IDPs and refugees back on full food rations

The United Nations' World Food Programme (WFP) in Liberia has resumed distribution of full food aid rations to internally displaced Liberians and Sierra Leonean refugees. The caseload of the displaced has risen from 45,000 in January to 126,427 in August, while the number of Sierra Leonean refugees being assisted was 24,540, WFP stated this week. The UN food agency had reduced the quantity of bulgar wheat it provided in July by half because of delayed arrival of cereal commodities, Justine Bagirishya, WFP country representative in Liberia, stated on Monday. However, it had increased the quantity of peas by 50 percent to compensate beneficiaries for the reduction of the bulgar wheat, Bagirishya added. Humanitarian sources have linked the rising number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) with a government offensive against the rebel group Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD). The displaced people and refugees being assisted by WFP are located in camps in Montserrado, Bong and Nimba Counties. "In addition, about 11,181 beneficiaries are assisted through special feeding programmes in Margibi, Nimba, Bong and Montserrado Counties," the agency said. "Each displaced Liberian and Sierra Leonean refugee receives a ration of 12 kg of cereal, 1.5 kg of peas, 75 grams of oil and 150 grams of salt monthly," it added. WFP has provided food aid assistance of approximately 6,820 mt to assist the IDPs and refugees in Liberia in 2002, at a cost of some US $4 million, it added.