Country Operation SIERRA LEONE INITIAL OBJECTIVES tance for refugees in primary health care, edu- cation (scholarships) and micro-credits. The lat- · Provide protection and limited assistance ter project, which aims to increase self- to some 6,000 Liberian refugees residing in sufficiency among refugees (particularly Freetown, Bo and Kenema areas; review women) was launched in Freetown at the be- the protection requirements of Liberians ginning of the year and is currently being ex- who do not wish to repatriate to their panded to the towns of Bo and Kenema. In ad- country of origin; facilitate local integra- dition, extremely vulnerable refugees received tion of those in need of international pro- food, financial assistance, domestic items and tection and identify resettlement opportu- shelter materials on a case-by-case basis. nities as required. UNHCR made a counselling service available to needy refugees and addressed a number of · Assess how the socio-economic, political protection-related problems. As small numbers and security situation in Sierra Leone will of new asylum-seekers continued to arrive from affect the needs of Sierra Leonean return- Liberia and other countries, and given the ab- ees; compile Returnee District Area Pro- sence of refugee status determination proce- files taking into account the security needs dures within national structures, UNHCR con- of potential returnees to those districts; tinued to carry out this function. should the security situation continue to improve, facilitate and later promote the Sierra Leonean Returnees voluntary repatriation of Sierra Leonean The renewal of the conflict in Sierra Leone in refugees and help them reintegrate into May reinforced scepticism about the peace their communities of origin. process among refugees in asylum countries. Plans to begin to promote voluntary repatria- MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS, PROGRESS tion in April have been revised and the initial ACHIEVED AND CONSTRAINTS planning figure of 170,000 has been reduced to 50,000 returnees in 2000. This figure re- Liberian Refugees mains under constant review and may be fur- In view of the completion of organised repa- ther adjusted depending on political and secu- triation of Liberian refugees in December rity developments over the next few months. 1999, UNHCR began to screen the remaining UNHCR’s overall strategy remains based on a 6,000 refugees individually in order to deter- phased approach of monitoring refugees who mine their need for continued international return spontaneously, followed by “facilitating” protection. The Office also continued to iden- returns until security and other conditions tify resettlement opportunities for deserving make it possible to organise repatriation con- refugees. Interviews with refugees indicate that voys. many refugee children have been unable to at- tend school due to poverty. With the exception of Pujehun district, the prevailing security situation made it difficult to The general security situation for Liberian refu- monitor the situation in areas of return. Dur- gees remained relatively stable, since they ing the first six months of the year, UNHCR mostly reside in areas around Freetown, Bo undertook monitoring missions to Pujehun and Kenema and have therefore been largely (Makpele and Sorogbema chiefdoms), Kenema, unaffected by the resumption of armed conflict Kailahun and Kambia districts. Local authori- in the northern and eastern parts of the coun- ties in the main towns in Pujehun and Kenema try. However, several Liberian refugees re- districts (both under Government and UNAM- ported facing harassment, allegedly by police, SIL control) reported a steady increase in the militia forces or civilians. number of returnees during the first quarter. About 5,000 people are estimated to have ar- UNHCR continued to provide limited assis- rived there since the beginning of the year, UNHCR Mid-Year Report 2000 - Page 99 - Country Operation while others are believed to have gone directly by UNIFEM. Short-term objectives include to their places of origin. In Kailahun and Kam- building the capacity of local women’s organi- bia districts (both under Revolutionary United sations and NGOs to address returnee Front – RUF – control) the number of return- women’s need for social support (particularly ees was limited to a trickle, concentrating on victims of violence) as well as reproductive areas and towns considered safe rather than on health and activities fostering self-reliance. places of origin. Many RUF-held towns lack even the most basic health and educational ser- Within the framework of the Brookings Proc- vices, and starvation is reportedly widespread. ess - which aims to bridge institutional as well The highest concentration of returnees in as funding gaps in post-conflict situations - and those districts was found in Daru town in close co-operation with UNDP and the (Kailahun district) where local authorities regis- World Bank, UNHCR has taken the lead in tered some 2,500 returnees since the beginning developing a “Brookings Menu” for Sierra of the year. Until the upsurge in fighting in Leone with inputs from most of the humani- May, some refugees were also observed to be re- tarian agencies present in the country. The aim turning temporarily to assess the situation and is to attract additional attention and funding prepare agricultural land in anticipation of a for Sierra Leone. So far, the Menu has allowed more permanent return after the rainy season. humanitarian agencies to identify projects that do not clearly fall under the normal categorisa- It was not possible to commence a systematic tion of either relief or development. compilation of Returnee District Area Profiles due to the fluid security situation in the main REVISED OBJECTIVES AND PRIORITY areas of return. However, UNHCR’s informa- ACTIVITIES FOR JULY – DECEMBER tion management regarding Sierra Leonean refugees was reviewed by an internal specialist Liberian Refugees whose recommendations – both in relation to UNHCR expects to conclude screening inter- UNHCR’s refugee databases in asylum coun- views to determine the status of the remaining tries and their transferability to Sierra Leone, Liberians by August. A significant proportion and in relation to baseline data on main areas of the individuals interviewed so far deserve of return – are described in further detail be- continued international protection and discus- low. sions with the Government regarding their fu- ture will therefore be necessary. Their needs To enhance planning and preparedness, for tracing, family reunification, primary educa- UNHCR attended a variety of co-ordination tion and proper documentation are tremen- meetings with other agencies in Freetown and dous, particularly among female-headed house- Kenema. An internal Repatriation and Reinte- holds and other vulnerable categories. gration Cell consisting of officers in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea co-ordinates UNHCR’s priority objectives for Liberian refu- UNHCR’s preparations in meetings with guid- gees will be to: ance and support from the Regional Director- ate in Abidjan. A reintegration strategy has · Complete the screening of Liberian refu- been developed and project proposals address- gees to determine each individual’s need ing the needs of Sierra Leonean returnees have for protection and facilitate family tracing been formulated in close co-operation with po- through ICRC and other relevant agencies; tential NGO partners. The projects cover im- mediate assistance to returnees in the form of · Negotiate with the Government regarding repatriation packages as well as community- refugee or humanitarian status for those based reintegration projects (QIPs) in main ar- who have been identified to be in need of eas of return and are intended to benefit all continued international protection and de- war-affected groups (returnees, resettled IDPs, vise a programme to provide assistance for ex-combatants and resident local populations). their local integration and self-reliance; To address the needs of returning women and young girls and plan future projects, a study · Continue limited assistance for primary was carried out by staff seconded to UNHCR health care, primary education and income- UNHCR Mid-Year Report 2000 - Page 100 - Country Operation generation for recognised refugees and for returnees who are ex-combatants their children and expand the micro-credit (including child soldiers), survivors of vio- scheme to Bo and Kenema; lence, separated minors, war widows and other single-parent households; · Pay special attention to vulnerable groups and provide them with food, shelter and · Procure and pre-position non-food items counselling as required; and for IDPs and returnees from abroad; · Identify resettlement opportunities for de- · Acquire and pre-position equipment serving individuals and continue to moni- (vehicles, trucks, communications, etc.) re- tor the situation of remaining Liberian quired for repatriation and monitoring of refugees. return areas and help NGO partners obtain the necessary start-up means; Sierra Leonean Returnees Short of major improvements in security, · Sign tri-partite agreements with the Sierra UNHCR will primarily focus on the monitor- Leonean Government and major asylum ing of spontaneous returnees and begin to pro- countries in preparation for a voluntary re- vide community-based assistance in safe and ac- patriation operation; cessible areas. Should the situation stabilise, refugees residing in Guinea and Liberia may · Establish, together