UNJLC LIBERIA BULLETIN 29
25 February – 1 March 2004

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CONTENTS

• 1. Highlights
• 2. Security
• 3. Air Operations
• 4. Sea Port Operations
• 5. Infrastructure
• 6. Logistics Co-ordination
• 7. Civil-Military Co-ordination
• 8. Fuel (Petrol, Diesel, Kerosene) / Commodity Prices
• 9. Other
• 10. UNJLC International Staff

1. Highlights

The UNJLC in its current form shall phase out at the end of March 2004. However, following the formal decision of the UN Country Team and the Humanitarian Coordinator, UNJLC will provide an international Logistics Planning Officer, national Logistics Planning Assistant, driver and vehicle until the end of June 2004. The Logistics Planning Team will report directly to the Humanitarian Coordinator.  

The National Transitional Government of Liberia (NTGL) sent a team of government officials on 2 March to Nimba County in north central Liberia to investigate reports that military activities are taking place close to the border with Ivory Coast. The team will report back on 15 March. 

UNMIL is expecting a DASH-7 by the end of this week. This aircraft will have a 42-passenger capacity.  The DASH-7 will be used for transportation of both passengers and cargo within Liberia, as well as to Abidjan and Conakry. The aircraft will be based at Roberts International Airport (RIA). 

UN Agencies are reminded to provide details of prospective fuel, water, and communication needs at each planned sub office location. UNMIL is proceeding with its logistical preparations and requires these figures via UNJLC for the possibility of incorporating the UN Agencies in its plans. This information should be forwarded to UNJLC by Friday 5 March. 

The second Road Task Force Meeting was held on Monday 1 March at 14:00 pm at the UNDP Conference room. The Task Force discussed usage of the UNJLC/HIC Road Assessment Project results; de-confliction of road rehabilitation projects; and, the need to maximise a coherent road repair strategy in view of the oncoming rainy season.

2. Security

Most of Liberia continues to be designated at Security Phases IV and V. The following areas were recently downgraded from Phase V to IV:

 Margibi and Montserrado Counties
 The road from Gbarnga to Ganta, including the town of Ganta
 The road from Tappita to Zwedru, including the towns of Tappita and Zwedru

Areas already at security phase IV are:
 The road from Monrovia to Buchanan
 The road from Monrovia to Gbarnga
 The road from Monrovia to Bo Waterside
 The road from Monrovia to Tubmanburg

All other areas of the country remain at security Phase V.

3. Air Operations

UNMIL is expecting a DASH-7 by the end of this week. This aircraft will have a 42-passenger capacity.  The DASH-7 will be used for transportation of both passengers and cargo within Liberia, as well as to Abidjan and Conakry. The aircraft will be based at Roberts International Airport (RIA). 

UNMIL Air Operations has 2 MI-26’s, 4 MI-8’s, and 4 MI-24 helicopters positioned at RIA. These helicopters are used for transporting troops and cargo to the deployment sites of the peacekeepers.  

UNMIL Air Operations Contacts:
 Mr. Carl Markussen: OIC- UNMIL Air Operations/Aviation Section, Tel: + 377 47 532 603, E-mail:  markussen@un.org
 Mr. Chris Njenga: OIC- Technical Compliance/ UNMIL Air Operations, Tel: + 377 47 538246, E-mail: njengac@un.org
 Mr. Thomas Vandy: UNMIL Spriggs Payne Aiport Manager, Tel: +377 47 542883
 Mr. Tomislav Ristov: UNMIL Chief Air Operations Centre, Tel: + 377 47 532504, E-mail: ristov@un.org
 Ms. Griffith, MOVCON, Spriggs Payne Airport, Tel: + 377 47 530 602, E-mail: griffithsk@un.org
 Mr. Tesfaye Tesgaye, OIC, Airfield Management, Tel: + 377 47 547 041
 Mr. Idrissa Ezeh: UNMIL RIA Manager, Tel: + 377 47 542 885, E-mail: i_ezeh348@hotmail.com
 Mr. Christopher Tumbay: Assistant RIA Manager
 Mr. Mario Calderon: MOVCON RIA, Tel: + 377 47 532 597, E-mail: calderonm@un.org
 Mr. Assamis Comporare: UNMIL Gbranga Airfield Manager
 Mr. George Kabia: UNMIL Greenville Airfield Manager

WFP West Africa Air Service contacts are as follows:

4. Sea Port Operations

UNMIL will open a PX at the Freeport of Monrovia. It is not yet certain whether this facility can be accessed by UN international staff. 

UNJLC is experiencing delays in securing the reduction in handling and marine charges at the Freeport of Monrovia previously agreed by the National Port Authority (NPA) in February 2004. UNJLC, WFP, and UNMIL had negotiated the harmonisation of port charges for the UN. This represented a 50-60% reduction in all handling charges, as well as a 15% reduction in maritime charges. 

During the weekly Joint Logistics Working Group Meeting, the UN Agencies were urged to study the possibility of providing assistance to the NPA. 

UNMIL informed WFP that it may be able to assist their operations at the Freeport with its container forklift. 

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. Infrastructure

The second Road Task Force Meeting was held on Monday 1 March at 14:00 pm at the UNDP Conference room. The Task Force discussed usage of the UNJLC/HIC Road Assessment Project results; de-confliction of road rehabilitation projects; and, the need to maximise a coherent road repair strategy in view of the oncoming rainy season.

It was concluded that a fixed schedule of meetings should be maintained, while key participants should be available for emergency meetings. The Ministry of Public Works (MPW) will explore the possibility of providing a Project Manager to serve as a focal point for the de-confliction in road rehabilitation projects between the Humanitarian Community, UNMIL and the Government of Liberia. 

The next meeting will be held at the UNMIL Force Headquarters at the Star Building on Thursday March 4 at 10:30 AM. UNHCR, USAID/OTI, HIC, UNMIL, MPW, and UNJLC will attend. 

The Road Task Force meetings will be held at two-week intervals. The next meeting will be on Monday 15 March at 14:00 pm at the UNDP Conference Room. 

The first Road Task Force Meeting was convened on 16 February at 14:00. A joint presentation was made by UNJLC and HIC who initiated an assessment of the primary and major secondary roads in Liberia. Information was collected on all damaged bridges, culverts and road stretches along the routes.

6. Logistics Co-ordination

The weekly Joint Logistics Working Group was held at 10.00 on Wednesday 25 February in the UNDP Conference Room. UNJLC stressed the need for Agencies to provide details of prospective fuel, water, and communication needs at each planned sub office location. UNMIL is proceeding with its logistical preparations and requires these figures via UNJLC for the possibility of incorporating the UN Agencies in its plans. This information should be forwarded to UNJLC by Friday 5 March. 

UNMIL is establishing an industrial water purification plant in Gbarnga. This facility is primarily for the use of the military and requires the transport of large quantities of water from Monrovia. Additionally, other water points are to be established at Tappita, Zwedru and Buchanan which may be accessible to the UN Agencies. 

The UNJLC in its current form shall phase out at the end of March 2004. However, following the formal decision of the UN Country Team and the Humanitarian Coordinator, UNJLC will provide an international Logistics Planning Officer, national Logistics Planning Assistant, driver and vehicle until the end of June 2004. The Logistics Planning Team will report directly to the Humanitarian Coordinator.  

FITTEST is investigating the possibilities of incorporating UN Agency communication requirements into UNMIL capacity. The Humanitarian Coordinator is expected to submit these figures to UNMIL for consideration. 

FITTEST is expecting a VSAT system on 3 March. The VSAT will be installed at HIC and will serve as a back-up for the UN Agencies. For more information, please contact Mr. John Bursa at + 377 47 530 581, E-mail: john.bursa@wfp.org.

Humanitarian Operations Centre (HOC):
 Humanitarian agencies are requested to make use of the available services at the HOC to organise air, sea, and road missions to the interior of Liberia. 

Logistics Coordination, HOC: 
 The Logistics Coordination Cell in the HOC is facilitating the coordination of the logistics activities of the Humanitarian Community. The LOCOMOCC is also providing operational and logistical support in the planning of the DDRR Programme. 
 The Humanitarian Coordinator has tasked UNJLC to coordinate joint logistics and infrastructure assessments of key future UN Agency sub-office/humanitarian hub locations. The aim of these multi-agency missions is to collect information on available and potential infrastructure for offices storage, and accommodation. In addition, these Assessments will provide a common decision-support tool for the Heads of Agencies. Recommendations will be made on which locations in the Humanitarian Hubs are feasible for deployment.
 The Logistics Coordination Cell is finalising its Saclepea assessment report which took place on 16 -17 February. The next mission will be to Zwedru on 9 March. 

NGO Liaison: 
 Touching Humanity in Need of Kindness (THINK), a local implementing partner of the US-based Samaritan Purse, is currently training 26 multinational female ex-combatants comprising of Guineans, Sierra Leoneans and Liberian between the ages of 16-22. 
 The participants are undergoing both academic and vocational skills training.  

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:
  Steven Eames, Tel: + 377 47 534 468, 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
 LRRRC Liaison:
  Adella K. Kermah, Tel: + 377 47 544 133, E-mail: kobekermah@yahoo.com
 NGO Liaison:
  Franklin Henries, Tel: + 377 47 530365
 Security:
  Arve Skog, Tel: + 377 47 529 616, E-mail: arve.skog@undp.org
 Humanitarian Information:
  Varney Kawah, Tel: + 377 47 521 726, E-mail: varney.kawah@undp.org

The HOC is located on the ground floor of the WFP building. 

The opening hours are: Mon-Fri: 08:30 – 18:00. Sat: 10:00 – 15:00.

7. Civil-Military Co-ordination

The Namibian Contingent is currently deployed to Bo Waterside and maintains a presence from Kle Junction to Bo Waterside. Deployment to Robertsport is expected shortly. 

UNMIL Emergency Response Hotlines are:
 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 Co-operation Officer – Noel 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

8. Fuel (Petrol, Diesel, Kerosene) / Commodity Prices

UNMIL has announced at the weekly Joint Logistics Meetings that the finalisation and awarding of their fuel contract will be deferred. The existing UNMIL fuel contract is expected to be extended for an additional period of three months to cover the period prior to this. UNMIL can only assist the UN community on an ad hoc basis. Those Agencies with plans to deploy in areas outside of Monrovia prior to the awarding of the UNMIL fuel contract will be required to effect their own fuel procurement and transportation.

The exchange rate to the US $ is LD $ 53.

Fuel Prices (per gallon)

9. Other

The National Transitional Government of Liberia (NTGL) sent a team of government officials on 2 March to Nimba County in north central Liberia to investigate reports that military activities are taking place close to the border with Ivory Coast. The team will report back on 15 March.

10. UNJLC International Staff

Matthew Dee: matthew.dee@wfp.org Mobile: +377 47 530 187
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.

ABOUT UNJLC

UNJLC is an inter-agency facility reporting, in the current emergency, to the Humanitarian Coordinator for Liberia, and overall to the Inter-Agency Standing Committee. Its mandate is to coordinate and optimise the logistics capabilities of humanitarian organisations in large-scale emergencies. UNJLC operates under the custodianship of WFP who are responsible for the administrative and financial management of the Centre. UNJLC is funded from voluntary contributions channelled through WFP. The UNJLC project document for Liberia can be viewed on the UNJLC website (www.unjlc.org).