Liberia Refugee ResponseUpdate

CAP 2012

Thursday 17 November 2011

Brief Recap 2011: Refugee movements

First border-crossing: November 29, 2011

First phase: December-AprilMore than 95% of all arrivals into one county (Nimba)

Second phase: April-July/August:New arrivals into Grand Gedeh, River Gee and Maryland

Third phase:May-June/ongoingSpontaneous returns

Pre-emergency

UNHCR was in shut-down mode

LRRRC had been substantially scaled down

Guinea was on emergency radar more than Cote d’Ivoire

First phase: initial response

Standard Emergency procedures not activated according to “critical protocol”

Gravity of situation lost in methods of work and reporting lines

ERT late and with limited experience (SELT)

Humanitarian vacuum developed

Challenges/second phase

Statistics driven emergency

Coordination between field and Monrovia disjointed

Security/political threat to Liberia’s achievements

Low level of development in the communities – extra pressure due to refugee presence

Policy direction was unclear

Consolidation of Response: third phase

Long term staff deployments

Stabilize and rationalize statistics

Assist in the formulation of policy framework for refugee response

Regularization of implementation arrangements

Search for additional resources for the programme

Brief Recap 2011: Achievements

Access to asylum on prima facie basis, non-refoulement and more than 200,000 refugees registered & received assistance

Six camps +16 relocation villages set up

Access to UNMIL assets

Signing of Tripartite Agreement

The response to the first appeal for funds (EHAP) was positive

Solutions Approach developed

Lessons Learnt

Partners to be involved at all stages of the formulation of contingency plans with clear roles and responsibilities

Coordination is critical to a successful operation: especially structuring of responsibilities sectors/agencies and leadership in a refugee operation

Issues of accountability within an integrated mission need to be further explored

2012 PLANNING SCENARIO

120,000 Refugees at start of 2012

Camps: 80,000

50,000 voluntary repatriation in the course of 2012

15,000 Liberian returnees around time of Cessation Clause

Some 4,000 other people of concern (asylum seekers, other refugees)

Priorities 2012

Operations: Relocation of refugees to designated campsInstallation/maintenance of infrastructure and delivery of essential services in the campsFacilitate voluntary returnsSupport host communities (with relevant sectors)

Programmatic: Position programme as care and maintenance Right size the number of implementing partners

Coordination and inter-agency: Support to LRRRC reformForge inter-agency partnerships drawing on expertise and resources

Overall strategy

Protection and mixed solutions

Protection Essential Services

Durable Solutions

Fair processesSecurity and

safety From violence

ShelterWater/sanitation

HealthEducation Livelihoods

Voluntary ReturnLocal integration

ReintegrationTransition to development

Two access routes:Communities

Camps

THANK YOU