteer to return to other areas from Guinea, Cote d'Ivoire and, since the beginning of September, Sierra Leone. In all, over 334,000 Liberians have gone home on their own and with UNHCR help since 1997.