Sierra Leone: Humanitarian Situation Report 01 - 30 Jun 2002

Refugees
Liberian refugees

As of the end of June Liberian refugees and Sierra Leonean returnees continue to arrive in the country in substantial numbers despite poor weather conditions. Fearing for their safety UNHCR moves the refugees away from the border areas to the refugee sites further inland. Some 5,000 Liberian refugees, as of June ending, are waiting to be transferred to refugee sites in the Eastern and Southern Provinces. Malnutrition is reported to be widespread among new influx refugee children while the adults suffer from abrasions and swollen feet after having walked considerable distances to make it to the border. The attack on Sinje Camp in Liberia, which used to host a large number of Sierra Leonean refugees and Liberians, is the primary cause of this increased displacement both to Sierra Leone and to Monrovia and its environs.

Approximately 40,000 Liberian refugees are in Sierra Leone, about 30,000 of whom, are in established camps. Camp capacity is currently being expanded to cater to the increasing caseload. This must be accomplished quickly in anticipation of further large influxes. And while spontaneous return of Sierra Leoneans from Liberia continues (returnees constitute about one quarter of the current influx), facilitated relocation of Sierra Leoneans in Liberia has been put on hold due to the security situation.

Sierra Leoneans are increasingly concerned about the rising number of Liberian refugees in the country. This is causing increased tensions between the refugee and the local communities. The host communities fear a repeat of their experiences in 1991, the start of the Sierra Leone war, when they shared their resources with the rebels who mostly came in under the guise of refugees. Adding to these concerns, significant numbers of refugees who are crossing into Sierra Leone, often at border points where there is nobody to monitor or register new arrivals, are not being accounted for.

Meanwhile, according to the UNHCR office in Nigeria, some 300 Sierra Leonean refugees who sought refuge in that country volunteered for repatriation and are scheduled to return home by the end of July. The remaining 2,061 Sierra Leonean refugees chose to remain behind, as they wanted to see how far the peace process progresses, especially in light of the events in Liberia.

SECURITY HIGHLIGHTS

All quiet except for border areas

The overall security situation within Sierra Leone has remained stable during the month of June, however the continued insecurity in Liberia remains a cause for concern and is a destabilisation factor on both sides of the border. Sounds of firing of heavy weapons and small arms from fighting between the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD) and the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) could be distinctly heard in Sierra Leone. The Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) continues to closely the border areas.

The situation along the border

The RSLAF in Kailahun reported that members of the Guinean Armed Forces (GAF) crossed the border and raided the villages of Yenga, north of Koindu on June 02. The commander apologised for the transgression and promised to investigate the matter. In another incident, AFL troops crossed the border and looted the village of Kanga, south of Buedu. The LURD appear to be continuing their tactic of hit and run raids to distract the AFL off balance and fully committed to protecting towns and main routes.

AFL continue to seek refuge in Sierra Leone

On June 09, eight AFL soldiers surrendered to the RSLAF at Bomaru and were subsequently taken to the Kenema Police Station. Among the surrendered soldiers was an AFL Lieutenant General, who revealed that the rebel attack met him in Lofa Country, leaving him with no option but to head for Sierra Leone. So far over 50 Liberian combatants, most of them members of the AFL, have surrendered to UNAMSIL

RUF Issues

RUF Morris Kallon on a visit to Tongo was mobbed by a group of ex-RUF combatants who wanted to relieve him of his car as retribution for recruiting ex-combatants for service in Liberia, not accounting for diamond revenue amassed during the conflict and for generally ignoring the welfare of the ex-combatants. Other reports indicate that RUF Sam Bockarie has received $500,000 from the Liberian government to assist in recruiting ex-RUF combatants within Liberia for service with the AFL.

Increase in armed robbery

During the past month a series of armed robberies have occurred in the capital city Freetown: two armed robberies plus another 13 cases that involved violence, 14 assaults and eight house break incidents were reported. In the last week of June over nine cases were reported to the police, who are currently carrying out investigations. In other news on June 16 the SLP at Lumley detained two persons for possessing 58 military weapons and pieces.

POLITICAL HIGHLIGHTS

RUFP relocates

The RUFP office in Makeni has been closed and transferred to the capital city. The closure of the office will deny ex-combatants and other party members in the Makeni area access to a focal point for their concerns. This also might be the start of the natural separation of the RUFP into the ex-combatants wing and political wing, as suggested by interim leader Issa Sesay as an option for the party. In other news, the RUFP was disappointed with their political leadership in the election campaign and now feel that only Foday Sankoh should be considered as the party leader.

Sankoh and his supporters facing legal charges

The trial of former RUF leader Foday Sankoh and 49 co-defendants began as scheduled in the High Court on 5 June. As in previous court appearances the 50 accused were without legal representation, which is a huge concern for human rights activists in the county. At the request of the state counsel the trial was adjourned until 10 July on the grounds that the prosecution needed sufficient time to gather evidence, complete the indictment process and secure the attendance of witnesses. The following day the case of 34 West Side Boys was adjourned until 12 July. Once again the state counsel applied for a postponement in order to consolidate its proof.

Continuing debate over the Legal Structure in Sierra Leone

The Sierra Leone Bar Association continues with its fight against the government for the division of the post of Attorney-General and Minister of Justice. Their point is that combining the two posts as one compromises effectiveness. On 28 June they challenged the GoSL in the High Court for the swearing-in last month of Eke Ahmed Halloway as Attorney-General and Minister of Justice without the prior approval of parliament. According to the Bar Association the appointment contravenes the country's constitution, which requires parliamentary approval for cabinet nominees. The government argues that the establishment of the post is not subject to parliamentary scrutiny.

Phase down of UNAMSIL

UNAMSIL is in the planning stages of a phased withdrawal from Sierra Leone. The force, the largest UN military mission in the world, consisting of 17,500 troops and military observers from more than 37 countries, creates job for another 322 international and 552 national civilian staff in the country. UNAMSIL said the withdrawal, which is yet to be planned in detail, would be phased to avoid creating a security vacuum in country. As part of preparations for eventual downsizing, the UN secretariat dispatched a military team to Sierra Leone from 9-14 June to help UNAMSIL with the withdrawal proposals. In similar developments, Sierra Leone and its neighbour, Guinea are currently working out modalities for the withdrawal of Guinean troops who originally crossed into the country to pursue RUF rebels. These soldiers have been in the northern town of Kambia for the several years.

Shadow government

Reporting from the Sierra Leone Web, the opposition All People's Congress (APC) has named a shadow cabinet to better communicate the party's positions on issues coming before parliament. APC parliamentary leader Ernest Bai Koroma said his party's shadow cabinet was modelled after the British system but differed because Sierra Leonean cabinet members are not members of parliament.

Review of the Peace Process in Sierra Leone

The Chairman of the UN Security Council Sanctions Committee on Sierra Leone, Ambassador Adolfo A. Zinser, made a two-day visit to Sierra Leone on 28 June to assess the peace process and political developments in the country. The Committee was set up in 1997 to monitor and report on violations of the arms embargo imposed against Sierra Leone when the Government of President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah was overthrown by a military junta on 25 May 1997. Ambassador Zinser held meetings with President Kabbah and his government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, the UN Country Team, UNAMSIL, civil societies and some political parties.

The G8 summit

The leaders of the world's wealthiest countries held a four-day meeting in Canada on 26 June to seek ways in which they can improve relationships with African countries. At the end of the meeting, they endorsed an African plan to exchange development aid and to improve access to Western markets in exchange for a commitment to good governance. The initiative, known as the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), would tie development assistance to progress in a number of areas including the strengthening of mechanisms for conflict prevention, conflict management and resolution, the promotion of human rights and democracy, the strengthening of security and inter-regional cooperation, and efforts to reduce corruption. G8 countries - Canada, the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Russia, Japan and Italy - would back initiatives to build peace and security, to address crises in education and health care, to strengthen democratic governance, open trade and investment, and in the areas of agriculture and water supply. NEPAD was conceived by the leaders of Nigeria, South Africa and Algeria, and has received strong backing from Canada and Britain.

First meeting of the newly elected Parliament

Sierra Leone's newly-elected Parliament convened for the first time on 25 June, following the 14 May presidential and parliamentary elections. Justice Edmond Cowan of the ruling Sierra Leone People's Party was elected as Speaker, and Elizabeth Alpha-Lavalie as Deputy Speaker. The SLPP captured 83 out of 112 ordinary seats in parliament. The opposition All People's Congress delegation has 23 seats and the remaining two seats went to Johnny Paul Koroma's Peace and Liberation Party. Twelve more seats reserved for paramount chiefs were filled in an election earlier this month.

Bangledeshi Foreign Minister visits Bangledsehi troopsIn Sierra Leone

Bangladeshi Foreign Minister, Murshed Khan, made a three-day stopover in Sierra Leone June 20- 25 to visit peacekeepers from his country who are serving with UNAMSIL. The ten-member Bangladeshi army delegation assessed the welfare and performance of the Bangladeshi battalion. Led by Major-General Mohammad Abul Hossain, Director-General of Medical Services of the Bangladeshi Armed Forces, the team assessed humanitarian activities being provided by the troops. The battalion, which is based in the northern town of Magburaka, provided a permanent patrol presence in Kono District a year ago during the early stages of the disarmament process. They also provided logistical assistance last month during Sierra Leone's presidential and parliamentary elections.

Anti corruption

Sierra Leone's civil society and some other professional groups have come together to create a new anti-corruption organisation, the National Accountability Group (NAG), to back the efforts of the government's Anti-Corruption Commission. This move follows the strong warning by the British government that future aid would be tied to a reduction in the level of corruption in the country. The Anti-Corruption Commission has been described by many as ineffective, dealing with very petty cases while leaving the big guns free. According to the Deputy Commissioner of the Anti-Corruption, a British national, most of the 57 cases submitted to the Attorney General's Office had not been acted upon as in the case of sacked Transport and Communications Minister Momoh Pujeh, along with his wife, was arrested in November for illegally mining and smuggling illicit diamonds.

The African Development Bank

The African Development Bank (ADB) has approved $42.81 million in debt service relief for Sierra Leone, amounting to 80 % of the country's debt service obligations. The relief was extended under the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative, and funded both by the ADB and by contributions from bilateral donors and the European Union. The relief would help Sierra Leone set aside additional resources for poverty reduction by promoting good governance, improved social services delivery, a revived economy and a consolidation of the peace process. It would also focus on improving living standards for the most vulnerable Sierra Leoneans, such as returned refugees and war victims, by providing them with income generating opportunities and better social services.

Peace for the wider region

In a bid to usher peace into the sub-region, women from Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea met in Freetown and called for the Liberian government and the LURD rebels to engage in dialogue to end the growing conflict in the border region. The sub-regional group MARWOPNET - Mano River Union Women's Peace Network, called for President Kabbah and his government to help Liberia in solving its problems.

HUMANITARIAN HIGHLIGHTS

Resettlement

After the completion of the third phase of resettlement in April, resettlement activities were suspended during the month of May to be resumed in June after elections had been completed. After phase three only 24,000 remain in camps or host community areas awaiting to be resettled. Unfortunately, a shortfall of NFI in-country, together with the on-set of the rains have made conditions for resettlement of the full caseload at this time difficult. As result it was decided, to offer the remaining IDPs waiting to be resettled three choices; resettlement in June for Western Area IDPs from Kono and Magburaka and Yele, a further phase in late July when the NFI stock is in-country for those that are eager to resettle as soon as possible and a final phase of resettlement towards the end of September, early October for those not wanting to resettle until the rains have abated.

The fourth phase of resettlement for IDPs from the Western Area Camps to Koidu, Magburaka, Makali and Masingbi was planned and completed between 4-24 June. Under this phase 2,237 families and approximately 11,500 individual beneficiaries were resettled.

Remaining resettlement

There now remains little more than 11,000 IDPs to be formally resettled. With the onset of the rains, this group, principally comprising IDPs residing in the Tonkolili District and IDPs in Western Area camps from Mile 91, have the option to resettle in late July, if they wish, or in late September / early October. Those choosing to resettle in late September will continue to receive support in their camps or host community areas.

A small number of IDPs (less than 1,500) who originate from one of the border chiefdoms in Kailahun, remain to be resettled. They too will continue to reside in their camp areas in the Western Area where they will receive ongoing support until facilitated resettlement can be offered. It is hoped that this can be done in September/ October completing the resettlement of IDPs in Sierra Leone.

Ongoing Returnee Resettlement Programme

Since the beginning of the year UNHCR has been gradually resettling returnees, who are hosted in temporary settlements, to their home areas. In March UNHCR also began repatriating refugees from Guinea and Liberia, assisting them to return directly home. Since March over 30,000 returnees have been resettled and close to 16,500 Sierra Leonean refugees repatriated (8,500 from Guinea and 8,000 from Liberia). UNAMSIL have supported this programme providing the much needed trucking capacity.

Presently close to 20,000 returnees continue to reside in temporary settlements or the host communities in Barri Chiefdom. Assistance will continue to be offered to those interested in returning to their home areas. The repatriation process from Guinea, however, has for the meantime, been suspended so that resources and efforts can be channelled towards responding to the current emergency influx of refugees from Liberia.

It is estimated that about 150,000 refugees continue to seek asylum in the sub-region, who will require facilitated repatriation and resettlement assistance when suitable conditions prevail.

Reintegration Challenges

The aftermath of the ten-year war in Sierra Leone causing extensive destruction of property, massive displacement, atrocities committed by former warring factions, continue to thwart the efforts of NCDDR in the long-term reintegration of ex-combatants. This is aggravated by under-currents of animosity against ex-combatants and inhibit the progress of effective reintegration.

NCDDR is contracting credible partners for community based sensitization/peace building and reconciliation projects in support of the social reintegration of ex-combatants, which are geared towards forgiveness, peace and reconciliation. The electronic media and drama performances are being used to enhance these undertakings.

Houses for resettlement

CRS's housing programme continues in the Western Area and Northern Province. In Kambia, CRS and Caritas continued construction efforts with local community members for the rebuilding of 250 houses. Unfortunately, CRS reports that 73 of the recently reconstructed houses were destroyed during a storm at Rogbere Junction. However, they came together with the local community and have begun rebuilding the houses.

Supporting the resettlement and reintegration of amputees and war-wounded

In the Koinadugu District, Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) has acquired land for the construction of four houses in Fardugu as part of their programme to facilitate the resettlement of amputees and war-wounded. In addition to this 15 houses are being constructed in Kabala and 28 in Makeni, where additional land has been acquired for 12 more houses. Elsewhere construction of eight houses in Bumbuna, five in Bo, three in Moyamba and four in Kenema has almost been completed. The finishing touches to the ten houses in Grafton will be completed soon. Further to this NRC has finally acquired land gratis for the construction of a total of 36 houses in Kono District (24 in Nimikoro chiefdom, six in Tankoro and six in Gbense) and six houses in Kambia District. The land has been surveyed and construction will start in September. In collaboration with Cause Canada, NRC has sent a complementary proposal to "the OMEGA Initiative" to seek funding for houses for the remaining inhabitants of the Murray Town amputee camp and the Grafton war-wounded camp.

Cause Canada supplied seeds and tools for backyard gardening to 107 amputees and war-wounded. Their backyard gardening projects in the Western Area, Mile 91, and Port Loko District continues. They distributed start-up kits (20 bushels of husk rice) for 10 beneficiaries in Masiaka, Mile 91 and Port Loko. Their team continues to check regularly on the well-being of the beneficiaries. Cause Canada has also provided adaptive eating devices for six amputees.

SECTORAL HIGHLIGHTS

Agriculture

Attaining household food security

To alleviate food insecurity of vulnerable resettling farmers in their original communities in the north and east of the country, FAO distributed seeds and tools to about 125,000 farm families through 18 implementing partners in 43 chiefdoms in eight districts.

ICRC distributes agricultural inputs to families in the east

ICRC, in collaboration with the Sierra Leone Red Cross Society, has completed a two-month distribution of seeds and tools to 40,000 vulnerable farming families in Kono and Kailahun Districts. Some 20,000 families in Kailahun District and nearly 23,000 in Kono received the farming package consisting of 20kg of upland seed-rice, 20kg of inland valley swamp seed-rice, 10kg of groundnut seed and one hoe. In all, over 700 tonnes of upland rice, 700 tonnes of swamp rice and over 300 tonnes of groundnut seed were distributed and sown in six chiefdoms in Kailahun District and seven in Kono. In order to ensure that the seeds were planted and not consumed, ICRC made arrangements with WFP for them to provide the beneficiaries with one-month food rations. The seeds and tools were distributed on a priority basis to families who had returned to the area after the previous planting season. In addition, ICRC distributed NFIs to 13,383 of the poorest families in Kailahun and 11,810 in Kono. The aim behind all this is to boost the limited resources of returning families.

Using agriculture to revive destitute communities

CRS conducted four Seeds and Tools Fairs in Koinadugu, Port Loko, Bombali and Kenema Districts, involving a total of 4,200 farm families. WV distributed farm inputs to13,600 farm families in seven chiefdoms in Kono District and one chiefdom in Kailahun District. Each farm family received 40kg of rice seeds, a hoe and cutlass. They also distributed vegetable tools and seeds (eggplant, cucumber, okra and pepper) to 2,500 vulnerable women in the area. GTZ's community-based agricultural extension workers are now engaged in teaching their beneficiaries improved farming and animal husbandry techniques to assist them in the revitalisation of their agricultural activities. Meanwhile, CRS introduced vegetable gardening to seven schools in the Pujehun District as a way of generating income for school activities over the holiday period. Similar gardening projects are being run in the Western Area.

Farming support to ex-combatants

With support from NCDDR, WV has set up a mechanical cultivation scheme covering 261 acres of land for 87 ex-combatants in Kwamabai and Bum Chiefdoms in the Bonthe District. They distributed three acres of ploughed, harrowed and seeded land to each beneficiary. Other inputs in the pipeline include vegetable seeds and tools, and rice for consumption given as Food-For-Work. WV is also conducting apprenticeship skills training for 143 ex-child combatants in the District. In other developments, NRC has identified 167 ex-child combatants who are undergoing screening, for the CEIP programme in Kailahun District. The CEIP targets a wider community through the acceptance of ex-combatants into existing schools.

NGO's deforestation awareness

GTZs tree nursery project continues and, in recognition of the National Tree-Planting/World Environment Day on June 05, a nature club was formed in Potoru (Pujehun District). 196 trees were planted in seven communities in Kono and seven in Kailahun. WV, in collaboration with two local NGOs, facilitated the training of 500 urban farming groups in Bo, Kenema, Mile 91 and Freetown. Topics included nursery management practices for 200,000 fast growing acacia and lucenia tree seedlings. The tree seedlings will be used to replant trees in areas where IDPs had consumed the trees for fuel wood and income generation activities. CRS is also mapping and planting acacia and fruit tree seedlings in the country.

Child Protection

Day of the African Child

The Ministry of Social Welfare Gender and Children's Affairs (MSWGCA), UNICEF and its child protection partners co-hosted a news conference to launch a series of activities in commemoration of the Day of the African Child on June 16. The theme for this year's commemoration was 'Working with Children to fight Against HIV/AIDS". The highpoint of the conference was the statistics provided by the National AIDS Control Programme, which states that 4.9 per cent of the Sierra Leone population is infected with HIV with 6.1 per cent in the Freetown area. Various speakers presented papers on HIV/AIDS causes and prevention, the impact of HIV/AIDS on youths and adolescents, with an overview of the plight of Sierra Leone's children. The children developed campaign messages, poems, songs and skits, which were used in sensitisation campaigns in selected communities. Advocacy sermons were conducted in churches and mosques in most parts of the country. The day was also marked by a march-pass and TV/radio sensitisation programmes.

Community based reporting

UNICEF facilitated the recruitment of a consultant from the United Kingdom to assist with developing the community based reporting model on sexual exploitation and abuse by humanitarian workers. The consultant will be meeting with UN, NGO, and government partners to review the model and make specific recommendations for its implementation. One aspect of the model is the District Sexual and Gender Based Violence Committee's investigations of allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse. The consultant will pay particular attention to the policies, procedures, and training required for the implementation of the model. Meanwhile the Coordination Committee to prevent Sexual Exploitation and Abuse will host a roundtable mapping session on July 10 to share information and encourage common approaches to the problem.

Promoting children's issues

UNICEF trained 95 social development workers of the MSWGCA - 45 in Bo and 50 in Kenema - to carry out a reintegration survey in their assigned chiefdoms. Also trained were social development officers to monitor and coordinate the entire survey in their respective areas. The objectives of the training were to track down child ex-combatants/separated children reunified in the south and east; to determine the exact number of reunified children getting reintegration support and to establish link between the reunified children and the social workers.

Training opportunities for war affected youth

GTZ has formed two child welfare committees in Kono and one in Kailahun District. They have been busy with training of trainers' workshop in Bo, and pre-registration of trainees for skills training centres for war-affected youths in Bauya, Moyamba District and Gandorhun, Kono District.

World Vision micro-projects

WV's Youth Reintegration Training and Education for Peace programme (YRTEP) held a landmark graduation at Makeni town to award final certificates to 400 ex-combatants and war-affected youth upon completion of a five-module design, aimed at fostering reintegration and peace in Sierra Leone. WV is running skills training centres at Koribondo and Kenema. Trainings comprise blacksmithing, carpentry, gara tie-dyeing, tailoring, soap making and weaving. They also have micro-grant projects in the Bonthe District - the BAFCO gari processing and marketing project and the Gbomuma Fishing Association.

Education

Education plans

The National Commission for Social Action (NaCSA) and MEST convened a meeting with education partners to discuss support for the education sector under the second phase of the World Bank funded Economic Recovery Support Fund (ERSF). The meeting was informed that this support would be demand driven and confined to the construction of schools in rural areas. They agreed that teacher houses should be included in the package to attract teachers to remote areas and to promote local ownership of the project. To achieve this, selected intervening partners will train school management committees and maintenance agreements will be signed between intervening partners and school management committees.

Making provision for unqualified teachers

The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MEST) organised a workshop on the Condensed Initial Teacher Training Module (CITTM). The objective was to produce materials for use in training of unqualified teachers. Under the scheme, participating teachers can qualify to earn teaching certificate credit. The CITTM is a component of the proposed IDA/ADB/DIFD supported, four-year (2002 - 2006) Rehabilitation of Basic Education Project that includes school rehabilitation, in-service teacher training, strengthening School Management Committees, the provision of teaching/learning materials, as well as strengthening the ministries management capacity.

Putting the blocks together to rebuild education

NRC is considering rehabilitating two schools in the Kambia District. Their school and other community infrastructure rehabilitation projects are on- going in Kambia, Kono and Kailahun. They have still not been able to reconstruct the District Education Office in Kailahun due to the unavailability of proper land documents. WV is constructing two primary schools at Malima and Talia, Bonthe District and is considering reconstructing five schools in Kono. Tearfund is reconstructing three schools in the Koya Chiefdom, Port Loko District, with support from NACSA.

How is CREPS doing in the newly accessible areas?

NRC has completed a Complementary Rapid Education for Primary Schools (CREPS) workshop for 113 teachers and five head teachers in Kailahun District. Out of these 113 teachers, only 13 were trained and qualified and only seven of them were women. The workshop, jointly organized by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MEST), NRC and UNICEF lasted for 12 days. Facilitators were drawn from MEST and NRC. The trained teachers will be deployed in the 30 CREPS centres in Kailahun to cater for about 4,433 children, whilst the Head Teachers will monitor the work of the CREPS teachers, in addition to their normal work in schools. The centres are currently under construction and should be completed in July, immediately after which the classes will begin.

Making steady progress in Kambia and Kono

The Kambia CREPS development steering group (NRC, IOS/MEST and UNICEF) is almost ready for the establishment of CREPS in the district. Sensitisation programmes are taking place and the chiefs have already completed a preliminary registration of over-aged children without primary education. Uniforms and report cards are being prepared to transfer the last batch of RREP pupils from 28 centres to primary school/CREPS in the Kambia District. In Kono, NRC has completed sensitisation of communities on CREPS in all selected CREPS centres. They have identified teachers and so far 280 pupils have been registered in three centres. They are currently constructing 13 temporary shelters to be used as classrooms. NRC is planning a workshop for the programme in Kono early next month. WFP is now providing school feeding for all the RREP centres.

Other educational activities

NRC reports that the YOU PACK pilot project, jointly implemented with Action Aid is coming along well. The developed materials for the project, meant for youths (15-20yrs) who have missed out on primary education, has been successfully pre-tested in Kambia. According to NRC they have still not secured funds to kick-off the youth literacy/skills project. Cause Canada organised a week's workshop on psychosocial activities for 25 girl mothers at the FAWE, Grafton, Skills Training Centre. They plan to provide first-aid kits to the centre as well as a monthly supply of basic medication. They are planning to undertake an HIV/AIDS awareness project in 15 secondary schools in the Western Area. EFSL plans to conduct a five-day peace-training workshop in Daru.

Food aid

WFP reports to have received a confirmed contribution of $657,277 from the Netherlands in support of the West African Cluster, Protracted Relief and Recovery Operation. Up until late June, WFP provided an estimated 2,000Mt. of food for approximately 240,000 beneficiaries. WFP together with UNHCR are conducting a food needs assessment for next year. By mid-June they had fed over 150,000 school children with around 400Mt. of food commodities. During the month of May, CRS provided food aid rations in the various categories (VGF, FFW, FFAg, SFC) for an average of 26,409 beneficiaries nationwide.

Health

Fighting HIV/AIDS

The UNAIDS Inter-Country Team for West and Central Africa (ICT/WCA) organised a technical workshop for Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea from June 24-26 in Abidjan, in collaboration with UNHCR, World Bank and African Development Bank. The main objective of the workshop was to elaborate a multi-sectoral action plan addressing HIV/AIDS in the context of conflict and mobility. The workshop will validate the sub-regional situation to develop a response analysis of the disease as well as a multi-sectoral action plan for 2003-2005. It will also prepare an outline for a proposal to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Early last year, African Heads of State gathered at the African Summit on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and other related infectious diseases, in Abuja, Nigeria, to commit themselves to taking personal responsibility and providing effective leadership in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

UNICEF/GOSL 2002 World Cup & HIV/AIDS awareness

As part of its strategy to promote HIV/AIDS awareness among adolescents and youths, UNICEF/GOSL supported a FIFA/UNICEF 2002 World Cup Football Tournament for schools in Bo, Kenema, Makeni and Freetown. Champions of the four district headquarter towns converged in Freetown to participate in the semi-finals and finals. The SAY YES for Children banners were printed and distributed to all four regions. Short skits carrying HIV/AIDS prevention and care messages were performed before and after each match and during the half time. UNICEF provided prizes to the winning teams, which included vests, footballs, volleyballs, baseball caps, scarves, crepes, and socks.

HIV/AIDS drama

UNICEF supported a local media organisation, Premier Media, to produce an HIV/AIDS related drama that appears as a ten-part series in video format. Fifty operators and owners of video and cinema halls were also trained on the prevention and control of HIV/AIDS. The tapes were distributed to the video club owners and the recent World Cup tournament was used as a launching pad for dissemination of these messages.

Health for Kono

WV has established two new clinics at Kensay and Masundu Sandor in Kono District. They have completed drug supply for June-August for all their 26 clinics in the area. WV not only provides emergency treatment to returning IDPs and refugees to Kono but also provides de-worming treatment on arrival at the transit centres. They carried out an immunisation exercise in Koidu and Sewafe for under-fives (including IDP and refugee children) and pregnant women. They organized a six-day refresher training of trainers for 30 Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Aides and trained 150 Traditional Birth Attendants (100 new and 50 old).

Human Rights

Taking the TRC and SC to Sierra Leoneans

During the reporting period, UNAMSIL's human rights activists organised a series of training sessions throughout the country on human rights standards, the TRC and the Special Court. The National Forum for Human Rights organised a one-day TRC sensitisation seminar for traditional leaders in Port Loko on June 05. In addition, human rights officers in Makeni conducted a workshop on the TRC and Special Court for more than 100 people in Kogbesseh, Kholifa Mabang Chiefdom, Tonkolili District on June 07. Some participants reportedly stressed the need for forgiveness while others insisted on the importance of bringing those responsible for past abuses to justice.

Visit of Forensic anthropologists to Sierra Leone

An Argentinean team of forensic experts, recruited by the Office for the High Commissioner for Human Rights, are on a four-week visit to Sierra Leone to conduct a preliminary assessment into mass graves and execution sites of people murdered during the country's 10-year conflict. The purpose of their visit is to map the sites of mass murders, assess the amount of forensic expertise needed for further investigations, and to advise the government and other relevant bodies on the preservation of evidence. During their first week they gave series of briefings on forensic science to humanitarian actors and also held discussions with related government bodies, including the Director of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and Chief Pathologist at the Connaught Hospital in Freetown. The team has already conducted several visits to the field where mass graves were identified using preliminary investigations, carried out by UNAMSIL Human Rights Section and the Campaign for Good Governance (CGG) - "Mapping the Conflict" project funded by the OHCHR.

UNAMSIL, fighting for justice

The Chief of Human Rights Section and Rule of Law Specialist had their first meeting with the newly appointed Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mr. Eke Halloway on June 10. Foremost among the issues discussed was the lack of legal representation for Foday Sankoh and the 87 other RUF and West Side Boys currently on trial, and the risk of double standards being applied in regard to the application of capital punishment when the Special Court begins trying "those who bear the greatest responsibility" for war crimes. Sierra Leone law provides for capital punishment while the Special Court does not.

WFP organises gender workshops

Throughout the month of June, WFP organized series of gender sensitisation workshops for over 250 participants, including their partners, beneficiaries and government counterparts in Kambia and Port Loko Districts. Topics discussed included their commitment to women, the rights and responsibilities of food aid workers vis-a-vis the beneficiaries, HIV/AIDs and the importance of increasing the rights of women for land tenure.

Peace Building

Strengthening community skills

GTZ conducted workshops for Community Development Committees in the following districts: 8 communities in Kono, 11 in Kailahun, 3 in Port Loko and 5 in Kambia. The aim of the workshops is to provide training to elected community members on their roles and responsibilities in the management of community development projects. This includes the mobilisation of community labour for reconstruction projects, peace building activities and the management of seeds, tools and cash grants. GTZ also distributed 87.6Mt. of groundnut seeds and 135Mt. of seed rice along with planting materials and farming tools to these communities. Similarly CRS and the Network Movement for Justice and Development (NMJD) continued their peace building activities. They conducted a joint needs assessment in Potoru aimed at prioritising the training needs of the different Chiefdom Development Committees' for next month's Diamond Area Community Development Fund workshop.

WATSAN

UNICEF chlorinate wells in Bombali and Tonkolili

UNICEF has supported the cleaning and chlorination of 66 wells in the Bombali District, as a contingency measure for the return of IDPs and refugees. They have identified a total of 200 wells with hand pumps for repair/rehabilitation in the Bombali and Tonkolili Districts. They are excavating wells in five of their supported primary schools and at one health centre in Masongbo, Makeni and its environs. UNICEF supported the training of 106 community members as village handpump attendants in the Lokomassama Chiefdom. They provided support for community sensitisation programmes in the maintenance of water supply and sanitation facilities in the Magbaiamba Ngowahun Chiefdom, Bombali District. These communities will also benefit from the borehole campaign for the provision of water supply.

Extension of wells and latrines throughout the country

Tearfund is undertaking watsan projects - digging wells and installing hand pumps, rehabilitating old wells and spring boxes - in nine communities in Jalahun Chiefdom, Kailahun District, with funding from ECHO. As part of their future exit strategy, village pump mechanics are being trained in dismantling and assembling of hand pumps and identification of different pump parts. Tearfund is also involved in Primary Health Education (including HIV/AIDS) and community structure rehabilitation. UNICEF supported the Ministry of Health and Sanitation for the training of 36 latrine construction technicians and four field staff members, from twelve communities in Koya Chiefdom, Port Loko District. In collaboration with MAP-Sierra Leone (a local NGO), UNICEF has dug 57 additional latrines in Koya bringing the total pits to 224. Pit excavation for a further 976 latrines is also in progress in the area.