ACT News Update

Liberia 01/04

ACT members assist Ivorian refugees in Liberia

Geneva, December 10, 2004—Staff representatives of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in Liberia and West Africa and Diakonie Emergency Aid (DEA), members of the global alliance Action by Churches Together (ACT) International, visited areas on the Liberia-Côte d’Ivoire border on December 1 and 2 to assess the situation of the Ivorian refugees and communities that are hosting them.

In early November, thousands of people began fleeing from their homes in Cote d’Ivoire into eastern Liberia after Ivorian government forces broke an 18-month cease-fire and bombed rebel strongholds. On November 22, the ACT Coordinating Office sent US$49,632 in Rapid Response Funds to its member in Liberia, LWF, to enable it to respond immediately to the situation. LWF was able to distribute urgently needed non-food items to the refugees, including quilts, layettes, assorted clothing, and sleeping mats. LWF was able to use donated stocks of supplies from ACT member Lutheran World Relief.

The team visiting the border areas, led by Kai Jelly, emergency officer for LWF Liberia, visited two major entry points for refugees - Butuo and Gborplay. Following the visit, Jelly reported that in LWF’s initial response, it was able to carry out a distribution of relief supplies in the communities of Gborplay and Garplay and plans to cover an additional three towns including Butuo, a major host community where there are more than 3,000 refugees. A total of 786 refugee families have received relief supplies.

The team also observed that both the refugees and communities hosting them are likely to face food shortages soon. The 28 Ivorian refugee families residing at the Butuo way station constructed by UNHCR appeared to have food for the immediate future, but the food airlifted there by the World Food Program had not been distributed at the time of the team’s visit, Jelly reported.

Jelly also said that there is also an urgent need to provide safe drinking water to the host communities for the residents’ and refugees’ consumption. The water and sanitation facilities put in place in the host communities about 14 years ago were either looted or damaged. The DEA staff member on the team is considering the provision of funds to support the rehabilitation of water and sanitation facilities and the distribution of food.

The residents of the host communities are supportive and responsive to the needs of the refugees, but are overwhelmed due to limited resources at their disposal, according to Jelly.

The ACT Coordinating Office urges ACT members to replenish the Rapid Response Funds used to respond to this emergency. This will enable it to offer immediate assistance through the fund as new, rapid-onset emergencies occur.

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