ACT Update

Situation remains tense in Liberia

Geneva, February 17, 2002

Action by Churches Together (ACT) member Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in Liberia reports that the situation has been relatively calm on the streets of the country's capital, Monrovia, since the declaration of a state of emergency earlier in February. However, LWF has curtailed its humanitarian activities and have not attempted to reach outlying areas this past week due to the situation.

News reports say that the dissident force of Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD) attacked the western Liberian city of Tubmanberg, on February 14, forcing about 1,000 people who had sought refuge there from earlier clashes at Klay Junction, to flee. LWF reports that existing refugee camps situated on the outskirts of Monrovia, in particular two sites, have been designated for people who are internally displaced (IDPs).

The UN's High Commission on Refugees (UNHCR) is in the process of repatriating people from Sierra Leone and as the refugees leave, they make room for Liberians who are now displaced. However, LWF reports that repatriation is a slow process and that there is a need for extensive construction of transit and family shelter facilities at these sites, as well as distribution of non-food items, construction of latrines and bathing facilities. LWF has received urgent requests to help with the registration of IDPs at the campsites, construction of shelters and distribution of non-food items. The sites are considered secure and according to LWF, IDPs have indicated that they prefer these sites to the sites at Klay and Sawmill - locations that have come under attack in recent weeks and months.

Based on the assessment of the camps by an LWF team, LWF will begin the process of constructing transit shelters in co-operation with other humanitarian relief agencies that have already started with construction of shelters at one of the sites. Many people are still sleeping outside, with more and more making their way to the sites.

LWF also reports that about 80,000 people are displaced in Liberia. This number includes people who did not return home after the 7-year war - often because they had no homes to go to. Humanitarian aid agencies recognize that the International NGO community will have to address the needs of these people.