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Liberia |
Disaster Assistance at a Glance
Recent Disaster Declarations:
Complex Emergency
OFDA Response:
Agriculture and Food Security, Economic Recovery, Health, Protection, Shelter, and Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Activities
OFDA Preparedness:
Protection, Health, Disaster Risk Reduction
Latest OFDA Report:
West and North Africa Humanitarian Assistance in Review FY 2002-2011 (301kb PDF) |
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Most Recent Disaster Declaration:
Complex Emergency, 12-29-11
Following post-election violence in late November 2010, many Ivoriansbegan seeking refuge in neighboring Liberia. Between the start of civil unrest and the cessation of large-scale conflict in April 2011, more than 170,000 refugees crossed into Nimba, Grand Gedeh, River Gee, and Maryland counties in eastern Liberia, according to the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Despite improved security conditions in Côte d’Ivoire, UNHCR reported that more than 135,000 registered refugees remained in Liberia in December 2011, with approximately 60 percent of the total continuing to reside in host communities near the Liberia–Côte d’Ivoire border and many refugees reluctant to return home due to perceived ethnic and political tensions. As of December 2011, the majority of host communities had provided assistance to the refugee population for at least eight months, and the anticipated long-term presence of Ivorian refugees may further strain already limited local resources, including agricultural resources, health care services, and shelter availability.
On December 29, 2011, U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield reissued a disaster declaration due to the ongoing humanitarian needs of Liberian host communities. In FY 2011, USAID/OFDA provided nearly $4 million to support Liberian villages hosting Ivorian refugees through agriculture and food security, economic recovery, health, nutrition, protection, shelter, and water, sanitation, and hygiene activities.
Additional Disaster Declarations:
Complex Emergency, 1-04-11
In late November, refugees from Côte d’Ivoire began crossing the border into Liberia due to post-election violence following the November 28 Ivorian presidential run-off between incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo and Alassane Ouattara. By January 4, the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) had registered more than 20,800 new Ivorian refugees—the majority women and children—residing in Nimba County and nearby villages in eastern Liberia. On December 30, UNHCR reported that Ivorian refugees were arriving in Liberia at a rate of 400 to 500 individuals per day. The influx of Ivorian refugees into eastern Liberia increased the strain on limited resources and reduced the ability of the local communities to maintain sufficient levels of safe drinking water, healthcare services, food, and shelter sufficient to meet the needs of both refugees and host-community populations. From December 21 to 23, the USAID/OFDA West Africa principal regional advisor, along with U.S. Embassy in Monrovia and USAID/Liberia representatives, conducted a field assessment in Nimba County, Liberia, to evaluate the humanitarian needs in areas affected by the refugee influx.
On January 4, 2011, U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield issued a disaster declaration due to the increasing humanitarian needs of Liberian host communities. In response, USAID/OFDA provided $100,000 through USAID/Liberia to EQUIP Liberia and the International Rescue Committee to support emergency health, protection, and water, sanitation, and hygiene activities in affected areas of Liberia.
For information on additional USAID disaster responses, please see OFDA Annual Reports.
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