Liberia: Better access reveals acute humanitarian needs

(New York: 18 September 2003) - As humanitarian agencies gain better access to areas outside Monrovia, they are finding that humanitarian conditions are acute. A UN inter-agency assessment mission found that there are urgent needs for food, water, water containers and plastic sheeting in camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs) around Totota. In Tubmanburg, high levels of malnutrition and an urgent need for therapeutic feeding were found.
An assessment mission comprising comprised of the UN World Food Programme (WFP), the US Agency for International Development, and the Lutheran World Foundation travelled to Totota on Tuesday. They found that about 90% of IDPs have now returned to previously established IDP camps with pressing needs for food, water, sanitation, and non-food items. WFP will start distributing food on Friday, 19 September with the assistance of LWF/S and other partners. Meanwhile Catholic Relief Services continues its food distribution to IDPs in Buchanan on Thursday. Planning has started for similar assessment missions in Gbartala and Gbarnga pending a field security assessment, which will take place this week.

A rapid nutrition screening conducted by WHO, UNICEF, World Vision and Ministry of Health in Tubmanburg, Bomi County from 8-9 September revealed high levels of malnutrition. About 243 boys and 260 girls were screened. The findings showed that about 6.5% had severe acute malnutrition, 4.1% had oedema and 16.5% had global acute malnutrition. The group has recommended general food distribution to the vulnerable families. They called for urgently needed therapeutic feeding to cater for cases of severe acute malnutrition and provision of supplementary feeding to children suffering from moderate acute malnutrition including children below 6 months and pregnant/lactating mothers.

Security remains an impediment to humanitarian operations. There have been reported incidents around Kru Junction area. Reports of skirmishes in Ganta in Nimba County have been also received.

UN agencies are able to work effectively outside Monrovia as security and logistics allow. On 13 September, WHO in collaboration with UNICEF with Ministry of Health have ended the mass immunization campaign for measles in the three counties of Bomi, Gbarpolu and Grand Cape Mount. Over 13,000 children between the ages of 6 months and 15 years were vaccinated against measles and over 5,000 received doses of vitamins.