OCHA Sierra Leone Press Release

Freetown,18 April 2002 - As security was gradually restored throughout Sierra Leone with the completion of the disarmament programme, and the deployment of UN peacekeepers, national armed forces and civil authority, a Joint UN-Government committee progressively declared areas safe for the resettlement of displaced persons. To date, all but eleven of the 150 chiefdoms have been declared safe for resettlement. The remaining chiefdoms are all situated in the Eastern District of Kailahun along the border with Liberia and Guinea.
With the improved security situation and the approaching planting season, the displaced population has demonstrated an eagerness to return home. This is exemplified by the fact that 66% of the IDPs opted to voluntarily and independently resettle. Many more have already spontaneously returned to prepare the ground for the arrival of other family members. Sustained pressure from the displaced population has been put on the government and its humanitarian partners to accelerate the resettlement process.

The Sierra Leonean Government, in collaboration with UN Agencies, donors and NGOs has developed and is implementing a Resettlement Strategy, which aims to "support the resettlement and reintegraion of internally displaced, refugees and ex-combatants with their dependants back into their communities". UNHCR, the UN agency mandated to seek durable solutions for refugees, has been part of this process to better ensure harmonisation of the resettlement of refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs). As part of this strategy, resettling IDPs and returnees (refugees, who have returned) are offered resettlement packages. This includes a two-month food ration, household utensils, plastic sheeting and where feasible transportation. IDPs and returnees registering for resettlement are offered the option of collecting their resettlement packages in the area of their choice. For those traveling long distances, way stations have been set up along the routes offering water, food and temporary shelter.

The resettlement process, which began in 2001, resettled over 65,000 IDPs and returnees in two phases between May 2001 and February 2002. IDPs and returnees were mainly resettled within the Western Area, Southern Province, and the northwestern districts of Port Loko and Kambia. The third phase of the resettlement process commenced in March 2002, for which 155,000 IDPs registered for resettlement to the Northern Province and the Eastern districts of Kono, Kailahun and Kenema.

Provisions have been made with the National Electoral Commission to allow those people who registered in their area of displacement to transfer their voter registration to their area of return. To better ensure that people are not disenfranchised, the closing date for voter transfer is 30 April, after which no facilitated movements will occur until the completion of the presidential and parliamentary elections.

The focus of humanitarian interventions is now shifting towards rebuilding people's lives and communities. The most critical aspect of the resettlement strategy is support to community based rehabilitation programmes in areas of return, which have been devastated. Consequentially provisions of agricultural assistance and the resumption of basic social services such as health, water and sanitation, shelter, education and income generating activities are priority interventions.

All agencies acknowledge the enormous challenges faced and are aware of the potential strain that returning families will pose in the areas of return. Efforts are being made to ensure that limited resources are strategically targeted to address immediate community needs before the rains. Continued support of the international community to restore basic social services and resuscitate the local economy is critical at this time to prevent potential tensions and disruption to the peace process.

United Nations Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs
13 Bath Street, P.O. Box 1011, Freetown, Sierra Leone
Tel: +232-22-220770/220778
Fax: +232-22-228720