PROFILE OF INTERNAL DISPLACEMENT : SIERRA LEONE Compilation of the information available in the Global IDP Database of the Norwegian Refugee Council (as of 7 July, 2001) Also available at http://www.idpproject.org Users of this document are welcome to credit the Global IDP Database for the collection of information. The opinions expressed here are those of the sources and are not necessarily shared by the Global IDP Project or NRC Norwegian Refugee Council/Global IDP Project Chemin Moïse Duboule, 59 1209 Geneva - Switzerland Tel: + 41 22 788 80 85 Fax: + 41 22 788 80 86 E-mail : [email protected] CONTENTS CONTENTS 1 PROFILE SUMMARY 6 SUMMARY 6 CAUSES AND BACKGROUND OF DISPLACEMENT 10 ACCESS TO UN HUMANITARIAN SITUATION REPORTS 10 HUMANITARIAN SITUATION REPORTS BY THE UN OFFICE FOR THE COORDINATION OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS (22 DECEMBER 2000 – 16 JUNE 2001) 10 MAIN CAUSES FOR DISPLACEMENT 10 COUNTRYWIDE DISPLACEMENT CAUSED BY MORE THAN NINE YEARS OF WIDESPREAD CONFLICT- RELATED HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES (1991- 2000) 10 MAJOR NEW DISPLACEMENT AFTER BREAK DOWN OF THE PEACE PROCESS IN MAY 2000 12 NEW DISPLACEMENT AS CONFLICT EXTENDED ACROSS THE GUINEA-SIERRA LEONE BORDER (SEPTEMBER 2000 – MAY 2001) 15 BACKGROUND OF THE CONFLICT 18 HISTORICAL OUTLINE OF THE FIRST EIGHT YEARS OF CONFLICT (1991-1998) 18 ESCALATED CONFLICT DURING FIRST HALF OF 1999 CAUSED SUBSTANTIAL DISPLACEMENT 21 CONTINUED CONFLICT DESPITE THE SIGNING OF THE LOME PEACE AGREEMENT (JULY 1999-MAY 2000) 22 PEACE PROCESS DERAILED AS SECURITY SITUATION WORSENED DRAMATICALLY IN MAY 2000 25 RELATIVELY STABLE SECURITY SITUATION SINCE SIGNING OF CEASE-FIRE AGREEMENT IN ABUJA ON 10 NOVEMBER 2000 28 POPULATION PROFILE AND FIGURES 32 TOTAL NATIONAL FIGURES 32 ESTIMATES MAY INDICATE THAT AS MANY AS 1,3 MILLION SIERRA LEONEANS WERE INTERNALLY DISPLACED BY THE END OF 2000 32 UN ESTIMATES MAY SUGGEST MORE THAN 800,000 IDPS IN ACCESSIBLE AREAS BY AUGUST 2000 34 FAO MISSION ESTIMATES THE TOTAL IDP POPULATION TO BE 1,2 MILLION BY END OF 1999 35 TOTAL INTERNALLY DISPLACED POPULATION (MARCH 1999): ESTIMATED 700,000 36 REPORTS OF MORE THAN 300,000 IDPS IN ACCESSIBLE AREAS BY THE END OF 1998 37 ONLY BROAD ESTIMATES AVAILABLE FOR THE TOTAL NUMBER OF IDPS BETWEEN 1994 AND 1997 38 DISTRIBUTION BY GEOGRAPHICAL AREA AND SECTOR 39 MAJOR INFLUX OF IDPS TO MILE 91 AREA DURING JUNE 2000 39 LARGE NUMBER OF IDPS HAVE SOUGHT SHELTER IN THE PORT LOKO DISTRICT (2000-2001) 40 SUBSTANTIAL DISPLACEMENT IN KENEMA/DARU AREA AS CONFLICT ESCALATED (JULY 2000) 41 MORE THAN 7,000 NEWLY DISPLACED PEOPLE IN THE NORTHERN TOWN BUMBUNA (AUGUST 2000) 42 CHILDREN COMPRISE A LARGE SHARE OF THE DISPLACED POPULATION (1998-2001) 42 CONCENTRATION OF IDPS IN URBAN AREAS AND ISOLATED TOWNS (1999) 45 PATTERNS OF DISPLACEMENT 46 THE DYNAMICS BETWEEN THE ARMED CONFLICT AND DISPLACEMENT 46 COMPLEX MOVEMENT PATTERNS OF DIFFERENT CATEGORIES OF DISPLACED DURING FIRST HALF OF 2001 46 MANY DISPLACED MOVE TOWARDS URBAN AREAS CONSIDERED SAFE (2000-2001) 46 PEOPLE TRYING TO REMAIN IN THEIR HOMES AS LONG AS POSSIBLE (MAY-JULY 2000) 47 IDPS FLEEING TO MILE 91 AREA SEEK SHELTER IN CONGESTED HOMES (JUNE 2000) 48 MOVEMENT PATTERNS IN NORTHERN AND EASTERN PROVINCES OUTLINED IN COMPREHENSIVE STUDY (DECEMBER 1999) 48 PHYSICAL SECURITY & FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT 51 GENERAL 51 REPORTS OF WOMEN BEING EXPOSED TO GRAVE HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES (2001) 51 MANY OF THE DISPLACED CONTINUE BEING EXPOSED TO THE SAME PROTECTION THREATS AS THOSE CAUSING THEIR DISPLACEMENT (2000-2001) 52 IDPS CONCENTRATED IN MILE 91 AREA FACE FRAGILE SECURITY SITUATION (JUNE-NOVEMBER 2000) 54 CHILDREN EXPOSED TO HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES AND ABDUCTIONS(2000-2001) 55 JULY 1999 PEACE AGREEMENT EMPHASISES PROTECTION AND PROMOTION OF BASIC CIVIL AND POLITICAL LIBERTIES 59 REBUILDING OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT SYSTEM (1998-2001) 59 EFFORTS BY THE GOVERNMENT TO ESTABLISH A NEW NATIONAL ARMY (1998-2001) 62 TRADITIONAL INSTITUTIONS CREATING THEIR OWN PROTECTION FORCES (1994-2001) 63 SUBSISTENCE NEEDS (HEALTH NUTRITION AND SHELTER) 66 GENERAL 66 MAJOR MOVEMENTS OF INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS, RETURNEES AND EX-COMBATANTS CAUSES HEAVY STRAIN ON BASIC SERVICES (2001) 66 CONCERN THAT LARGE INFLUX OF VARIOUS WAR-AFFECTED PEOPLE IN DARU TOWN MAY CAUSE A DETERIORATING HUMANITARIAN SITUATION (MAY 2001) 67 HEALTH 68 GENERALLY POOR HEALTH INDICATORS (2000-2001) 68 HEALTH SURVEY IN KENEMA REVEALS SEVERE EFFECTS OF DISRUPTION OF THE HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE (JANUARY 2001) 70 HEALTH OF IDPS AND REFUGEES IN THE LOKOMASSAMA CHIEFDOM FOUND TO BE "SAFE" (MARCH 2001) 71 LARGE INFLUX OF IDPS TO MILE 91 AREA CAUSE HEALTH CRISIS (JULY 2000) 72 SURVEY OF MENTAL HEALTH IMPACT OF FIGHTING IN FREETOWN (2000) 72 2 NUTRITION AND FOOD 73 NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF IDPS IN CAMP FOUND TO BE BETTER THAN THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES (APRIL 2001) 74 IMPROVED NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF CHILDREN IN STABLE AREAS SUCH AS BO, FREETOWN, AND PARTS OF KENEMA (NOVEMBER 2000) 75 IDPS ARRIVING IN BUMBUNA TOWN RELY ON FOOD AID (2000) 75 DISMAL HUMANITARIAN SITUATION REVEALED AS PEACE ACCORD FACILITATED IMPROVED ACCESS TO REBEL HELD AREAS (SEPTEMBER 1999) 77 WATER AND SANITATION 78 CIVIL WAR CAUSED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE ON WATER AND SANITATION FACILITIES (2000) 78 NEW INFLUX OF DISPLACED AFTER MAY 2000 CREATED ADDITIONAL PRESSURE ON WATER AND SANITATION FACILITIES 80 SHELTER 81 HOST COMMUNITIES ASSISTED TO ACCOMMODATE PEOPLE DISPLACED FROM GUINEA BORDER AREA (OCTOBER 2000) 81 CAMPS OVERCROWDED AS ESCALATED CONFLICT CAUSED NEW IDP INFLUX (JUNE – NOVEMBER 2000) 81 ACCESS TO EDUCATION 84 GENERAL CONDITIONS OF SCHOOLS AND IDP ACCESS 84 47 PERCENT OF CHILDREN ENROLLED IN SCHOOLS IN LUNGI-LOKOMASSAMA AREA FOUND TO BE EITHER REFUGEES/RETURNEES OR IDPS (NOVEMBER 2000) 84 COMBINATION OF FACTORS DISCOURAGE DISPLACED CHILDREN FROM ATTENDING SCHOOL (2000) 84 WIDESPREAD DESTRUCTION OF SCHOOLS IN 1997 AND 1999 85 ISSUES OF SELF-RELIANCE AND PUBLIC PARTICIPATION 88 IMPACT OF THE CONFLICT ON ECONOMIC INFRASTRUCTURE AND FOOD SECURITY 88 DETRIMENTAL IMPACT OF THE CIVIL WAR ON THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR (2000-2001) 88 ISSUES OF FAMILY UNITY, IDENTITY AND CULTURE 90 GENERAL 90 FORCED DISPLACEMENT IN SIERRA LEONE HAS SEVERELY AFFECTED FAMILY AND COMMUNITY LINKS (2001) 90 IDPS IN YURIKA AREA AND KAKUM ISLAND SEEKING REFUGE AMONG HOST COMMUNITIES WITH COMMON ETHNIC AND CULTURAL BACKGROUND (2000) 90 PROPERTY ISSUES 92 GENERAL 92 SUBSTANTIAL DESTRUCTION IN THE KAMBIA DISTRICT CAUSED BY RUF OCCUPANCY AND BOMBING BY THE GUINEAN MILITARY (2001) 92 RETURNEE WOMEN WHO HAVE LOST THEIR HUSBANDS FACE PROBLEMS IN RECLAIMING PROPERTY (2001) 92 3 WIDESPREAD DESTRUCTION OF HOMES AND PROPERTY BY THE REBEL FORCES (1998-2001) 93 REBELS AS WELL AS PRO-GOVERNMENT FORCES EXTORTING "TAXES" FROM DISPLACED POPULATION (JULY 2000) 95 PATTERNS OF RETURN AND RESETTLEMENT 97 OPPORTUNITIES AND CONSTRAINTS FOR IDP RETURN 97 MULTIPLE NEEDS TO FACILITATE RETURN TO THE KAMBIA DISTRICT AFTER GOVERNMENT REGAINS CONTROL (JUNE 2001) 97 REPORTED THAT A TOTAL OF 40,498 PEOPLE WERE IN THE PROCESS OF RESETTLEMENT TO SAFE AREAS BY MAY 2001 98 RETURNEES FACE VERY DIFFICULT LIVELIHOOD CONDITIONS (APRIL 2001) 100 RETURN OF LOCAL ADMINISTRATION AND DEPLOYMENT OF UN PEACEKEEPERS NEEDED TO FACILITATE RETURN (2001) 100 RETURNING REFUGEES INTEGRATED INTO IDP PROGRAMMES (2001) 101 IMPROVED OPPORTUNITIES FOR RETURN BY BEGINNING OF 2001 103 MAJOR RETURN DURING THE FEBRUARY 1996 - MAY 1997 PERIOD OF CIVILIAN RULE 104 HUMANITARIAN ACCESS 105 LIMITATION OF ACCESS CAUSED BY THE CONFLICT 105 SOME IMPROVMENTS IN ACCESS DURING FIRST HALF OF 2001 AS UNAMSIL WAS DEPLOYING TO NEW AREAS 105 HUMANITARIAN OPERATIONS IN MOST AREAS OF THE NORTHERN AND EASTERN PROVINCES CEASED AS WAR ESCALATED IN MAY 2000 106 CONCERN THAT HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE ATTRACTS THE ATTENTION OF ARMED GROUPS IN NEED OF SUPPLIES (JULY 2000) 108 SUSPENSION OF MSF ACTIVITIES IN KABALA MAKES ENTIRE NORTHERN DISTRICT WITHOUT FUNCTIONING HOSPITALS (JUNE 2000) 109 STATUS OF ROAD CONDITIONS (MARCH 2000) 109 NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL RESPONSES 111 NATIONAL OPERATIONAL FRAMEWORK 111 NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR RECONSTRUCTION, RESETTLEMENT AND REHABILITATION (NCRRR) DESIGNATED BY GOVERNMENT TO COORDINATE HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE (1999- 2000) 111 A COMPREHENSIVE RESETTLEMENT STRATEGY ISSUED IN DECEMBER 2000 112 RESPONSE BY THE UN SYSTEM TO THE ONGOING CONFLICT 114 UN PEACEKEEPING MISSION (UNAMSIL) TO FACILITATE IMPLEMENTATION OF PEACE AGREEMENT (1999-2001) 114 INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS AND MECHANISMS FOR COORDINATION 119 RECENT EFFORTS TO STRENGTHEN UN COORDINATION (2001) 119 OCHA PLAYING A MAIN ROLE IN COORDINATION (1995-2000) 120 JOINT CODE OF CONDUCT AGREED UPON BY UN AGENCIES AND NGOS OPERATING IN SIERRA LEONE (1998) 121 HUMAN RIGHTS SECTION ATTACHED TO UNAMSIL (1998-2001) 126 4 INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONAL ACTIVITIES IN 2000 128 CAREFUL SATIFACTION EXPRESSED BY THE UN ABOUT FUNDING OF ITS 2000 APPEAL 128 EFFORTS TO EXPAND CAPACITIES OF IDP CAMPS IN WESTERN AREA (JULY 2000) 130 EXPANDED CAMP IN PORT LOKO WITH CAPACITY TO SHELTER UP TO 16,000 (AUGUST 2000) 131 MAJOR HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE TO IDP INFLUX IN MILE 91 AREA (JUNE – AUGUST 2000) 132 REGULAR HUMANITARIAN ACTIVITIES MAINTAINED IN DARU AND KENEMA AREA (AUGUST 2000) 134 EFFORTS TO MAINTAIN EDUCATION ACTIVITIES (JULY 2000) 135 IMPROVED FOOD PIPELINE AS DONOR FUNDING IMPROVED (2000) 136 INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONAL ACTIVITIES IN 2001 137 DONORS RECONFIRM SUPPORT FOR THE DISARMAMENT, DEMOBILIZATION AND REINTEGRATION (DDR) PROGRAM BUT PLEDGES STILL INSUFFICIENT (JUNE 2001) 137 IDPS IN WESTERN AREA AND PORT LOKO CAMPS RECEIVE ASSISTANCE FOR