Military

DATE=8/23/2003

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=UNHCR/LIBERIA (L O)

NUMBER=2-306771

BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN

DATELINE=GENEVA

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: The U-N Refugee Agency, U-N-H-C-R, says for the first time in many months its aid workers have been able to visit some refugee camps on the outskirts of the Liberian capital, Monrovia. Lisa Schlein in Geneva reports the U-N aid workers were shocked by what they found

TEXT: After months of uncertainty, U-N aid workers finally managed to gain access to camps which had been home to thousands of refugees and internally displaced people.

Spokeswoman Millicent Mutuli says they went to two separate locations to assess the extent of displacement and the humanitarian needs of the people. She says they were shocked by what they saw.

///MUTULI ACT///

The situation remains very very desperate. People do not have adequate supplies of food or water. There is need for health care. The situation is as dire as we had been fearing for some time.

///END ACT///

Ms. Mutuli says the camps have been largely emptied out as refugees fled the fighting and headed for the bush.

The U-N-H-C-R estimates 13-thousand, 500 Sierra Leonean refugees are still in Liberia. Most are in the Monrovia region. Another 38-thousand refugees from Ivory Coast are in the eastern part of Liberia, an area which remains inaccessible to aid workers.

Ms. Mutuli says the United Nations is working with the West African peacekeeping forces to improve security in and around the camps.

///2ND MUTULI ACT///

Some of our staff who visited the camps also talked to groups of refugees on the possibility of setting up neighborhood watches, at least for the night so that there is more vigilance. So, there is certain steps being taken. We are not where we should be, but at least these are the first steps.

///END ACT///

Once security improves, Ms. Mutuli says it is hoped the refugees who fled from the camps will return where they can receive international assistance.

Meanwhile, the U-N refugee agency on Saturday sent a first airlift of much-needed relief supplies to Monrovia from nearby Ghana. The cargo plane is carrying six trucks and basic household supplies for an estimated 10-thousand people.

Ms. Mutuli notes U-N-H-C-R had 25 of its vehicles looted over the last two months. She says the airlift of vehicles will significantly boost the agency's ability to carry out its work.(SIGNED)

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