Security problems in north hinder aid effort

The fragile security situation in parts of the Northern Province has hampered the implementation of humanitarian programmes, the United Nations Humanitarian Assistance Coordination Unit (HACU) reports in its weekly update covering 3-9 October. On the road between Magburaka and Matatoka ( east of Makeni) the Irish NGO, Concern Worldwide, has been prevented from re-starting relief activities by RUF/AFRC commanders who are demanding that food be distributed in areas under their control, according to HACU. Villagers are forced to give food to the paramount chief who then passes it on to the armed combatants. In Kambia District, near the border with Guinea, HACU has received persistent reports of armed groups seizing properties, demanding money and beating civilians. Such harassment has reportedly caused civilians to flee to refugee camps in Guinea or settle in villages close to the border. In Port Loko District HACU cites an aid agency working in the area as saying that groups of the AFRC were harassing civilians along the road from Port Loko town to Lungi, site of Sierra Leone’s international airport. Meanwhile, the security situation in the southern region remains calm, according to HACU, although elements of the Civil Defence Force (CDF) are reportedly harassing civilians in the Bumpeh chiefdom, south of the town of Bo.