INTER-AGENCY ASSESSMENT REPORT KAMBIA DISTRICT COMPILED BY OCHA, NCRRR & MoDEP JULY 2001 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Overall Summary Following the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) withdrawal from the Kambia District at the end of May 2001 the Government of Sierra Leone regained control of the District with the deployment of the Sierra Leone Army (SLA) and the subsequent deployment of the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) in early June, opening up the District after several year’s of RUF occupation. A Humanitarian Task Force for Kambia was established in mid-May. It was mandated to assess the humanitarian situation in the District, identify critical needs and plan appropriate humanitarian interventions to begin the recovery process. An inter-agency multi-sectoral assessment was conducted from the 14th-15th June in all seven of the chiefdoms in Kambia. This was supported by a further assessment by the newly established Technical Secretariat of the National Recovery Committee, which looked specifically at critical requirements for the restoration of civil authority. As a result of the RUF occupation and the engagement of the Guinean military, much of the Kambia District has suffered considerable displacement, degeneration and destruction. Whilst the whole District has been affected, principal findings from the assessments reveal clear concentrations of damage where rehabilitation needs are the greatest1. When examining overall destruction to housing, agriculture, schools and health clinics and coupling this with greatest levels of displacement, Gbinleh Dixon, Magbema and Samu chiefdoms have been the most intensely affected. In these chiefdoms, basic infrastructure has been largely destroyed, whole settlements have been deserted and most economic activity h as ceased and is only now slowly being re-vitalised. Bramaia and Mambolo have sustained lesser levels of disruption, whilst Tonko Limba has remained basically intact. The greatest level of damage to buildings was sustained in the northern parts of Gbinle h Dixon, close to the border with Guinea, and in Kambia Town and Rosino, both former strongholds of the RUF. Agricultural activities were most severely disrupted along the Greater Scarcies River in Samu and Mambolo Chiefdoms. Generally, there are very few government services throughout the District and there is little access to healthcare or educational facilities. Many government buildings of civil authority are in a state of dilapidation or have been partly or completely destroyed. Many staff quarters are in a similar condition. Basic furnishings and equipment are absent. Some Government ministries appear to lack the logistical and financial resources to re -deploy their staff, the majority of whom fled the District. Overview of priority interventions While there are clear priority areas of intervention, the needs throughout the District are great. The recovery process will be a long one, which will require considerable resources and commitment from all stakeholders. In the short term, it is vital that interventions are made to support: § health services § watsan provision § emergency shelter support (particularly in the rainy season) § seeds and tools distributions 1 See annexed map – Damage Overview 2 § food assistance for the most vulnerable § rehabilitation of critical transport infrastructure § restoration of civil authority § reintegration of ex-combatants and their dependants The humanitarian provisions are aimed at the existing population and spontaneously resettling refugees and IDPs. The provision of basic services will help to provide the appropriate environment for the facilitated resettlement of refugees and IDPs, when the chiefdoms are declared safe. These interventions must be followed by longer- term recovery projects focused on the rehabilitation needs of communities and the rejuvenation of the economy, into which reintegrating ex-combatants can be absorbed. § Health. Health infrastructure has been affected throughout the District. At least 50% of community health centres outside of Kambia town are dilapidate d through disuse and neglect. Most facilities require some form of rehabilitation and all require re-equipping with drugs, medical equipment and furnishings. Immediate rehabilitation of the less damaged health facilities should be undertaken so that basic health services are made available throughout the District. This should be accompanied by mobilisation of the Ministry of Health employees to return to the District. Longer-term requirements, such as the rebuilding of the hospital in Kambia town, should follow. § Watsan. Water and sanitation are problematic in all seven chiefdoms and require immediate attention. In Magbema and Gbinleh Dixon chiefdoms, only 5% of wells asse ssed were operational. Parts of Samu and Mambolo chiefdoms face similar problems. Sanitation is very poor throughout the District with estimation of only 35% of needs being met. A priority area for intervention is Samu chiefdom, which has a history of cholera outbreaks. § Education. The education has been severely disrupted. Most of the schools require rehabilitation to raise them to a minimum functional level and require the replenishment of teaching and learning materials and furniture. An immediate re habilitation programme of the less damaged schools in key centres of population should be prioritised to allow basic education services to resume for the new academic year in September. At the same time teachers and MoYES schools inspectors must be encouraged to return to their location. Support in the provision of their accommodation will be required. A longer-term reconstruction and rehabilitation programme developed for the entire District should follow. § Food security. There are indications of malnutrition in all communities assessed, with vulnerably perceived to be the highest in Gbinleh Dixon and Magbema chiefdoms. Supplementary and Therapeutic Feeding Programmes should commence to address malnutrition among the most vulnerable groups. School feeding should commence in the new academic year. Food and cash for Work programmes should commence to support community reconstruction programmes, rejuvenate the economy and stimulate the recovery process. § Agriculture. Agriculture and livestock production have been severely disrupted. Immediate assistance in the form of seeds and tools for spontaneous returnees (both refugees and IDPs) and existing farming communities so that they can resume basic economic activity. This should be accompanied by assistance with vegetable, cassava, groundnut, sweet potato, livestock, forestry and fruit production, as well as support to fishing communities. A longer-term 3 reconstruction programme of farming infrastructure in the District (stores, drying floors and markets centre s) should follow. § Shelter. In the communities assessed, 28% of houses have been destroyed, with Magbema and Samu chiefdoms showing the highest levels of destruction. Immediate shelter assistance in the worst hit communities is required. In the medium term, there is a need for permanent shelter delivery (zinc-coated corrugated iron roofing, wire nails, roofing nails, cement) and deployment of Ministry of Housing, Lands, Country Planning & Environment staff to provide technical advice, town and village planning, monitoring and supervision. § Child protection. Children in need of special protection measures, such as separated children, street children, sexually abused girls and child mothers, have been identified within a number of chiefdoms. Child-focused interventions, such as family tracing and reunification, education and skills development and promotion of child rights, need to be pushed forward. § Transport infrastructure. Many of the roads in the District are in a state of disrepair. Critical repairs to transport infrastructure will need to be addressed to support reconstruction and recovery efforts. Such improvements will also help stimulate the economy by allowing the freer flow of goods and materials. § Restoration of civil authority. Many civil authority offices and quarters are in a state of dilapidation or are completely or partially destroyed. Many government officers are absent. The same applies to the Paramount Chiefs. Rehabilitation of less damaged GoSL buildings and accommodation is a priority to allow the return of the civil service to the District and for the resumption of normal activities. Flexibility and pragmatism is needed to move the process forward. This will include the restoration of District administration, line ministries, customs posts, courts and prisons. Further action will also be required to ensure the police, who have already deployed, have the basic infrastructure to support their activities. This will include the rehabilitation of police stations and staff quarters. Synergy Recovery efforts in the District need to fit within a comprehensive strategy. The soon to be established District Recovery Committee will have a pivotal role in further developing such a strategy and monitoring interventions. Efforts should be made as a far as possible to create inter-linkages between critical issues that need addressing. This will include, for example: · The reconstruction of schools and health posts must be complemented by the deployment of teachers and health workers and appropriate levels of funding to resource and meet recurrent costs so that these facilities become operational and are maintained; · There is the potential to incorporate ex-combatants and community members into rehabilitation and reconstruction