Liberia

USAID/OFDA supports child-focused programs in Liberia.

USAID/Joanna Crandall

Following post-election violence in late November 2010, many Ivorians began 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 2012 to date, USAID’s Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA) provided nearly $1.6 million to support Liberian villages hosting Ivorian refugees through agriculture and food security, economic recovery, health, and protection activities.   USAID’s Office of Food for Peace (USAID/FFP) has provided more than $9 million worth of basic food commodities to meet the emergency food needs of Ivorian refugees.

USG HUMANITARIAN FUNDING PROVIDED IN FY 2012

*This figure includes funding for both disaster response and disaster risk reduction activities. (As of September 12, 2012)

West and North Africa Humanitarian Assistance in Review FY 2002 - 2011 (301kb PDF)

USAID/DCHA Pounds of Prevention - West Africa (278kb PDF)

Côte d’Ivoire Complex Emergency Fact Sheet #19 (291kb PDF) and map (402kb PDF)