Liberia: UN agency joins team probing reports of fresh fighting outside Monrovia

The United Nations refugee agency today joined other aid groups on an assessment mission north-east of the Liberian capital, Monrovia, where fresh rebel violence has reportedly displaced tens of thousands of terrified people.

UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) representatives joined the inter-agency team investigating new reports of large-scale displacement sparked by recent rebel fighting outside Monrovia, and assessing humanitarian conditions in the host areas near Totota, Salala and Kakata towns. Yesterday, the sound of shelling north of Totota sent thousands of people fleeing towards the three towns looking for safety.

In Totota alone, an estimated 80,000 internally displaced people (IDPs) have sought shelter in transit centres. In Salala, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is planning to set up a second camp to cope with the recent influx. A separate group of over 6,000 people is believed to be living in a new IDP camp between Salala and Kakata.

Meanwhile, UNHCR said security measures and aid distribution continue in Monrovia's refugee camps. Security has been beefed up in VOA, Banjor and Samukai refugee camps, with three daily patrols by the West African ECOMIL troops. UNHCR has also been exploring the possibility of creating refugee watch teams trained in specific protection and security concerns, and equipped with basic tools like flashlights and whistles.

UNHCR has also been providing aid to some of the eight IDP camps in Monrovia. In Perry Town camp, UNHCR has transported relief supplies for 435 families to be distributed by a local non-governmental agency later this week. Some 3,600 displaced people have returned to Perry Town, which used to host 8,000 people. Many families have been separated in the recent rebel fighting that forced some of them north to Tubmanburg.