LIBERIA
The new government, in place after the presidential election of October 2005, has allowed for the stabilization of the political situation and the gradual improvement of people's living conditions. The return of the refugees, who fled Liberia, and internally displaced people, is progressing smoothly. Yet poor road conditions still hinder access to many regions, leaving residents unsupported; the need to rectify this disparity is urgent. In addition to continuing resettlement support for the returnees, PWJ's Liberia project, now in its third year, aims to implement new projects.
Food supply project for returnees.
(C)Peace Winds Japan
Continuing projects, such as assistance for housing reconstruction in areas where especially large numbers of returnees reside, were carried out in four districts of northwestern Lofa County (Foya, Voinjama, Kolahun and Vahun Districts). This aid was geared to help 2,420 families, the highest number of families receiving assistance in any single year of the project. Next, in twenty-five villages, twenty-eight hand-dug wells and 100 public toilets were installed and hygiene-training programs were implemented in order to support water and hygiene systems. Also, PWJ provided educational support by repairing eleven primary schools, including schools led by local villages. In addition, PWJ repaired thirty-two bridges in the most inaccessible areas in Lofa County.
Tetsuto Binnaka (right) checking
a school building under construction.
(C)Peace Winds Japan
In order to meet the needs of returnees whose numbers were reaching the maximum, PWJ began new projects of managing a transit center in Voinjama and temporary accommodation facilities in both Kolahun and Foya. Altogether, more than 30,000 returnees were admitted to these facilities; food was distributed to over 82,000 and PWJ also began providing food for school meals in Kolahun and Foya.
In Vahun, where access to other regions in Liberia is restricted, PWJ set up its office - the first office built by a humanitarian organization in the post war period- in order to carry out delayed bridge repairs and to assist in the reconstruction of houses. PWJ also began support activities in southwestern Bomi County. In addition to providing 500 families housing rehabilitation support, PWJ installed four wells and forty toilets.
As a result of the political and social stabilization of Liberia, the assistance from the international community began to shift from emergency relief to rehabilitation and development support. In accordance with this shift, PWJ also undertook rehabilitation support, in parallel with emergency relief. While the number of organizations providing support in Liberia has increased, PWJ demonstrated its presence through the expansion of its areas of relief activities and its under-taking of challenging new projects.
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Osman Issa Hassan (Field representative of PWJ Liberia Project) |