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Liberia

Liberia: UNMIL Humanitarian Situation Report No. 110

25 June - 1 July 2007

HIGHLIGHTS

- UNHCR ends voluntary repatriation of Liberian refugees

- Poor roads hamper delivery of seed project inputs in Grand Kru County

1. ASSESSMENTS / MISSIONS / EMERGENCY RESPONSES

CHAP funding update

The total registered funding for humanitarian activities in Liberia by 1 July was US$ 39.56 million (http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/fts.nsf/doc105?OpenForm&rc=1&cc=lbr). Projects in the Common Humanitarian Action Plan for Liberia received US$ 24.61 of the funds, 21.1% of funding requirements.

2. RETURN & RESETTLEMENT

UNHCR ends voluntary repatriation of Liberian refugees

UNHCR formally announced the end of its voluntary repatriation programme for Liberian refugees on 30 June. The programme started in October 2004 and has facilitated the return of over 105,000 Liberian refugees who sought asylum in neighbouring countries and elsewhere. The programme also assisted an estimated 50,000 former Liberian refugees who returned spontaneously.

The voluntary repatriation programme was a huge logistical operation implemented by UNHCR and its partner organisations, including the Liberia Refugee Repatriation and Resettlement Commission (LRRRC), GTZ and UNMIL. Poor road conditions, refugee reluctance, and other factors sometimes delayed the pace of the return process. A UNHCR mass information campaign to encourage refugees to return home proved successful in encouraging some refugees to return.

An estimated 80,000 Liberian refugees remain in asylum countries, most of these in West Africa. These refugees are expected to either return home by their own means or integrate in their countries of asylum. An LRRRC mission is planned for four West African countries (Sierra Leone, Guinea, Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana) to discuss integration of Liberian refugees in these countries.

Following the end of the repatriation programme, the focus is now on reintegrating returnees into their former or new communities, particularly in areas of high return. For example, Lofa County alone received over 62,000 refugees during the voluntary repatriation programme. The reintegration programme will help returnees acquire education and marketable skills and will provide small financial grants for starting small businesses. It will also support the rehabilitation of school, health, water and sanitation facilities, and other small local infrastructure in order to improve basic services.

3. FOOD SECURITY / LIVELIHOODS

Poor roads hamper delivery of seed project inputs in Grand Kru County

Heavy rains and poor road conditions in southeast Liberia have made it difficult for FAO to deliver seeds and tools to a seed multiplication project in Grand Kru County. The project inputs are currently being stored in Maryland County because the main road leading to Grand Kru County is presently impassable. The project is intended to provide seeds to 202 farmers and plant 28.8 hectares of rice for multiplication in Jlatwen, Big Suehn, Newaken, Blebo and Barclayville.

In order to address some of the problems related to lack of access due to poor road conditions, agencies in Maryland County have formed a task force to oversee delivery of humanitarian assistance to Grand Kru County and Barrobo District in Maryland County. These two areas have been affected by deteriorating road conditions since the start of the rainy season, and humanitarian access has been difficult. The Task Force comprises HCS, FAO, WFP, SARA (a local NGO), UNDP and Danish Refugee Council.

4. PROTECTION / RULE OF LAW

Land dispute committee formed in Maryland County

As refugees return to their former, or new, communities in northern, western and southern parts of the country, there has been tension between them and local residents over access to land and property. In Maryland County, a Land and Property Dispute Committee was established during the week to investigate and resolve disputes arising from land and property issues. The Committee will also conduct sensitization and awareness campaigns, peace-building and conflict resolution training, and will maintain a database on land/ property disputes.