• 1. HIGHLIGHTS
• 2. SECURITY
• 3. AIR OPERATIONS
• 4. SEA PORT OPERATIONS
• 6. TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE (Roads, Bridges, Rail, Ports, Airports, Warehouse)
• 7. LOGISTICS COORDINATION
• 8. CIVIL-MILITARY COORDINATION
• 9. FUEL (Petrol, Diesel, Kerosene)
• 10. LIBERIA UNJLC STAFF
• 11. OTHER

1. HIGHLIGHTS

The UNJLC co-ordinated distribution of WFP diesel fuel was completed on 24th August. Between 17th and 24th August 350,000 litres of fuel were distributed to 42 humanitarian organisations and public utilities thereby bridging the gap between the resumption of full-scale operations and the reactivation of commercial fuel supplies.

UNJLC has negotiated a 50% reduction of cargo handling charges and a waiver of cargo service fees for all UN and INGO incoming cargo at Roberts International Airport (RIA) in Monrovia.

An AN26 cargo aircraft has begun operations between Abidjan, Monrovia, and Freetown as part of the WFP Common Air Service. An AN12 is also supplementing regional flight capacity.

2. SECURITY

Monrovia city remains at UN Security level IV, while Phase V is in effect outside of the city.

Fighting has been reported in Nimba County. It was reported on state radio that 1,000 civilians had been killed in Bahn on 24th August. President Blah, on 25th August, urged ECOMIL to intervene to halt the hostilities. Blah also stated that Government troops were not in a position to defend themselves due to the ongoing arms embargo.

UNSECOORD FSCO: Eric Asare +377 47 519 150.

UN Liberia Communications Centre: +377 47 559 430.

3. AIR OPERATIONS

UNJLC has negotiated with the RIA management a 50% reduction in cargo handling charges for all UN and INGOs on incoming flights. The new fee now equates to US$ 0.05 per Kilo. Additionally, a waiver of cargo service charges has also been secured for the UN and INGOs. A copy of the agreement will be posted on the UNJLC website (www.unjlc.org).

UNJLC continues to co-ordinate the establishment of a WFP Common Air Service linking Liberia to the region.

• An AN26 has commenced operations between Abidjan, Monrovia, and Freetown.
  The aircraft will be utilised for cargo operations and has a payload of 5MT.
• An AN12, with a maximum payload of 18MT, will complement the AN26 by
  carrying out regional cargo flights as required.
• Currently, aviation fuel is not available at RIA, however supplies are expected to
  arrive within a week. This will further facilitate regional flights and maximise
  payload by reducing the tonnage of fuel carried by the aircraft on flights via
  Monrovia.
• SOPs for the Common Air Service are under compilation and will be posted on
  the UNJLC website upon completion.
  Focal Points for Common Air Service:
  - Liberia: Stig Larsson, +377 47 530 092
  - Cote d’Ivoire: Emanuel Jarry, +225 05 06 3781
  - Sierra Leone: Rosemary Parnell, rosemary.parnell@wfp.org

An AN12 delivered 8 WFP trucks and trailers along with drivers to RIA from Sweden on 22nd August. The aircraft returned on the 23rd with 6 trucks and 18MT of NFI for UNHCR from Accra, Ghana.

An initial assessment of RIA has been carried out by UNJLC:

• Elevation: 31’,
• Lat/Long: 06 14 25.60N 010 21 35.56W
• Runway: Length = 3500m, Width = 50, Surface = Paved, Orientation = 04/22
• NDB, VOR, ILS, runway lights, and lighting on parking ramp are present. Approach lights and airport radar however are not available.
• The assessment in full detail.
   

An office container from the WFP chartered ship Sea Bulk Martin 1 has been positioned at RIA as an on-site office for the WFP Common Air Service. In addition, two containers at the airport have been allocated for storage of high value transit cargo.

4. SEA PORT OPERATIONS

On 20th August the National Port Authority (NPA) formally announced the reactivation of the Freeport of Monrovia for both humanitarian and commercial business

Contacts for the NPA are outlined below. A number of positions have yet to be filled and communications, especially email, are still in a process of reactivation. However, a list of contacts, posted on the UNJLC website will be regularly updated.

Following the port assessment of the Freeport of Monrovia carried out by WFP Port Captain Eric Mora, a second assessment was carried out on 23rd August. The joint assessment by WFP, UNJLC, DPKO, the UN Assessment Team, NPA, and the US Joint Task Force, identified the following action points:

• Key-side space is limited by the presence of the embargoed Aqua Sierra vessel.
  It was suggested to tow the ship to an embargoed pier, freeing up its present
  location for use.
• Landside space can be optimised by the effective stacking of containers. WFP
  are procuring spare parts for the port’s front loaders in order to enact this.
• The NPA lack effective communications. Needed are: 2 generators, a VHF base
  station and 6 hand sets. In addition, 2 manual typewriters and a photocopier would enable the resumption of proper paperwork preparation
• Greater co-ordination is needed at the port. As such, daily co-ordination meetings
  are being held by NPA (see below for details).
• Port procedures and contacts need greater dissemination. UNJLC, and NPA will
  therefore co-operate to post this information on the UNJLC website.
• Spare parts for the handling equipment are being sourced by WFP. The issue of
  wreck removal is still being assessed by all parties.

NPA began daily co-ordination meetings at the port from 25th August. They are chaired by Port Operations Manager Julius Gooding, cell +231 51 85 11. Timing is 14.00 weekdays and 10.00 weekends. Venue is NPA conference room in the dock office.

Shipping Agents: Nine shipping agents are present at the Freeport of Monrovia:

UNJLC is working with the NPA to provide SOPs for use of Monrovia Freeport. These will be posted on the UNJLC website as soon as compiled.

Liberia’s three other main ports; Buchanan, Greenville, and Harper, currently have limited facilities for humanitarian operations. However, basic details of the ports are:

On 26th August the M/V Overbeck, an UNHCR ship carrying 186 refugees from Monrovia back to Sierra Leone encountered technical difficulties while at sea. A humanitarian distress signal was given and assistance was provided by the USS Carter Hall, while the WFP chartered vessel Sea Bulk Martin 1 came alongside. The WFP vessel is currently remaining with the UNHCR vessel until a chartered tugboat can arrive from Freetown to pull it safely to harbour.

5. BORDER CROSSING, CUSTOMS AND IMMIGRATION

Main air entry point is RIA (see Air Operations), main sea entry point is Freeport of Monrovia (see Sea Port Operations).

Prime land entry points have been identified as the following:

A UNJLC planning map highlighting the air, sea, and land entry points is currently available . A batch of the A2 colour version of the map has been dispatched to UNJLC Liberia for distribution.

Currently all land borders are closed, however SRSG Jacques Klein is currently in Sierra Leone to explore the possibility of re-opening land access from Sierra Leone to Liberia.

Prior to the recent war operational hours at land entry points were 06.00 – 18.00.

Visas: Those holding an LP are not charged for a visa. National passport holders must pay a $30 entrance charge ($20 before the war). Those arriving without a visa must pay a penalty charge of $250 ($100 before the war), which is inclusive of the entrance charge. The entrance charge pays for a 48 hours stay in which time one must report to the Immigration Office for a 30-day permit. This is not necessary for those with residency permits.

Upon departure via RIA, a $40 tax is payable ($25 airport tax + $15 development tax). This is consistent with pre war charges.

6. TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE (Roads, Bridges, Rail, Ports, Airports, Warehouse)

There was general agreement by those present at the weekly Logistics meeting that there is sufficient trucking capacity in Liberia. Prices given for a truck for one day ranged between $200-$400. $400 a day for a 40’ truck/trailer was given as an indicative price.

A WFP Logistics Capacity Assessment for Liberia is now posted on the UNJLC website. While the report was written prior to the recent disturbances, much of the information is still of interest to those operating in Liberia.

UNJLC facilitated the identification of urgently needed warehousing space for UNICEF and WHO. A more detailed survey of warehousing availability in Monrovia will be undertaken in the near future.

Infrastructure projects being implemented by other agencies/organisations – TBI.

7. LOGISTICS COORDINATION

The second weekly Joint Logistics Meeting was held at 11.00 hours in the HOC, ground floor of the WFP building, and was attended by 30 people. Briefings were given on developments in both the air and port sectors (see ‘Air Operations’ and ‘Sea Port Operations’). Questions raised included the possibility of a joint radio frequency for the UN and NGOs, and the likelihood of the NPA resuming the issuance of port passes. Key issues raised in the meeting included the increase in visa fees since the recent hostilities, and the sufficiency of trucking in the market.

A4 copies of the UNJLC Liberia planning map were distributed to all participants.

8. CIVIL-MILITARY COORDINATION

The 3rd Battalion ECOMIL (a composite battalion of West African troops) is expected to be in place by around 30th August. The additional manpower will allow ECOMIL to broaden its area of operations. The exact deployment plan is still being worked upon.

NIBAT 2 fully deployed during the reporting period and currently bolsters the deployment of NIBAT 1. Between them, NIBAT 1 and 2 have established checkpoints on the major roads including Bushrod Island. Static checkpoints are in effect in the north and northeast of the city while patrols are being run eastwards out towards the airport.

UNDP Civil Military Liaison Officer Barry Jones holds a daily meeting with ECOMIL. ECOMIL liaison officers have now integrated into a number of humanitarian meetings such as the daily OCHA led co-ordination meeting, the weekly Joint Logistics meeting, the camp management meeting and a number of sectoral meetings.

ECOMIL continue to operate an emergency response HOTLINE number: +377 47 530 172/ 530 173

ECOMIL Force Commander - Brigadier General Festus Okonkwo

Chief of Operations - Colonel Mark, Nigeria: +377 47 523 675

Civil-Military Co-ordination Officer – Lt Col Logonda, Togo: +377 47 529 882

Civil Affairs Officer – Major P. Spangler, USA: +377 47 522 925

9. FUEL (Petrol, Diesel, Kerosene)

UNJLC continued to co-ordinate the distribution of WFP diesel fuel from the WFP chartered vessel Sea Bulk Martin 1 to humanitarian players and Monrovian public utilities. The operation, which ran from 17th to 24th August, resulted in the supply of 350,000 litres of fuel to 42 organisations and public utilities including the Liberian Electricity Corporation, the Liberian Water Supply Company, RIA fire service, five hospitals, and the Freeport tugboat (full details).

This provision of fuel has effectively bridged the gap between reactivation of full-scale humanitarian activities in Monrovia and the resumption of effective commercial fuel supplies. The largest fuel importer in Liberia has informed that sufficient fuel supplies will arrive by ship within the week to fully normalise both the supply and price of fuel in the capital.

The exchange rate to the US$ rose during the reporting period from L$45 on 20th August to L$55 on 26th August.

10. LIBERIA UNJLC STAFF

With the departure of the WFP chartered ship Sea Bulk Martin 1 for re-supply in Abidjan, UNJLC staff have moved to accommodation in Monrovia City. UNJLC offices are located on the ground floor of the WFP building opposite the HOC, a WFP Air Service booking office will be activated in the same location in the coming days. Lotus Notes email is operational but temperamental therefore contacts are provided below with alternate email addresses:

Peter Scott-Bowden: peter.scott-bowden@wfp.org Mobile: +377 47 530 365
David Pittfield: david.pittfield@wfp.org pittfield@hotmail.com Mobile: +377 47 530 093
Matthew Dee: matthew.dee@wfp.org m_dee99@yahoo.com Mobile: +377 47 530 187
Stig Larsson: stig.larsson@wfp.org airopsconsult@hotmail.com Mobile: +377 47 530 092

11. OTHER

A five day weather forecast for Monrovia is available from the BBC at the following URL: http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/5day.shtml?world=1392&links. A link will shortly be available on the UNJLC website (www.unjlc.org).