U N I T E D N A T I O N S

Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs HUMANITARIAN SITUATION REPORT SEPTEMBER 2003

KEY EVENTS district. A concern raised in Kono is that none of the Watsan implementing partners had the facilities or machines for testing water • Yellow Fever outbreak samples. This has been reported to the MOHS. • Security Council extends UNAMSIL’s mandate • UN Agencies and GoSL celebrate World Peace Day SECURITY HIGHLIGHTS • Nigerian lawmakers call on UNAMSIL Overall security UNAMSIL (United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone) reports the overall security situation in HUMANITARIAN HIGHLIGHTS the country to be calm. However there have been some concerns about security along the Yellow Fever outbreak border regions, particularly along the Mano The Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MOHS) River Union Bridge in the south. Similarly the has reported a total of 90 cases of Yellow Sierra Leone Police (SLP) are concerned Fever, from eight districts in the country: about the porous nature of the border in the Tonkolili, Bombali, , Koinadugu, Port Kamakwie, Tambakha and Koinadugu areas, Loko, Kambia and Kono. Of the 90 reported in the Northern Province that have resulted in cases (as of 29 September) four laboratory increased smuggling of goods across the cases were confirmed, all from the Tonkolili borders. The police have also reported hunters District, where majority of the suspected cases from , coming across, poaching and emanate from. Earlier, the MOHS gave out crossing back into Guinea. 100,000 doses of vaccine in four chiefdoms in the district. They have now finally secured UNAMSIL’s mandate extended funds to carry out mass immunization The UN Security Council has extended campaign in the remaining seven chiefdoms of UNAMSIL’s mandate, which was to expire on the district. The first case of the disease, which 30 September, until 31 March 2004. The resurfaced early last month, was reported in Council welcomed the Secretary-General's . The alarm for mass immunization proposals to adjust UNAMSIL's size, by NGOs was heightened when a 38 year-old composition and deployment, should the refugee woman suspected of contracting the security environment remain favourable. By the disease from the Taima camp, died before a end of August, troop strength had been blood sample was taken for laboratory reduced from 16,900 to 12,311 personnel. confirmation. Starting in November 2003, troop strength would be reduced to 11,500 and it is Water and Sanitation Survey envisaged that by October 2004 troop strength After the success of the water and sanitation will stand at 5,000. survey in Kambia, UNICEF and OCHA continue to support the District Recovery Government posts immigration and Committees in organising inter-agency Watsan customs officers to border areas surveys in Kono and Districts. More The Government of Sierra Leone (GoSL) has than 50 data collectors are now engaged in posted two Immigration Officers and two visiting all villages to ascertain their water and Customs Officers to the . sanitation facilities. The data from Kambia These officers have taken up position at Beidu have been processed by OCHA / SLIS and a on the Sierra Leone - Guinea border. It is draft survey report is currently being discussed expected that more postings will be done soon. by the DRC and its watsan partners in the Meanwhile, no cross border raids were

1 reported in the Kailahun area as the Republic children. Radio programmes, involving female of the Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) ex-combatants, and quiz competitions formed has intensified their border patrols. The RSLAF part of the programme. has also reinforced their position at the Bridge, which was re-opened recently to Truth and Reconciliation Commission expedite humanitarian activities. In a bid to Sierra Leone's Truth and Reconciliation lessen the looting of goods, only individuals Commission (TRC) has said that it would with hand luggage have been allowed to cross submit a report of its findings to President the bridge, which has been further barricaded Tejan Kabbah early next year. President to prevent movement of vehicles. Other reports Kabbah will submit the report to parliament. indicate that fewer Liberians crossed the The report will also be passed on to UN border into Kailahun District, as the situation is Secretary-General Kofi Annan to be discussed relatively calmer in their country. by the UN Security Council. Some 450 Sierra Leonean testified in the TRC public hearings, Demarcating chiefdom borders which ended in August 2003. The Commission The UN and the GoSL are working with local continues to assure its witnesses that it would authorities around the country to settle border not give out any of its findings to the Special disputes, which appear to be on the uprise Court and in fact some of its sensitive especially in resource rich areas – where documents will be taken out of the country for control of territory is an issue. Recent border safekeeping, after the compilation of the disputes in and Kono report. The TRC was set up in 2002 to probe District resulted in unrest and the burning of atrocities and rights abuses committed during houses. Police have been deployed in the area the country’s civil war. to forestall further attacks. A similar land dispute erupted between Kenema and Nigerian lawmakers call on UNAMSIL Districts over the change of borders between On 08 September, a five-man delegation of Barri and Niawa Chiefdoms. The conflict Nigerian lawmakers from the Committee on apparently originates from a government Army, Federal House of Representatives survey in July, when the details of a boundary visited the country to assess the current adjustment were defined. Over in the activities of Nigerian peacekeepers serving Masimera Chiefdom, , the with UNAMSIL and to get information that will Rolal and Mayelma communities have been facilitate their decision making process grappling with land dispute to the extent that concerning the Nigerian Army. The delegation people from one community could not go to the met with the Acting Special Representative of other community for fear of possible hostilities. the Secretary General, Mr. Alan Doss and The district authorities are investigating the UNAMSIL Force Commander, Lt. Gen. Daniel situation. Opande.

US ends temporary stay status to Sierra POLITICAL HIGHLIGHTS Leoneans On 03 September, the United States International Peace Day announced the termination of its TPS UN agencies in collaboration with the GoSL programme, which gives a special protective organised a series of activities at the UNAMSIL status to some 2,700 Sierra Leone nationals HQ and at the National Stadium, in living in America. According to the notice, commemoration of the International Day of Sierra Leone no longer met the criteria for the Peace. Weeklong activities dedicated to this programme as the country’s civil war was over year’s theme “Global ceasefire” were and conditions in the country had improved organised throughout the country. A significantly. This means that Sierra Leoneans videoconference was organised with four in America covered by the temporary stay peacekeeping missions around the world, programme must either leave the United Sierra Leone included. During the conference, States by 03 May 2004 or make arrangements a Liberian refugee child ex-combatant had the to stay under another US immigration status. opportunity to share his experiences with other children from different nationalities and in particular with the Goodwill Ambassador for the UN, Mr. Michael Douglas, who visited Sierra Leone last year. The videoconference was followed by the flag raising ceremony and performances by refugees and returnee

2 DONOR HIGHLIGHTS total of $15 million by the end of this year. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), has also benefited from a $500,000 donation. World Bank approves $30 million for reforms Development Partnership Committee The World Bank has approved a $30 million (DEPAC) meets credit to support the government's strategy to On 10-11 September, the Vice-President reduce poverty through improved governance chaired the 4th DEPAC meeting, which was and economic growth. The money will be used attended by key Ministers and representatives to help consolidate the progress made so far in from bilateral and multilateral partners and governance and management of public NGOs and discussed the power sector, resources in Sierra Leone. The loan, also including the Bumbuna Hydroelectric Project referred to as the third Economic Rehabilitation (BHP), the education sector and the Poverty and Recovery Credit (ERRC III), will continue Reduction Strategy (PRSP). The financial gap to support the government's institutional and to complete the BHP was closed thanks to policy reform agenda to stimulate economic generous contributions from Italy, OPEC fund, growth. It will also allow for the importation of ADB and IDA. The completion of Bumbuna will essential commodities, including food, not only go a long way to solve the country’s petroleum products, raw materials and energy crisis, but also contribute to reducing intermediate goods required for economic poverty, promoting growth and creating reconstruction and the rehabilitation of social employment. Partners commended the and economic infrastructure throughout the Government for its efforts in developing country. policies favourable to attaining the Millennium Development Goals, but stressed the need for EU donates $97.3 million for recovery sustained investment to achieve the goals. efforts Partners also recognized that progress had The European Union has approved a package been made to push forward the PRSP. It was of $97.3 million (84.7million Euros) for various agreed that the draft PRSP will be ready by projects, including agriculture, mining, highway end March 2004 for discussion with partners in infrastructure as well as budgetary support and April 2004. The next DEPAC is scheduled for emergency situations for Sierra Leone. The 6-7 November and will deal with justice, EU is plans to undertake an assessment security framework, recovery assessment, mission in the country as part of its annual NGO issues and the PRSP. review.

Donors study resumption of Hydro Electric Appeal Working Group Dam OCHA brought together the GoSL, UNCT, A high-powered delegation from the World donors and other stakeholders on 23 Bank, African Development Bank and the September to review the draft 2004 Appeal. Italian government visited Sierra Leone to study means to complete the Bumbuna Hydro Electric Dam in in northern SECTORAL HIGHLIGHTS Sierra Leone. AGRICULTURE United States - helping Sierra Leone back on its feet IFAD to finalize the design of rural According to a press release by the American development project Embassy, the United States has so far Under the Ministry of Agriculture and Food donated $209 million to foster recovery efforts Security (MAFS) an IFAD team is to finalize in Sierra Leone. This money is being used to: the design of the rural development project to build schools and hospitals, train police, be implemented in certain districts in Sierra provide humanitarian aid, undertake economic Leone. The major project components of the development projects and to support US project are: peacekeeping operations. The country has • Seed and tools distribution; aimed at also benefited from a debt relief of $63 million. making farmers producers and not just The statement indicated that the US Congress consumers; has given $144.8 million to support UNAMSIL, • Community development (feeder in addition to $516 million the US government roads, agro-processing for the women, had already invested in UNAMSIL since 01 etc.) January 2003. Another $5 million was given to fund the Special Court, which will receive a

3 • Infrastructure (buildings, markets, HEALTH stores and drying stores, wells, etc). The team visited the districts of Kono, Kailahun UNICEF embarks on a measles campaign and Tonkolili and looked at their human As part of its Integrated Early Childhood resource bases, activities, organisations, and Survival and Development (IECSD) initiative, potentials for delivery. Tonkolili is featuring UNICEF in collaboration with the MOHS and more positively in line with the above. The WHO, will be conducting a nationwide polio issue of food aid is not included in the project campaign in October and November this year but would be further discussed with WFP. targeting an estimated 2,454,000 under-five children. UNICEF reports measles to be one of FAO’s support to the agricultural sector the major causes of under-five morbidity and FAO is providing some support to enable mortality in Sierra Leone. District Directors to conduct monthly agricultural committee meetings. Vaccine preservation UNICEF procured 45 sets of solar powered refrigerators/freezers and facilitated the EDUCATION installation of the equipment as well as the training of health staff in 45 health facilities in MEST and UNICEF organise workshop Bombali, Kambia and Koinadugu Districts in The Ministry of Education Science and northern Sierra Leone. The solar powered Technology (MEST) and UNICEF organised a refrigerators/freezers ensure the availability of five-day CREPS review workshop with the aim potent vaccines for 47,778 pregnant women of identifying areas in which the programme and 38,220 children less than one year of age. can be improved and to share experiences This is the first phase of the planned amongst its supervisors. Areas of discussions standardisation and improvement of the included CREPS aims and objectives, the Expanded Programme for Immunisation (EPI) curriculum, teacher recruitment, effective cold chain. It represents a key input in implementation of the programme in the areas strengthening routine EPI and to reduce of teaching and learning and phase-out plans. disease due to vaccine-preventable child In related developments, the ministry has diseases. recruited more teachers especially at the primary level to increase the opportunity for INFORMATION children to have access to basic education. MEST is currently running CREPS in four Who / What / Where Humanitarian Database districts in the country. The OCHA/SLIS Who/What/Where Database is now in its final stages of data inputting. This FOOD AID project collects information regarding village interventions from Donors, UN Agencies, WFP’s regular support NGOs and implementing government Countrywide, WFP supported a total of agencies. The data and analysis will be 109,345 beneficiaries (63,500 female) with available on the National Recovery Strategy 2,122.47 MT of food during the reporting (NRS) monitoring system CD. The monitoring period. Vulnerable group feeding (VGF) system was established to monitor the programmes (refugees, resettlement, benchmarks of the NRS. The outputs of the returnees and institutions) supported 64,734 system are a series of government validated beneficiaries (35,840 female) with 952.75 MT Data Packs, which include an analysis of of food. The Therapeutic Feeding Centres/ recovery and analytical maps, to be used as a Supplementary Feeding/ and Mother and Child planning tool for resource allocation. Health Programmes (TFC/SFP/MCH) provided 65.5 MT of food to 11,626 beneficiaries Validation of Data Packs comprising under-fives, pregnant women, OCHA/SLIS reports that the respective lactating mothers and TFC Caretakers. Safety government ministries have almost completed nets (Institutional Feeding) provided 3271 validation of the data collected from the District (1,437 female) beneficiaries with 50.34 MT of Recovery Committees (DRC) and many of the food aid. sectoral Data Packs have already been printed. The monitoring system and the Data Packs will be distributed to the humanitarian community and the Government of Sierra Leone (GoSL) by the end of October. This will then be followed by a comprehensive

4 extension programme for DRCs on data already in place at the Zimmi way station. The analysis and interpretation, to enable them to repatriation of the refugees who are reported use the data in their day to day planning at the to be in desperate conditions could begin via district level. The monitoring system is also road along the Pujehun access in Small Bo, aimed at monitoring the benchmarks of the next month, pending security in . Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) in Meanwhile UNHCR has resumed repatriation 2004. by sea of Sierra Leoneans in Liberia.

Information Management Committee Over in Liberia A Committee responsible for developing Registration continues in camps for IDPs in standards in data collection, archiving and and around Monrovia. UNHCR, in collaboration sharing was established at the beginning of with its partners, continues to provide relief September under the Technical Committee of supplies for the displaced Liberians. The the National Recovery Committee and the transit shelters at these IDP camps are National Statistics Coordinating Committee. reported to be almost full, and the relocation of The Committee is chaired by Statistics Sierra displaced Liberians from Monrovia has been Leone and OCHA/SLIS and is in its early put on hold until more shelters can be built. stages of development. CFA concern over returnees leaving UNOCHA/SLIS Support to Liberia without ration The OCHA/SLIS Sierra Leone manager The Committee for Food Aid is concerned that recently returned from a one-month mission to returnees have been resettled, leaving behind surge capacity in the building up of HIC in their last resettlement food packages. Once Liberia. Products now produced by HIC Liberia back in home areas resettled returnees are not include a contacts database, a going to distribution points to collect their final Who/What/Where database, maps including, a tranche of food . There are concerns that in the country map, UN and NGO access, security final months of the rainy season and before phases, IDP locations and populations among crops are harvested this could adversely affect others. All of these are accessible on the the nutritional status of the returnee web at www.humanitarianinfo.org/liberia. populations. Already in Kailahun, most Large planning maps (A0) of Liberia, the households are reported to be living on Monrovia region and Central Monrovia are also cassava and other tuber crops, as they cannot available in PDF format for printing. afford the regular preferred staple diet. The deteriorating roads leading to the district compounded by the rains further worsens the REFUGEES scarcity of rice.

Liberian refugees in Sierra Leone Coordinating camp activities Latest figures show just over 66,000 Liberians OCHA in collaboration with NaCSA organised in Sierra Leone. Some 54,300 of which are in a weeklong training for camp supervisors in eight camps and way stations in the east and refugee camps in the south and east of the south of the country. UNHCR reveals that the country. Trainings covered basic humanitarian repatriation of Liberian refugees in the eight principles, Standards of Accountability, Code camps in the country could begin as early as of Conduct etc. November 2004 depending on the elections and the peace process in Monrovia. UNHCR runs campaign on Lassa Fever UNHCR reports that the spread of Lassa fever HCR preparing to repatriate Sierra Leonean in refugee camps has been brought under refugees control except in Jimmi Bagbo camp, where A UNHCR-Monrovia team conducted a two- several cases continue to be registered. The day assessment mission to the Sierra Leonean office recently conducted a campaign to border to assess conditions for the land eradicate rats from the Camp in , repatriation of some estimated 14,000 Sierra which houses over 6,000 mainly Liberian Leonean refugees still in Liberia. They report refugees. The campaign, which was funded by that the roads from Monrovia to the border are the European Commission Humanitarian Office good, but that those from the border to Zimmi (ECHO), was done in collaboration with IRC way station in Sierra Leone need major and Merlin. IRC had also distributed rat glue to repairs. UNHCR is currently sponsoring road family booths and warehouses in the camp. rehabilitation in the eastern parts of the country for this repatriation. Reception conditions are

5 Lassa Fever classes 4 through JSS 2 levels, as part of a Lassa Fever is an acute viral illness new initiative to reduce female dropout rates transmitted by rats that is common in West and increase classroom participation. IRC Africa. It can cause a variety of symptoms, warns of an urgent need for new educational including fever, chest pain, diarrhoea, vomiting facilities at Tobanda camp and loss of hearing. Humans can be infected by inhaling tiny droplets of virus-laden rodent IRC aids rape victims in Zimmi Way Station excreta, eating contaminated food or simply by In collaboration with IRC, five cases of gang absorption through the skin. If untreated, it can rape were identified at the Zimmi Way Station result in death. and later evacuated to the Way Station for medical attention. Rape cases up country Agricultural aid in refugee camps are generally reported to be low due to the CARE provided refugee farmers in Jembe and procedures required for prosecuting suspects Gerihun camps with hunting nets and metal of sexual violence. Victims are required to traps for rodent control. They also supplied produce medical report as evidence but most Inland Valley Swamp (IVS) rice seeds to the cannot afford the high medical fees of the refugees. FAO, in collaboration with NaCSA, doctors. The victims therefore suffer their pains the Ministry of Agriculture and UNHCR, in silence without pursuing any legal action. completed the verification of the second The District Officer has requested that the cropping IVS and groundnut farms in Jimmi doctors make a minimum charge that could be Bagbo, Taiama and Bandajuma. This project afforded by most victims will target women groups for vegetable and groundnut farming. Distribution of seeds for Sanitation facilities in camps farm families and vulnerable families has Health situation at the Gondama and Taiama already commenced in these camps. In other Camps is reported to be critical as many toilets developments, following the EFA conducted have been abandoned and all garbage pits are workshops on the impact of environmental full. MSF/F has reduced the number of latrines deforestation in Gerihun and Jembe Camps, they planned to construct from 200 to 100 due the refugees planted 300 fast growing trees in to the non-cooperation of refugees in Gerihun to serve as windbreakers for the excavating pits at Gondama. UNHCR is protection of the booths and the prevention of currently working with the refugee executives deforestation in the environment. to redouble sensitisation efforts in the camp. Meanwhile GTZ has relocated their water Enhancing security at refugee camps tanker from Kailahun to Zimmi, thereby greatly UNHCR conducted a security-training improving the water situation at the way workshop at Tobanda camp for 25 refugee station. wardens (15 male, 10 female). In order to maintain law and order in the camps, police SEXUAL ABUSE posts have now been established in Jimmy Bagbo, Jembe, Bandajuma and Gerihun Preventing sexual exploitation and abuse Camp. The Coordinator of the Committee on the Coordination of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse UNHCR holds review workshop in Kailahun (CCSEA) conducted two centralised SEA The Reintegration Unit of UNHCR conducted a prevention trainings during the month. A total one-day workshop to review progress made so of 34 employees from 11 different international far in implementing projects approved under and national NGOs, UN Agencies and the Community Empowerment Programme government organizations attended the (CEP). The workshop concluded that trainings. The OCHA-based Coordinator is implementation was progressing as planned planning six more trainings for the remainder of and partners were able to share experiences the year to be done in and . on best practices and operational challenges. A facilitator’s workshop is planned for October to finalise the training manual that would be Sensitizing refugees on girl’s education distributed to all agencies as a resource tool. Refugee teachers conducted a mass The Committee is also developing a poster sensitization of refugees in the Largo Camp on campaign for beneficiaries and NGOs the importance of education, as it was realized regarding Sexual Exploitation and Abuse that many illiterate refugee parent were not sending their children to school. In this light, IRC organized a 10-day summer school session in all the camps targeting girls from

6 OCHA disseminates Service Provision Map Ex-combatants have also been trained as The September update of the Gender Based Vaccinators, and Blue Flag Volunteers training Violence (GBV) Service Provision Map was has just been completed in three chiefdoms in disseminated to humanitarian actors within the the district. Presently, refresher training is country. OCHA envisions that two more going on for Maternal Child Health Assistants. updates will be provided before the end of the The training exercises are meant to year. supplement the gap of inadequate medical staff in the district. CCSEA develops plan for 2004 The members of the CCSEA have started the MEST moves into newly rehabilitated office planning process for 2004 to be presented to The Inspectorate Office of MEST has moved to the UNCT for consideration. Possible activities its new office location at the government for next year include an initial gap analysis to reservation in Kailahun. The office was determine the present status and the way rehabilitated by NRC/UNICEF and is yet to be forward. It has been emphasized that activities fully furnished. should not be planned that rely on other agencies.  Kono

UNAMSIL conducts Human Rights REGIONAL HIGHLIGHTS Workshop UNAMSIL Human Rights Office in EASTERN REGION organised a two-day workshop for Human Right Monitors in the . The aim of  the workshop was to train the monitors on Kailahun methods of monitoring and reporting techniques on gender abuses, the rights of DRC receives funding for operations children and the protection of women and UNAMSIL/Civil Affairs has approved funding children in the administration of justice. The for DRC operations in the Kailahun District. In human right monitors are expected to identify order to ensure accountability, requests for human right abuses during court sittings, in expenditure will be submitted to the Chiefdom police stations and within the community. Authorities for approval and disbursement of funds. Further requests will only be approved when previous amounts have been properly NRC in Kono accounted for. NRC has resumed the rehabilitation of the KDEC School, Dewadu, which was temporarily WFP office in Kailahun almost complete halted due to the reconstruction of a bridge. The construction of the WFP Field Office in The project should be completed in early Kailahun by NRC is close to completion. The January. NRC conducted a three-day construction of food warehouse/distribution preparatory workshop in Kono for 75 CREPS centres in five refugee camps by NRC, also teachers. The workshop focused on providing funded by WFP, is in progress. NRC has training in the core subjects for levels (ii) and completed and handed over the warehouse at (iii) using the harmonized scheme of work Taiama to WFP. developed by NRC supervisors. The CREPS classes commenced on 08 September with a Education fairly encouraging attendance. Distribution of NRC conducted a five-day training workshop teaching/learning materials to the centres has on the content and methodology for level II also commenced. Scheme of Work, and preparation of school records for 97 CREPS teachers in Kailahun. NGOs concerned about Paramount Chiefs They distributed teaching and learning At the interagency meeting in Kono the NGOs materials to all 35 CREPS centres and 10 complained of the non-resident of Paramount RREP classes at and Buedu in Chiefs in their chiefdoms. The chiefs were Kailahun District. reported to spend most of their time in the headquarter town of Koidu. The NGOs noted UNICEF funds training of community health that this is negatively impacting on their work, Funded by UNICEF, the District Health as the presence of the chief is needed for Management Team is undertaking training of authority and community participation in their several community-based organizations to development interventions. The Paramount equip them in the delivery of quality services. Chiefs on the other hand complained of lack of

7 accommodation, as the government is yet to as cheap labourers in illegal mining, timber build the promised chief compound in every business and other purposes. chiefdom. The chiefs also justified their stay due to untimely government interventions and Kenema DRC at work therefore need to be in Koidu regularly to The Kenema DRC continues with preparations access relevant information. for the NRC meeting in November. However, response by line NRC completes shelter for amputees and ministries is noted to be dissapointing. war-wounded NRC has completed the construction of 17 NCDDR registers new ex-combatants houses in three locations in the Kono District The NCDDR in Kenema have registered new for the amputees and war-wounded. The ex-combatants as new arrivals from Liberia. beneficiaries and their family members have The deadline for ex-combatants to register was been resettled to the houses. In a related extended to the end of August, as the development, tender documents for the programme will be officially closed by end of construction of 35 houses for the amputees December 2003. and war-wounded in the Western Area, Moyamba, Tonkolili, Koinadugu and Bombali CRS aids TB patients in hospital Districts have been sent out and construction CRS has signed an MOU with KDHCO to feed activities are to commence in October. TB patients receiving their treatment at Panguma Hospital in Kenema District. UNAMSIL/DDR launches peace-building programme Education On 26 September, the UNAMSIL/DDR UNICEF conducted a "Rehabilitation of basic Coordination unit in Koidu, launched its Education Project" TOT workshop, with 18 reintegration and transition to peace building facilitators, training 50 participants on the programme, jointly sponsored by the professional development of unqualified and UNV/UNAMSIL and UNDP. The project with untrained (UU) teachers. The Kenema District funding of $750,000 for a two-year period is Education Officer has identified 508 male and geared towards the socio-economic 76 female UU teachers to be trained by the reintegration, reconciliation and peace building participants. in communities. Deteriorating condition of roads from  Kenema Kenema to Kailahun CRS has extended its MOU with UNDP/SLRA NaCSA launches NSAP in the east for road construction in the area. Though the NaCSA launched the National Social Action SLRA is making a lot of efforts to fill the Project (NSAP) for the eastern region in potholes on the Kenema-Kailahun roads, the Kenema District on 19 September. The new heavy rains does not make a chance for their approach is aimed at working directly with work to be noticed. The deplorable condition of communities for identification, appraisal and the roads has rendered it risky for driving and implementation of projects. Without the NGO consequently led to the increase in prices of as implementing partner, the new approach will goods to the district. hopefully empower communities in managing their own poverty alleviation interventions UNHCR assesses Kenema airfield leading to a sustainable development. UNHCR Technical Unit in collaboration with However the commission is yet to train the Logistics Unit and the pilots of AirServ stakeholders in the communities to build up undertook a brief assessment of the Kenema their capacity in order to face the challenges of Airfield. The assessment revealed that the new approach of direct community potholes on the runway need to be filled with financing. concrete to prevent damage to flights during landings and takeoffs. SDO warns residents for using refugees as cheap labour The Senior District Officer of Kenema held a sensitisation meeting with his people at Fiama, following reports of Liberian refugees engaged in mining activities. The meeting was organised to inform and warn chiefdom authorities about the trend of using refugees

8 NORTHERN REGION Port Loko

UN/OCHA – facilitating humanitarian work School feeding for Makeni and Port Loko UN/OCHA has developed and circulated a The WFP in collaboration with MEST made a directory of humanitarian organization in the trip to Makeni to discuss the implementation northern region to humanitarian organizations criteria and the roles of various stakeholders in the north. for the new development of School Feeding Programme. Discussions were held with the NAFSL distributes seed rice to farmers Inspectorates, District Coordinators, and The National Association for Farmers in Sierra school proprietors in Makeni and Port Loko. Leone (NAFSL) has completed distribution of seed rice to several communities in the MEST gives in-service training to teachers northern region. Regional, district and in the North chiefdom executives were formed to manage Inspectors of schools and teachers in the the affairs of the organization. region have been providing in-service training to upgrade the level of teachers in the HIV.AIDS awareness profession. The exercise is expected to help With funding from SHARP, the CBO, Praise teachers provide standard and quality Foundation conducted an eleven-day education for children in the region. workshop on HIV/AIDS, targeting 50 participants who were mainly commercial sex  Tonkolili workers, disadvantaged youths and single parent mothers. WFP’s new office and local court in UNDP funds prisons rehabilitation WFP have signed a letter of understanding Rehabilitation and reconstructions works with NRC for the construction of an office in continues on prison facilities in Port Loko, Magburaka, Kholifa Rowalla Chiefdom. Koinadugu, Kambia and Tonkolili District Tenders for the project have been sent out to headquarter towns with funding from UNDP. contractors and work will commence soon. The intervention is designed to create more Also UNDP is supporting the rehabilitation of humane conditions for prisoners and enhance the local court in Magburaka. security to prevent jailbreaks. Tonkolili DRC in progress Kambia With technical support from UNAMSIL Civil Affairs and UN/OCHA, a draft copy of the Youth Pack in Tonkolili DRC report has been forwarded to NRC Youth Pack classes in Rokupr, Kukuna, stakeholders in Freetown. Upon approval, the Mambolo and Kasiri re-opened on 01 final document would be produced for the September. Average attendance was forthcoming NRC/DRC on 14 November. comparatively low for the month. Some sensitization is ongoing to inspire trainees to attend the sessions more regularly. NRC also SOUTHERN REGION commenced the distribution of uniforms and school bags to CEIP beneficiaries in the area. The CREPS schools in Kambia reopened for UNDP supports District Offices the second academic year on 22 September UNDP supported GOSL District Offices in the and the newly developed Scheme of Work was southern region with computers and introduced to the teachers as a guide in their accessories, communications equipment and lesson plan and work progress. one 6KVA generator each.

UNICEF holds planning workshop in Kabala Ministry of Trade sensitizes communities UNICEF held a one-day planning workshop at on mining Kabala to present to the Koinadugu DRC and The Deputy Minister of Trade visited the community stakeholders, their four-year southern and eastern regions to sensitize intervention plan in the Koinadugu District. communities and growth centres on the Activities ranging from health, Watsan, reactivation of co-operative societies as a education, child protection and HIV/AIDS will means of contributing to social capital cover each chiefdom in the district. development and to boost production levels. This was done in support of the Minister’s request for UNIDO (United Nations Industrial

9 Development Organization) to support the Minister pleaded with the communities to show establishment of small-scale industries understanding and accept a second mining nationwide and to help boost agricultural company to operate in the chiefdom. produce, improving on farmers’ income and standards of living. World Bank/ADB support teacher training A training programme funded by World Bank UNOCHA/ NaCSA holds meeting on flood and the African Development Bank is intended incidence in the region to benefit 10,000 untrained and qualified Following reports and radio announcements of teachers through a phased nine weeks floods in the Bo, Bonthe and Pujehun Districts, programme at Njala, Koribondo and Bo. Some UN/OCHA, NaCSA and other agencies 1,500 teachers are presently attending the convened a meeting to address humanitarian training at the above-mentioned locations in concerns of the communities affected. Though the Bo District. the floods did not last for long, extensive acreage of farmland and shelter were NaCSA hands over health facilities destroyed. The Commission has completed and handed over one health centre to , Baoma  Bonthe Chiefdom and a health post to Bunger, Jiaima Bongor Chiefdom. The project was UN/OCHA facilitates preparation of the implemented under the Social Action and Bonthe DRC Poverty Alleviation (SAPA) programme in UN/OCHA facilitated the Bonthe DRC support of communities’ development needs. members to compile the DRC report in preparation for the joint session of the Bonthe Free limb fitting for amputees District NRC/DRC meeting scheduled for 28 The Global Ministry of London had provided October. At the DRC meeting for Moyamba amputees with free limb fitting equipment and District, highlights included the submission of supplied crutches to them, at the Bible Training the various site visit reports conducted during and Vocational Institute in Bo. the joint NRC/DRC meeting of 12 August and action plan for the preparation and submission of the NRC/DRC meeting report. In a similar WESTERN AREA vein at the Pujehun DRC, focus was on monitoring the progress of the recovery Sensitisation on the DRCs activities in relation to the pledges made during OCHA, UNAMSIL and the GoSL have finished the joint session of NRC/DRC meeting that conducting a series of workshops on the roles was held on 27 May. Meanwhile, the Bo and functions of the District Recovery District DRC has not met for quite some time Committee (DRC), for its committee members now despite repeated contacts by UN/OCHA, in the Western rural area. OCHA is currently UNAMSIL Civil Affairs, and the DRC Chairman putting a report together on the workshop and and the District and Provincial Administration. recommendations will be forwarded to the National recovery Committee, through the  Bo technical committee. One main problem the community highlighted during the workshop Teacher College receives college bus was the manner in which agencies implement The Bo Teachers College benefited from the projects in their communities without being joint efforts of the MEST and Ministry of accountable to target beneficiaries. The Transport and Communication with the community also expressed a strong will for provision of one college bus for the Institution. local government elections to be held on a Similar assistance was accorded to the Bo non-partisan basis. The District Recovery Government Secondary School (one bus) and Committee (rural) was launched on 04 the other schools in the entire township, who September. The DRC continues sensitisation also received two school buses. of communities on the recovery process.

Deputy Minister of Mines meets with chiefdom elders and Investors The Deputy Minister of Mines met with Investors and elders of the to begin talks on the reactivation of the gold mines at Baomahun. Though the communities out rightly rejected the proposed mining, the

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