UN issues flash appeal for Liberia to aid refugees from Cote d'Ivoire
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With the escalating political crisis in Cote d'Ivoire resulting in an estimated 30,000 refugees to nearby Liberia, the United Nations on Wednesday issued a flash appeal of 55 million U.S. dollars to assist affected people in Liberia.
"The 55 million U.S. dollar plan spells out the funding required to meet the needs of both current and projected refugees and for other affected people in Liberia for the next six months," said a statement released from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
With the United Nations, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), have together launched the Liberia Emergency Humanitarian Action Plan for 2011. The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) is providing overall coordination of efforts.
According to the OCHA statement, currently Liberian households in 23 villages in the eastern part of the country have helped refugees from Cote d'Ivoire.
In recent weeks, Cote d'Ivoire has experienced an escalation of protests and violence, stemming from the results of a runoff Nov. 28 presidential election.
"With additional people crossing the border daily -- most of them women and children under 18 -- health, water, and other basic services are limited and cannot sustain the pressure of increased numbers of people," said the statement.
The biggest portion of the appeal, which is 31 million U.S. dollars, is being sought by UNHCR for protection and assistance to refuges in shelter, camp management, and non-food items.
Food security is the second largest sector which requires 10.8 million U.S. dollars for helping refugees and host communities to meet their food requirements. More support for the plan include nutrition, health care, water, sanitation and hygiene, protection, education and logistics.
In Bahn, work is underway to build a new camp for refugees.
Additionally, the World Food Program (WFP) is providing food, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) is providing safe water, nutritional and educational support along with non-food items. The World Health Organization (WHO) has already prepositioned emergency health kits for 20,000 people.
"There is an urgent need to boost the humanitarian response without any delay," urged Moustapha Soumare, humanitarian and resident coordinator for Liberia, in the OCHA statement. "We should not forget that Liberia is in a post-conflict mode and just emerging from a 14-year civil war with presidential elections coming up very soon."
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