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Repatriation & Reintegration Operations in Liberia

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Repatriation & Reintegration Operations in Liberia UPDATE NO. 2 March-June 2004 REPATRIATION & REINTEGRATION OPERATIONS IN LIBERIA MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS Spontaneous returns Liberian refugees continue to return home spontaneously from various countries in the region. Current estimates indicate that over 50,000 have returned since December 2003. UNHCR has registered more than 15,000 from Sierra Leone; 40% have ended up in camps in the Monrovia area along with IDPs as the conditions in their places of origin are not yet conducive for safe return. In the camp setting, returnees receive protection and assistance in the form of shelter, non-food items, trauma counselling, medical support, food from WFP and emergency Perry Town waystation [Photo: UNHCR, S.Brownell] schooling for the children. An estimated 20,000 have been returning from Guinea to Lofa County, mostly going to their districts of origin in what appear to be “go and see visits”. Meanwhile, there are reports that significant numbers are returning from Côte d’Ivoire due mainly to the prevailing security situation in that country. An estimated 5,000 have crossed into Grand Gedeh. High numbers of returnees have also been observed in the Counties of Bong, Grand Cape Mount, Maryland, Montserrado and Nimba. (continued overleaf) FUNDING SITUATION AT A GLANCE USD BUDGET 39,241,983 • An estimated 50,000 Liberian refugees have returned spontaneously from various countries in the region since CONTRIBUTIONS December 2003. Canada 602,142 • UNHCR has deployed upcountry with full-time presence in Denmark 1,153,213 Gbarnga, Saclapea, Zwedru and Tubmanburg, and part-time Finland 497,512 presence in Harper and Voinjama. Germany 612,745 • The deployment of UNMIL troops is proceeding on schedule. Ireland 612,745 Disarmament of ex-combatants resumed in April. Netherlands 556,000 • Several initiatives have been undertaken within the context of Norway 708,215 the 4Rs framework involving a broad-based group of Spain 131,448 stakeholders including the National Government of Transition of Liberia. Sweden 686,813 USA 11,000,000 • Funding for UNHCR’s supplementary programme for repatriation and reintegration has reached USD 16.6 million against total Private donors 44,023 requirements of USD 39.2 million. TOTAL 16,604,856 Current shortfall (22,637,127) UPDATE NO. 2 PROTECTION CONCERNS UNHCR and National Transitional Government of Liberia (NTGL) are continuing to urge Liberian refugees in asylum countries to wait for the organized voluntary repatriation operation which is scheduled to commence in October 2004. Many returnees are unable to get to their places of origin as the conditions are not yet conducive for safe return. Joint information campaigns have been conducted in the main countries of asylum in this regard. The main obstacles to establishing conditions for the return and reintegration of refugees and IDPs include the continuing presence of armed elements in Counties where DDRR programmes have not yet begun and the absence of local authorities, administration and law enforcement institutions. Returnees arriving from Côte d’Ivoire have reported cases of harassment and extortion along the way on the Ivorian side of the border. Others have been hindered from crossing over the borders of neighbouring countries for security reasons. Recommendations for inclusion of refugees in the electoral process have been addressed to the National Electoral Commission and the NTGL for consideration in the new electoral law. In addition, a draft proposal for a legal framework which will guarantee a safe and dignified return of Liberian refugees has been sent to NTGL and the main countries hosting Liberian refugees. Their feedback will contribute to the development of Tripartite Agreements before UNHCR embarks on the facilitated voluntary repatriation operation in October 2004. The recovery of property and access to land is a priority concern as regards returning refugees and IDPs. In Bong County, where many returnees are coming home to find their land and houses occupied by ex-combatants, UNHCR is part of the Property and Land Committee. Terms of reference for the Committee include a survey of the number and location of properties as well as places of origin of present occupants, sensitization at demobilization sites and in communities. Mediation and settlement of disputes was also recommended. The absence of detention and prison facilities in Bong County continues to be a source of concern to stakeholders in Bong County. The matter is being discussed with UNMIL. Major developments (continued) UNHCR Deployment to the Field Following the lowering of security restrictions, UNHCR has established a permanent presence in Gbarnga, Tubmanburg, Saclepea and Zwedru. Tubmanburg has been selected as the location to cover the Counties of Grand Cape Mount, Gbarpolu and Bomi in place of Bopulu which presented difficulties of access and had no relief organizations. Meanwhile Zwedru continues to serve as relay station for access to the office in Harper which covers Maryland County. For the time being Lofa County is being covered through regular missions from Gbarnga. Construction of office premises and staff accommodation is in progress. Offloading non-food items [Photo: UNHCR, S.Brownell] 2 Repatriation and Reintegration Operations in Liberia OPERATIONAL CONSTRAINTS Climate: The current seasonal rains are rendering overland travel very difficult as roads have become impassable. The rains are also having adverse implications for shelter, as many returnee houses have no roofs. Security: Disarmament is yet to take place in Lofa and Maryland Counties, which will receive close to 50% of the total returnee Staff accommodation in Tubmanburg [Photo: UNHCR, S.Brownell] population from neighbouring countries. There have been reports of harassment and extortion by ex- PERATIONS PLANNING combatants who are manning O random roadblocks. Meanwhile, there are fears that the worsening UNHCR Multi-Year Operations Plan crisis in Côte d’Ivoire could explode UNHCR is currently consulting partners on a draft Multi-Year into the sort of brutal and grisly Operations Plan for Return and Reintegration of Liberian returnees conflicts witnessed in neighbouring (2004-2007) which will serve as the framework for coordination Liberia and Sierra Leone in recent and implementation of the programme. years, leaving West Africa with tens of thousands of refugees. Similarly, Regional Repatriation Review Meeting the fragile political situation in An internal regional repatriation review meeting was held in Guinea could deteriorate with Monrovia in April bringing together UNHCR staff from countries direct implications for Liberia. hosting Liberian refugees. The purpose was to lay the groundwork for the organized voluntary repatriation operation scheduled to Accommodation: There is an acute commence in October 2004. Participants discussed registration lack of appropriate facilities for protocols, logistical modalities including trucking, mass staff housing and office premises. information/sharing of information among offices and with In Gbarnga, Saclepea and Zwedru refugees, cross-border coordination including with partner rehabilitation work is ongoing. agencies, border monitoring, profiling of returnees, reintegration Containers are being set up in packages, and linkages of the return movement with DDRR Voinjama. Appropriate buildings processes. A follow up meeting will take place in August 2004. have been identified in Tubmanburg. For the time being staff posted in Voinjama and Profiling of spontaneous returnees Harper operate from Gbarnga and As more counties and districts become accessible, UNHCR and Zwedru respectively which is not NRC are planning to co-ordinate the profiling of spontaneous adequate to provide full refugees countrywide in order to adequately plan and implement operational coverage. reintegration activities, including provision of individual family packages. The programme will include capacity building of existing Trucking Capacity: The anticipated national partners , including comprehensive training to LRRRC large-scale movement of returnees community monitors. Other partners involved in the exercise and IDPs to their places of origin include the national Red Cross, WIPS, WSI, LUSH and LRRRC. will create huge demands for the Returnee profiling will be carried out in close collaboration with transport sector as will the need to WFP. move relief items. 3 UPDATE NO. 2 REPATRIATION REINTEGRATION REHABILITATION RECONSTRUCTION In the pursuit of durable solutions for displaced populations, the 4Rs programme concept is applied to promote community development and ensure linkages between the four processes of repatriation, reintegration, rehabilitation and reconstruction in post-conflict situations. It helps to lay the groundwork for RS medium and longer-term programmes and projects, build up local capacity, 4 mobilize communities, and support processes of good local governance. The 4Rs concept provides an overarching framework for institutional collaboration in the implementation of reintegration operations. 4Rs Workshop 4Rs Core Group UNHCR collaborated with United Nations Country Team in Liberia to The 4Rs in Liberia is spear- organize a 4Rs Workshop in Monrovia on 25 March. The workshop was headed by the Core Group attended by participants from the NTGL, UN agencies, NGOs and established by DSRSG/HC donors who are represented in Liberia, including ECHO and USAID. in March 2004. The workshop used the United Nations/World Bank Liberia Joint Needs The Liberia 4Rs Core Group Assessment sector
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