Humanitarian assessment in Lofa County

A group of humanitarian agencies that visited Zorzor and other locations in northern Liberia last week after Guinean troops reportedly shelled the area in retaliation for cross-border raids from Liberia said they found no wounded civilians. Workers from Action Contre la Faim (ACF), the Liberian Red Cross, Lutheran World Federation and the Liberian Refugee Repatriation and Resettlement Commission visited the towns of Baziwen, Konia, Luyema, Fissebu and Selayea on 28 September. They also visited Zorzor and traveled to within 40 km of the northwestern town of Voinjama, said Patrick David, who heads ACF in Liberia. In Luyema, the team discovered 800 IDPs, most of whom were Mandingos from Voinjama district. They had fled because of a dispute with members of the Lorma ethnic group. Among the IDPs were three severely malnourished children, David said. “Their situation could be critical if they don’t receive help shortly,” he said. Most other IDPs in the region have been integrated into local communities, unlike the Mandingos. David said the situation was calm in Zorzor, but there had been some looting in the town. Contrary to earlier reports, Zorzor was not shelled by Guinean troops, he said. Residents said the town of Yella had come under attack but it was unclear if there were any wounded.