The escalation of fighting between the security forces of the government of Liberia and the LURD dissidents from the end of 2001 throughout 2002, in Lofa Gbarpolu, Bomi, Cape Mount and Bong Counties caused displacements of tens of thousands of people from northern and western Liberia. There are currently approximately 190,000 Liberians living in 14 internally displaced camps and almost as many more living in homes of relatives. It has been indicated that the majority of the IDP population is women and children. Continuous fighting during 2002 has resulted in fear of those displaced, that return to their homes will be dangerous and inadvisable. In any case, most communities of origin have been completely destroyed. It is also believed that until the presidential elections scheduled for late this year are resolved and result in a convincing and sustainable peace, displaced persons will opt to wait and see and allow themselves to languish in Displaced Camps until safe living conditions can be re-assured.

The fighting in Ivory Coast has also added to the humanitarian problem in Liberia as thousands of Liberians who had been living as refugees in Ivory Coast had to flee back into Liberia. In addition, a number of Ivorians fled into Liberia as refugees.

ACT members in Liberia have formed an ACT forum and together have made efforts to co-ordinate their response in assisting the IDPs and refugees. Currently, the following members are in the appeal, Lutheran World federation / World Service (LWF/WS): Camp management, Shelter, Water and Sanitation, Psycho-social, Non Food Items, and Social Services, Lutheran Church in Liberia (LCL): Food and Non Food Items distribution, Health services, and Trauma Counselling, United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR): Heath, Shelter, and Camp Management, Liberia Council of Churches/United Methodist Church (LCC/UMC): Education, Agriculture, and Health. Other LCC partners wishing to be part of this appeal are the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA), and Concerned Christian Community (CCC). However, these two organisations are still in the process of finalising their proposals to form part of this appeal. The appeal is therefore, likely to be revised at a later stage to include the two proposals.

Project Completion Date:

LCL - 31 December 2003

LCC/UMC - 31 December 2003

LWF - 31 December 2003

UMCOR - 30 June 2003

Signed by:
Thor-Arne Prois, ACT Director
Geneviève Jacques, Director of Programme, World Council of Churches
Robert Granke, Director, Department for World Service, Lutheran World Federation

For full details of proposals and budgets, please click below to download a PDF file of the entire Appeal.

Liberia - Assistance to IDPs and Refugees - AFLR31 (file size: 130 Kb)

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