UNICEF Situation Report No.71 - Liberia 09 May 2013 Reporting Period: 05 April – 09 May 2013 Ivorian refugee students at PTP School Camp, Grand Gedeh County, Liberia ©UNICEF/LBR/2013/AJallanzo Highlights 1. According to UNHCR statistics, 61,153 Ivoirian refugees are living in camps (56.7%) and host communities (43.3%) in Nimba, Grand Gedeh, River Gee, Maryland and Monrovia, of which: 75.4% (46,154) are women and children under the age of 18 49.4% (30,259) are girls and boys under the age of 18 39.6% (24,237) are girls and boys under the age of 11 Only 18.8% (11,542) of the total population of refugees are men over the age of 18 2. UNICEF and WHO supported a four-day integrated nationwide Polio, Vitamin A and De-worming campaign for all under-5 children living in Liberia. More than 945,463 children including 11,007 Ivorian refugee children were targeted. 3. UNICEF continues to support County Health Teams (CHT) in PMTCT and HIV/AIDS prevention, diagnosis and treatment in Nimba, Grand Gedeh, River Gee and Maryland. There is presently a county planning by MOH&SW for future HIV/AIDS interventions in the refugee-affected counties. 4. A total of 672 children under-5 suffering from severe acute malnutrition were admitted to the inpatient and outpatient therapeutic program in March 2013 in the four refugee-affected counties. 5. The MOHSW has now taken over child protection interventions in Nimba and Grand Gedeh and 10 additional social workers were trained and deployed to those counties. 6. Basic emergency WASH stocks have be transferred and prepositioned with the MOHSW in Nimba, Grand Gedeh, River Gee, and Maryland counties in order to strengthen local capacity and resilience. In partnership with government and civil society organisations, UNICEF is working to develop a planned 36 new water points in communities, schools and health facilities. 7. Following UNICEF successful experience in preparing the final primary school exam for Ivorian refugee children living in Liberia last year, UNICEF is now assisting UNHCR in organizing the second Ivorian national final primary school exam in refugee camps. 8. As of 07 April 2013, UNICEF Liberia received US$7,174,844 which is about 45% of the required US$16,016,500. 9. The overall security situation in Liberia remains calm and the conditions along the Ivorian-Liberian border are being closely monitored. All border crossing points are currently opened. 10. UNHCR resumed its voluntary repatriation activities, which were halted following security incidents in Cote d’Ivoire last March that led to the displacement of 6,000 people near the Liberian border. This situation report is produced regularly for UNICEF headquarters in New York in addition to contributions submitted for the ‘One UN’ Weekly Refugee Humanitarian Response update. UNICEF Liberia SITREP#71 [05 Apr – 09 May 2013] PAGE 1 1. Situation Overview Despite the decrease in the number of refugees and expected continuation of voluntary returns to Côte d’Ivoire, a significant number of refugees are expected to remain in Liberia this year. While 50% of the refugees opted to move into refugee camps established by UNHCR, the remaining will stay in Liberian communities, where access to basic services remains poor. While UNHCR is taking full responsibility for the needs of refugees in refugee camps, UNICEF and other UN agencies, together with implementing partners and the Government of Liberia, are currenttly responding to the humanitarian needs of Ivorian refugees and Liberians living in host communities – over 25,000 Ivorians and 140,000 Liberians. Humanitarian Needs Both refugees and host communities require access to essential services such as health, nutritional screening and treatment, water and sanitation and schooling particularly focusing on vulnerable children. Malnutrition remains the principal underlying cause of child Levels of Stunting in West Africa mortality in Liberia, where more than 40% of children suffer from chronic malnutrition and 60% from anaemia. Acute malnutrition rates were reported to be lower among the refugee population than among Liberian host communities. Of the main childhood diseases, malaria and pneumonia are the leading causes of child morbidity and mortality. Amongst all age groups, women and adolescents are most at risk of HIV infection. In many host communities, only 4% had access to improved sanitation facilities and 77% practiced open defecation before the crisis. Despite improved sanitation conditions, diarrhoeal disease among children in refugee-affected counties remains high and cholera is endemic in Liberia. Many girls and women were subjected to rape and other forms of violence and abuse during the war in Liberia and its legacy in terms of the damage to survivors and impact on the attitudes and behaviours remains. This contributes to increased vulnerability of many refugee women and children, who are often exposed to sexual abuse and exploitation, physical violence and neglect, or separation from their primary caregivers. Liberia has 60% of children out of school and lack of appropriate integration strategies of Ivorian refugee students in host communities into the Liberian system for Ivorian children is contributing to the already visible dropout of Ivorian students. Existing social services struggle to meet the needs of the Liberian population and the continued Ivorian refugee presence has had serious ramifications on an already fragile situation within the border counties. Despite the decrease in the number of refugees, the overall population in need of humanitarian assistance remains high – over 140,000 Liberians and over 25,000 refugees in communities. UNICEF Child – Centred Analysis based on UNHCR statistics as of 03 April 2013: % Total Children Under 11 39.6 24,237 Children Under 18 49.4 30,259 Female and children under 18 75.4 46,154 Female adults Adult Men 26 15,895 18.8 11,542 Of the number of 61,153 refugees: 75.4% (46,154) are women and children under the age of 18 49.4% (30,259) are girls and boys under the age of 18 39.6% (24,237) are girls and boys under the age of 11 Only 18.8% (11,542) of the total population of refugees are men over the age of 18 Location Camps Host communities Number of refugees % 34,682 26,471 UNICEF Liberia SITREP#71 [05 Apr – 09 May 2013] PAGE 2 56.7% 43,3% UNICEF Response UNICEF, in collaboration with partners, has developed strategic sector plans considering the different programmatic environments in the four counties. Nimba Bahn refugee camp; designated host communities; over 80 border community/entry points Solo Town refugee camp; PTP refugee camp; more than 50 communities close to the border and along Grand Gedeh the main road Maryland Little Wlebo refugee camp; more than 30 border communities River Gee Over 25 border communities Key Partners Nimba Grand Gedeh River Gee Maryland WASH CIPORD, OXFAM, CARE, LRRRC, MOHSW CARE, GAA, OXFAM, RIDA, MPW, LRRRC, MOHSW GAA, OXFAM, MPW, SPIR, MOHSW DRC, ERS, OXFAM, RCM, LRRRC, MOHSW Nutrition MOHSW, Africare, LRRRC, UNHCR MOHSW, LRRRC, UNHCR MOHSW, Samaritan’s Purse, LRRRC, UNHCR MOHSW, Merci, LRRRC, UNHCR Education MoE, IRC, SC, LRRRC MoE, SC, LRRRC, IRC MoE, LRRRC MoE, VIA, LRRRC Child Protection MOHSW, MoGD, UNHCR, IRC, SC, LRRRC MOHSW, MoGD, IRC, SC, LRRRC MOHSW, MoGD, LRRRC MOHSW, MoGD, LRRRC Health Mentor Initiative, CHESS, MOHSW, LRRRC MOHSW, LRRRC MOHSW, LRRRC, LRRRC MERCI, MOHSW, LRRRC HIV&AIDS MOHSW, MoYS, LRRRC MOHSW, MoYS, LRRRC, RESPECT MOHSW, MoYS, LRRRC MOHSW, MoYS, LRRRC 2. Programmatic Interventions HEALTH From 26 - 29 April, UNICEF and WHO supported integrated nationwide Polio, Vitamin A and de-worming campaign for all under-5 children living in Liberia. During this first of three polio rounds for 2013, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MoHSW) targeted more than 945,463 children including 11,007 Ivorian refugee children. Round two of the polio vaccination campaign will be targeting similar number of children and will take place from 24 – 27 May. The first in a series of Routine Immunization (RI) Toolkit trainings for over 300 General Community Health Volunteers (gCHV) in Liberia were conducted in three counties in Southeastern Liberia (River Gee, Grand Kru and Maryland Counties) from 6 – 11 April. These trainings are geared towards ensuring that all of Liberia’s frontline health workers working with communities, and County Health Team (CHT) staff learn how to use the RI toolkit along with posters, to communicate essential Routine Immunization messages to caregivers in order to improve routine vaccination Figure 1 - WHO Representative, Dr. Nestor, giving polio vaccine to coverage rates in Liberia. infant UNICEF/LBR/2013/Callaghan HIV/AIDS UNICEF continues to support CHT in PMTCT and HIV/AIDS prevention, diagnosis and treatment in Nimba, Grand Gedeh, River Gee and Maryland. There is presently a county planning by MOH&SW for future HIV/AIDS interventions in the refugee-affected counties. For PMTCT, 35 pregnant women counseled and tested in River Gee: 0 were tested positive. 38 women and men were tested and counseled for HIV/AIDS, out of which 3 were tested positive. A total of 45 Liberians are ongoing ART treatment. UNICEF Liberia SITREP#71 [05 Apr – 09 May 2013] PAGE 3 WASH While improvements in the WASH situation in communities in the emergency affected counties of Nimba, Grand Gedeh, River Gee, and Maryland have been made, UNICEF is currently working to improve access to perennial water sources, strengthen sustainable community operation and maintenance arrangements, and support the transition away from subsidised emergency sanitation in these areas in order to improve access to WASH services and strengthen recovery and resilience. In partnership with government and civil society organisations, UNICEF is working to develop a planned 36 new water points in communities, schools and health facilities, and continue to work with local people to strengthen handpump sustainability arrangements through community level operation and maintenance of handpumps, and support to spare parts shops in 130 communities in the Ivorian border counties. UNICEF is working to strengthen awareness of Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) to assist the transition away from subsidised family latrine construction, with CLTS triggering and post triggering follow-up planned in 60 communities in the Ivorian border counties. In 2013 UNICEF plans to work in 50 schools and 27 health facilities in these counties, with a package including hygiene promotion, the construction and rehabilitation of gender separated latrine cubicles following the alternating pit design, which allows for manual emptying in future years. UNICEF plans to support a WASH Knowledge Attitudes and Practices (KAP) study in Nimba, Grand Gedeh, River Gee, and Maryland in 2013 in 2013 in order to have an updated picture of the WASH situation in these counties, and gain insights in to how WASH programming and communications activities can be further targeted to address needs. Nimba Grand Gedeh River Gee Maryland Total Communities 36 12 40 0 20 22 130 Schools 20 8 8 0 4 10 50 Health facilities 12 4 5 6 27 Activities New water points 15 5 5 11 36 Rehab. Water points 31 14 0 26 71 New institutional latrines 30 15 0 28 73 Rehab institutional latrines 40 20 0 40 100 Hygiene Promotion and Operation and Maintenance in communities 36 12 22 130 CLTS communities KAP study 40 0 40 yes yes 20 60 20 yes yes Basic emergency WASH stocks have be transferred and prepositioned with the MOHSW in Nimba, Grand Gedeh, River Gee, and Maryland counties to strengthen local capacity and resilience. Supplies include point-of-use water treatment products suitable for communities with improved and un-improved water sources. UNICEF is also working to strengthen a programme of support to government WASH partners at the county level to strengthen their ability to monitor and report on WASH activities. Efforts are being made to ensure that implementation of planned activities is well underway before the peak of the rainy season when diarrhoea disease outbreak risks will increase and access to remote areas decrease. NUTRITION A total of 672 children under-5 suffering from severe acute malnutrition were admitted to the inpatient and outpatient therapeutic programme in March 2013 in the 4 refugee affected counties. Among children enrolled in the program in March 2013, 204 (93%) were cured, 13 (6%) defaulted and 3 (1%) died. By the end of March 2013, 641 children suffering from severe acute malnutrition were enrolled in the programme for comprehensive treatment and rehabilitation. UNICEF Liberia SITREP#71 [05 Apr – 09 May 2013] PAGE 4 Nimba In OTP treatment sites, 84 severely malnourished children were admitted, 70 were cured, and no defaulter or death was reported. By the end of March 2013, 79 children suffering from severe acute malnutrition remained in the programme for treatment and rehabilitation. Grand Gedeh 59 severely malnourished children without medical complications were admitted in OTP sites. In the same period, 7 severely malnourished children with medical complications were admitted in IPF sites. Among children suffering from severe acute malnutrition enrolled in the programme, 53 were cured, 2 defaulted, and 1 died. 239 children were still enrolled in both OTP and IPF by the end of March 2013. River Gee In OTP treatment sites, 58 severely malnourished children were admitted, 73 were cured, and no defaulter or death was reported. By the end of March 2013, 128 children suffering from severe acute malnutrition remained in the programme for treatment and rehabilitation. Maryland 4 children with severe acute malnutrition were admitted in OTP and IPF and among children enrolled in the program for both OTP and IPF, 25 were cured, 1 defaulted and no death was reported. 36 children suffering from severe acute malnutrition are currently enrolled in the programme. EDUCATION UNICEF is assisting UNHCR organizing the second Ivorian national final primary school exam in refugee camps in Liberia. Key UNICEF Education partners submitted a list of Ivorian children who are qualified to take the exam to UNHCR. Detailed planning including budgeting, administrative and logistical arrangements is currently underway. Most of the exam certificates for Ivorian refugee children who took the examination last year were delivered and the tracking of children who did not attend the certification ceremony has been completed. The remaining undelivered certificates will be returned to the Ministry of Education (MOE) in Cote d’Ivoire for official recording of children’s attestation. The children will also be tracked in their home country using UNCHR records for returnees. Nimba 3-hour Data Management Refresher Training sessions are continuing with 33 School Administrators in 5 communities. Topics covered include data collection, verification, and validation, Data storage and data processing, school-related data and methods of calculating school daily attendance. The daily attendance of children in these communities increased thanks to improved data management capacity of school administrators. Computer literacy training for the Gbehlay-Geh District Education Officers (DEO) is ongoing. Joint monitoring school visits with the DEO started in one school. The list of candidates for this year’s Ivorian grade 6 examination was finalized and submitted to UNHCR, with a total of 22 exam takers in Bahn camp school. In Bahn camp school, PTA committees were restructured as some PTA members were repatriated to Cote d’Ivoire and new executive committee members had to be selected. Grand Gedeh In Solo Camp, one UNICEF tent was erected to reduce the number of children in the camp school as most of the classes are overcrowded. Additional assorted learning materials such as pens, copybooks and rulers were distributed to 1,270 Ivorian children in the ECD center and primary school in the camp. The list of candidates for this year’s Ivorian grade 6 examination was finalized and submitted to UNHCR, with a total 52 exam takers (39 boys, 13 girls) in Solo camp school. In PTP Camp, 3,045 pieces of assorted learning materials were distributed to over 1,500 Ivorian children in the ECD centre and camp primary school. Additional playing toys were distributed to 2,236 Ivorian children. Regular supervision, monitoring and coaching activities for teachers in PTP camp school are ongoing. Teaching skills of teachers have improved compared to the skills they had when the coaching activities began. 30 pieces of English and French dictionaries were distributed to 27 primary school teachers. The list of candidates for this year’s Ivorian grade 6 examination was finalized and submitted to UNHCR, with a total of 50 exam takers (21 boys, 29 girls) in PTP camp school. Maryland A mentorship training was organized for caregivers at Pedebo ECD centre. The participants included caregivers from neighbouring villages. UNICEF Liberia SITREP#71 [05 Apr – 09 May 2013] PAGE 5 A supply distribution plan was finalized: one ECD kit to every ECD centre and one school-in-a-box kit to every Liberian primary school that integrates Ivorian refugee students. Distribution will start in 2 weeks. Tracking of Ivorian children who took the examination last July was completed. Only 5 certificates remained undelivered to exam takers. Consultative meetings were held with local communities to reassess the type of skills needed to address local market needs. Auto-mechanic skills training was identified as a new relevant area requiring development of a training module, in addition to the other trainings already ongoing (soapmaking, baking and catering, hairdressing, sewing and carpentry). Latest statistics on Education Sector Interventions in refugee-affected counties County Partners Nimba Bahn Camp Host Communities SCI SCI Host Communities Bahn Camp IRC FCA* Grand Gedeh PTP Solo Camp Duogee Camp Host Communities ECD Data as of Male 30-Apr-2013 11-Dec-2012 40 539 Female 38 460 19-Apr-2013 779 815 31-Dec-2012 N/A N/A Total 1,358 1,313 Nimba Grand Total Partners Data as of Male Female SCI 15-Apr-2013 132 121 SCI 30-Apr-2013 133 125 SCI 31-Jan-2013 Total Grand Gedeh Grand Total Secondary School/ Youth Skills training Primary School Total 78 999 Male Female 433 452 1,180 884 1,594 1,037 1,029 0 N/A N/A 2,671 2,650 2,365 Total Male Female 253 548 568 258 583 687 Closed 164 295 255 675 1,426 1,510 81 346 83 329 185 324 509 183 282 465 368 606 974 2,213 51% 2,107 49% ECD 4,320 100% 29% Total Male 885 N/A 2,064 N/A 2,066 N/A 0 5,015 Female N/A N/A Total N/A 0 296 296 7,982 Total 0 0 184 184 Total Male 1,116 N/A 1,270 N/A 112 112 Female N/A N/A 550 N/A 2,936 - N/A - 522 426 948 1,089 903 1,992 91 0 91 54 0 54 5,120 4,823 51% 49% Primary School 9,943 100% 68% 275 62% 166 38% Youth 0 0 0 3,611 Maryland Little Wlebo Camp Host Communities DRC VIA** 20-Feb-2013 8-Apr-2013 Total Maryland Grand Total TOTAL per level of education Male/Female % per level of education Distribution of beneficiaries per level of education Grand Total 567 477 1,044 145 0 145 3,111 441 100% 3% 14,704 *FCA - Informal secondary education **VIA - Youth skills training and literacy classes completed by end Dec 2012. CHILD PROTECTION Throughout the first quarter of 2013, the MOHSW has taken over child protection interventions in two of the refugee-affected counties: Nimba and Grand Gedeh. On the ground, UNICEF NGO partners, SC and IRC, handed over child protection activities to trained social workers from the MOHSW, including Child Friendly Spaces (CFS), case management and psychosocial support. Child Friendly Spaces (CFS) in Grand Gedeh County Through UNICEF support, the Department of Social Welfare from MOHSW is working with local structures and CP partners to continue psychosocial support to host community children and Ivorian refugee children in CFS. Picture 2 - Host and Ivorian refugee children in Toe Town, 513 children attended CFS centres (160 male Grand Gedeh County, UNICEF/LBR/2013/SMamy and 353 female) weekly, out of which 460 are host community children and 53 are Ivorian children. Case Management and Psychosocial Support for Unaccompanied and Separated Children in Nimba County 31 children were followed up in four communities: 6 UAMs and 23 SCs. Out of the 31 children monitored, 4 expressed desire to be reunified with their parents in Cote d’Ivoire and referral was made by a social worker from MOHSW to relevant Child Protection partners. UNICEF Liberia SITREP#71 [05 Apr – 09 May 2013] PAGE 6 Other Child Protection Activities In response to building the child protection system in Liberia, the Department of Social Welfare from MOHSW, with support from UNICEF, recently assigned 10 additional social workers to cover all 12 districts in Nimba and Grand Gedeh counties. In collaboration with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, 3 districts (Cavala, Putu and B’hai) in Grand Gedeh County were identified to expand lifeskills and livelihood activities, including agriculture and soap making, for young people aged 18 – 35. UNICEF will also be supporting the MOHSW in birth registration, outreach activities and certification in the 12 districts of Nimba and Grand Gedeh. ICRC successfully repatriated 8 (2 female and 6 male) refugee UAM and SC and reunified with their guardians in Cote d’Ivoire on 23 April 2013. 3. Human Resources UNICEF Liberia has 110 staff and most are engaged in the humanitarian response. 22 staff are actively working on humanitarian-related issues. 4. Funding As of 05 April 2013, UNICEF Liberia received US$7,174,844 which is about 45% of the required US$16,016,500. Emergency Funding by Sector, funding needs and available funds Sector Total Funding Needs Nutrition WASH Health Child Protection Education HIV/AIDS Emergency Coordination Operations, Inf/Com and M&E Cross-sectoral Total Available Funds 2,365,000 4,200,000 1,162,500 3,300,000 3,500,000 1,000,000 489,000 16,016,500 2,432,440 948,706 1,295,572 689,869 822,011 100,170 36,263 591,382 258,431 7,174,844 UNICEF Liberia Office would like to thank all Donor Governments, EU/ECHO and UNICEF National Committees for providing the much needed financial support in response to the Ivorian refugee crisis. Your support has been crucial. UNICEF looks forward to your continued generous support to enable us to provide the urgently needed humanitarian assistance to children and families affected by the Ivorian refugee crisis in Liberia. 5. Inter-Agency Collaboration, Coordination, Cluster Leadership and Key Partnerships UNICEF is represented at the monthly Humanitarian Action Committee (HAC) briefings and the operational coordination meetings in Monrovia; and in the monthly sector working groups and general coordination meetings in Nimba, Grand Gedeh, Rive Gee and Maryland counties. UNICEF is leading the WASH, Nutrition, Education (co-lead with Save the Children) sectors, the Child Protection sub-cluster, and is participating in the Health and HIV/AIDS coordination mechanisms. 6. Contacts Fazlul Haque, Resident Representative a.i., fhaque@unicef.org Tel: +231 770 267 400 Laura O’Hara, Deputy Representative a.i., lohara@unicef.org Tel: +231 770 267 450 Miraj Pradhan, Communication Specialist, mpradhan@unicef.org Tel: +231 770 267 110 UNICEF Liberia SITREP#71 [05 Apr – 09 May 2013] PAGE 7