UN responds to needs of returnees and refugees

The United Nations system in Liberia was providing all the assistance it could to respond to the influx of thousands of Liberian returnees, Ivorian refugees and other nationals fleeing fighting in neighbouring Cote d'Ivoire. In a statement to journalists in the Liberian capital, Monrovia, on Friday, UN Humanitarian Coordinator Marc de Bernis said Liberia had received about 48,000 Liberian returnees and refugees since fighting erupted in western Cote d'ivoire on 28 November. The humanitarian response to this new crisis included provision of food, health care, water and sanitation and shelter by UN agencies in close coordination with non-governmental organisations (NGOs), other humanitarian actors and government agencies. He said transit centres were quickly being established by the United Nation High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Karnplay, Toe's Town, Zwedru and Harper in Grand Gedeh and Nimba counties in collaboration with the German development agency GTZ. UNHCR had also chartered 23 trucks to transport Liberian returnees to their homes or drop off points. Construction of wells and latrines were also going on at the transit centres. The World Food Programme (WFP) had provided 64 mt of bulgur, peas, oil corn soya blend and salt in Karnplay, Zwedru and Toe Town. It also transported 5 mt of high-energy biscuits to these areas and started the distributions. Additional high-energy biscuits was provided by United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) which was being distributed by the World Lutheran Federation (LWF). UNICEF has also provided a mobile water treatment unit which currently being used in Nimba county. UNICEF has also made available nine movable tents to assist with shelter needs. A week's ration of relief food was being provided for returnees who were transported to their final destination, while daily dried rations' distributions was continuing. With the support of the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and other NGOs, existing medical facilities in the border areas, particularly in Nimba county, had been strengthened with additional human resources, drugs and medical supplies. The World Health Organization (WHO) had provided 25 cartons of emergency basic kits to Sanniquellie, Zwedru and Harper hospitals to strengthen health services delivery for the returnees and refugees. The kits contain surgical equipment, essential drugs and other medical supplies. An initial 4,000 sachets of oral hydration salts were also provided to combat the outbreak of diarrhoea. To prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases, the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) had dispatched some 14,400 condoms to be distributed by IRC to returnees and refugees. The agency had also supplied 100 kg of chlorine and provided fuel for motorbikes to facilitate chlorination of existing wells in Nimba county. In addition UNFPA has provided one kit each for clean delivery, post-rape, oral and injectable contraceptives and STI drug kit. Each of these kits is enough to cover a population of 30,000 persons for one month. On 7 December, to strengthen UN intervention, a large consignment of relief items valued over US $500,000 was flown by UNHCR into the country, including 3,000 pieces of kitchen utensils, 25,000 blankets, 700 pieces of tarpaulin, 10 jeeps and one 30 KVA generator.