UNJLC LIBERIA
Bulletin 17
2 December – 9 December 2003

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UNJLC bulletins aim to provide a concise weekly overview of UNJLC activities and the present logistical situation in regard to the crisis in Liberia. In addition sector/country specific reports will be released regularly in order to provide in-depth coverage of priority areas.

Contact details for all UNJLC offices are available on the UNJLC website.

CONTENTS

• 1. HIGHLIGHTS
• 2. SECURITY
• 3. AIR OPERATIONS
• 4. SEA PORT OPERATIONS
• 5. BORDER CROSSINGS, CUSTOMS AND IMMIGRATION
• 6. TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE
• 7. LOGISTICS CO-ORDINATION
• 8. CIVIL-MILITARY COORDINATION
• 9. FUEL (Petrol, Diesel, Kerosene) / COMMODITY PRICES
• 10. LIBERIA UNJLC INTERNATIONAL STAFF
• 11. OTHER

1. HIGHLIGHTS

The road to Roberts International Airport (RIA) is impassable; instead an UNMIL MI8 helicopter shuttle service from the UNMIL Star Building and Spriggs Payne Airport to Roberts Int’l Airport (RIA) offers transport for passengers. A limited number of convoys escorted by UNMIL are travelling by road to RIA.  These arrangements are temporary and subject to the security situation within and around the capital of Monrovia.

As a result of security incidents following the commencement of the Disarmament, Demobilisation, Rehabilitation and Reintegration Programme (DDRP) process, a curfew has been put into place in Monrovia from 2000 hours to 0600 hours for the inhabitants of Monrovia. It is being closely monitored by UNMIL. This curfew is in addition to the one imposed by UNMIL for its troops from 1200 hours to 0500 hours.

Shootings and riots have occurred in the suburbs of Monrovia as well as on the road to RIA. These incidents also involved injuries to employees of international organisations travelling in vehicles as well as casualties among the rebel fighters themselves. 

UNMIL has offered an initial payment of USD $ 75 to the combatants who return their weapons in an effort to alleviate tension and misunderstanding among the former fighters. This sum will be an advance payment from the USD $ 300 stipend that the fighters are to receive in two parts during the DDRP process. Also, UNMIL will now accept the return of weapons from 400 combatants per day. This number is expected to increase.

2. SECURITY

Former fighters participating in the Disarmament, Demobilisation, Rehabilitation and Reintegration Programme (DDRRP), that commenced on 7 December and is overseen by UNMIL, started shooting, hijacking vehicles and looting in and around the capital of Monrovia on Monday, 8 December. The first UN centre to accept weapons is Camp Schiefflin, situated on the main highway about halfway between Monrovia's Elwa Junction and Roberts International Airport (RIA). This centre became the scene of shooting and unrest on Monday and Tuesday, 8-9 December.  The rebels started stopping and hijacking vehicles travelling on the road to RIA. The road to Roberts Int’l Airport is now restricted for travel till further notice.

The situation within Monrovia remains tense and it is advised that precautionary measures be undertaken by agencies and organisations.  A curfew from 2000 hours to 0600 hours for the civilians in Monrovia is now in place.  

Incidents, including shooting and looting, have also taken place in the Paynesville and Sinkor suburbs, as well as some parts of downtown Monrovia. 

Monrovia remains in UN Security Phase IV, while the rest of Liberia continues to be designated as Phase V.

3. AIR OPERATIONS

Following the after-effects of the DDR commencement, an UNMIL helicopter shuttle service is offering passengers transport between Roberts International Airport and Spriggs Payne. The service also transports persons from the UNMIL Star Building. The shuttle leaves at 10:00, 12:00 and 14:00 hours daily.  Please contact the Humanitarian Operations Centre (HOC) and UNMIL MOVCON for further information:

Mr. Steve Eames, Tel: + 377 47 534 468
Mr. Stephen Hiscock, Tel: + 377 47 530 434
Mr. Kalyan Majumdar, Tel: + 377 47 532 204
Ms. Hala Rayyak, Tel: + 377 47 530 612

Two air missions are planned for next week to Voinjama on 13 and 15 December.

Data is being collected in order to produce a detailed planning map for Spriggs Payne Airfield. 

The transport from Monrovia to Freetown of 250 Sierra Leonean refugees for UNHCR continued.  About 28 refugees were returned to Sierra Leone last week via four flights.

An updated Passenger Request Form is available on the UNJLC website. 

A comprehensive planning map of Roberts International Airport has been published. It is available on the UNJLC website.

Contacts: WFP West Africa Air Service contacts are as follows:

4. SEA PORT OPERATIONS

The ‘Noble Star’ carrying 1733 MT of wheat for WFP has now arrived. 

The Rotterdam is sailing to Greenville on 11 December and will return on 14 December.

Contacts for the Ghanaian Security contingent (UNMIL) at the Freeport are as follows:

Commanding Officer – Lt Col James Adoinama: + 377 47 530 657
Operations Officer – Major Louman Gbetanu: + 377 47 530 654
Military Intelligence Officer – Capt Errigton Commil: + 377 47 530 649

5. BORDER CROSSINGS, CUSTOMS AND IMMIGRATION

The Commissioner for Immigration and Naturalisation is expected to present, in writing, a confirmation of the re-activation of the United Nations’ privileges and immunities with regard to Immigration. 

The Chief of Protocol, Ministry of Foreign Affairs is in the process of convening an Inter-Ministerial Working Group to discuss the general re-activation of the United Nations’ privileges and immunities, and to clarify the relationship between the Government of Liberia and the Humanitarian Community in terms of fees and charges, and submittal of information. 

The first draft of the UNJLC Customs and Immigration Guide is available on the website. A second draft will be posted shortly.

6. TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE

The first results of the UNJLC road assessment project have been received. Assessment data for Monrovia – Ganta – Yekepa have been submitted, while information on the Bo/Tubmanburg area is expected to be presented in the next two days.  Assessments have been carried out between Buchanan and Greenville, and full data on the main routes in Sinoe County are expected back by the start of next week. Assessments will continue throughout Liberia for the remainder of December in order to provide clear information on all main and major secondary routes. 

UNJLC has hired two data entry clerks to assist HIC in the collation, synthesis, and analysis of the incoming data.  The resulting database will, upon completion, provide a comprehensive, standardised body of information for use in the planning of a coherent road rehabilitation plan for the entire country.

UNJLC/GTZ transport survey is available from the UNJLC office.  The survey is also accessible on the web.

7. LOGISTICS CO-ORDINATION

The fourth meeting of the Joint Logistics Working Group was held on 3 December 2003 at 10:00 a.m. in the WFP Conference room. UNJLC’s fuel consultant provided highlights of his almost-finished strategic study of the fuel industry in Liberia. The UNMIL contract for its total fuel needs is to be tendered for a single supplier and will commence in February 2004. In order that the various UN agencies and NGOs be included in this contract, fuel requirements per hub for each month should be submitted to UNJLC. The Civil Military Coordination Officer for the Humanitarian Operations Centre (HOC) provided an overview of the activities at the Centre. Procedures for the submission of requests shall be disseminated this week. UNJLC is in the process of finalising details for a city map of Monrovia. It will soon be published and disseminated.

The Humanitarian Operations Centre is now staffed to its 50 % capacity. Internal procedures and external protocols are being reviewed to support the objectives of the Centre. Permanent representation from UNSEECORD and Government of Liberia (GoL) will soon take effect. UNJLC is in the process of hiring an NGO Liaison officer for the Centre.

The points of contact at the HOC are as follows: 

 - General
    Stephen Hiscock, Tel: + 377 47 530 434, E-mail: stephen.hiscock@wfp.org

 - Logistics Coordination & Movement Control
    Steve Eames, Tel: + 377 47 530 468, E-mail: steven.eames@wfp.org

 - Civil-Military Coordination
    Stephen Hiscock, Tel: + 377 47 530 434, E-mail: stephen.hiscock@wfp.org
    Major Noel Duffy, Tel: + 377 47 532 516, E-mail: Monrovia.guest8@wfp.org

 - Security
    Arve Skog, Tel: + 377 47 529 616, E-mail: arve.skog@undp.org

 - Humanitarian Information
    Paul Currion, Tel: + 377 47 530 374, E-mail: hic-me-01@un.org

The HOC is located on the ground floor of the WFP building. These are the opening hours: Mon-Fri: 08:30 – 18:00. Sat: 10:00 – 15:00.

8. CIVIL-MILITARY COORDINATION

The total strength of the UNMIL Force Headquarters is now 102 (out of 165), including a dedicated “Civil Military Cooperation” (CIMIC) section. Next to the 1st Brigade, 76 Military Observers are now deployed in the country. The Force Brigade’s total strength is 5,600. There are 38 CIVPOL officers.

UNMIL Emergency Response HOTLINES:

Duty Officer HQ Sector 1: +377 47 530 173
Duty Officer HQ UNMIL :   +377 47 532 313

UNMIL Force Commander – Lieutenant General Opande, Kenya

Sector 1 Commander – Brigadier General Festus Okonkwo, Nigeria

Civil-Military Cooperations Officer –Major Duffy:+377 47 532 516                                                                 

UN Civil-Military Co-ordination – Stephen Hiscock: +377 47 530 434

WFP Civil-Military Liaison – Albert Fiawosime: +377 47 530 209

UNHCR Civil-Military Liaison – Harry Leefe: +377 47 530 180

UNJLC Civil-Military Liaison – Oleksandr Grebenyuk: +377 47 532 378

9. FUEL (Petrol, Diesel, Kerosene) / COMMODITY PRICES

The fuel situation remains stable, with prices steady and no foreseen shortages.  However, a rise in the price of aviation fuel Jet A1 is expected, due to a shortfall in the funding to support the expansion of the repair programme's storage capacity, in preparation for the increase holding requirement needed to meet the UNMIL fuel supply contract. 

This repair programme has been necessary due to the age of the storage tanks and the practise of using seawater to clear the pipelines of fuel after a consignment is delivered by an oil tanker.  The practise involves pumping seawater into the fuel pipeline and shooting it through to the storage tanks.  The mixture is allowed to settle, and the water, with a higher specific gravity than the fuel, sinks to the lower part of the tank.  The water is then drained off until the level of the fuel is reached.  This is a particularly poor practice that has a number of side effects; the pump seal, pipeline, valve heads and tank suffer from the long-term corrosive effects of the sea water.  

The fuel prices are in line with the neighbouring countries, but with the introduction of a competitive market for imports of fuel, the prices could be even lower; this would benefit all aspects of life within Liberia and accelerate the progress of recovery.  Currently there is only one importer who operates under a licence issued by the Liberian Petroleum Refinery Company (LPRC).  According to official sources, this licence will be terminated on the 1st January 2004 and a new open importation system will be adopted.  In anticipation, the LPRC has opened a line of credit with Total as a tentative first step.  However, an increased pro-active approach will be required to improve the competition.   UNJLC's Fuel Consultant does not see that the LPRC adds any value to the system - it should be removed from the supply chain.  This step would open competition, encourage private investment in infrastructure, and lower prices.

An additional step would be to introduce standards into the system.  Currently, no fuel testing takes place in the fuel supply chain other than for aviation fuels.  In conjunction with the above, UNJLC has proposed that a team of International Inspectors calibrate and seal all meters within the fuel supply chain. USAID might provide funding for this Team.  This would be a positive step to re-introduce standards and public confidence in the system.

The Crude Storage Terminal (CST), that has not been in use for a period of time, was vandalised and a considerable discharge of crude oil spilled into the containment area.  The temporary membrane protection area is crumbling and the oil will soon seep into the water supply.

The exchange rate to the USD $ decreased from 44.00 on 2 December to LD $ 45 on 8 December.

10. LIBERIA UNJLC INTERNATIONAL STAFF

 Peter Schaller: peter.schaller@wfp.org Mobile: +377 47 534 090
 Matthew Dee: matthew.dee@wfp.org, m_dee99@yahoo.com Mobile: +377 47 530 187
 Oleksandr Grebenyuk: oleksandr.grebenyuk@wfp.org Mobile: +377 47 532 378
 Iain Kinnear: Monrovia.guest10@wfp.org Mobile: +377 47 530 365
 Steven Eames Steven.Eames@wfp.org Mobile: +377 47 534 468
 Farzana Rasheed: farzana.rasheed@wfp.org Mobile: +377 47 531458

UNJLC Offices are located on the ground floor of the WFP building, UN Drive, Mamba Point, Monrovia.
UNJLC Fax: + 871 763 467 061
UNJLC Tel:  + 871 763 467 060

11. OTHER

Following the rebel rioting after the commencement of the DDR Programme, UNMIL has offered each former fighter USD $ 75. Chairman Gyude Bryant, head of Liberia’s transitional government, acknowledged in a statement that the USD $75 payment would be an advance payment from an initial USD $150 that each combatant was meant to receive in the first three weeks of disarmament. It is hoped that this payment will ease the tensions among the former combatants, who are fully armed. The $75 is part of a total USD $300 remuneration that the fighters were meant to receive in two parts. The first USD $150 was to be paid at the end of a three-week demobilisation programme and the next USD $150 once the combatants were integrated back into their community.

Since the start of the DDRP programme, about 2,000 out of 40,000 fighters have returned weapons. The process of disarmament and reintegration of these combatants is expected to take place over the next several months. Additional cantonment sites are set to open in near future. One of these will be in Buchanan, for fighters of the MODEL faction (Movement for Democracy in Liberia), and the other in Gbarnga for the LURD faction (Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy). A total of 10 cantonment camps are planned to be operational in the near future as UNMIL continues to deploy its troops around the country.    

The disarmament of the former Liberian government fighters and rebel fighters of the various factions is being overseen by UNMIL. UNMIL’s total force is now 5,600 troops out of an approved total of 15,000.