Child collecting grain [Photo: IRIN]

The 14-year civil war in Liberia, which ended in 2003, left an estimated 270,000 people dead and caused massive displacement of the population as refugees, both internally and externally.  The war also led to the near-complete devastation of the country’s social and physical infrastructure.  The Government of Liberia, elected in 2005, with the support of international assistance has made initial strides towards the recovery of the country, including the completion of the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration process and facilitated the repatriation of 321,000 IDPs and 90,078 refugees.

While the country was steadily moving from the emergency phase to development, pressing humanitarian needs remained.  The capacity of the Government to provide basic social services however, was still very limited.  Major humanitarian challenges included the lack of access to basic health care, safe drinking water, adequate sanitation facilities, food security and poor road infrastructure. 

As a result, and in order to move beyond the state of emergency, Liberia still depended heavily on international assistance.  By August 2006, less than 50 percent of the funding for humanitarian activities requested in the 2006 Consolidated Appeals Process (CAP) had been pledged.  To ensure the continuation of live-saving projects and improve the overall humanitarian situation for many Liberians, the allocation of $ 4 million of CERF funds came as much needed support to fill critical funding gaps.

Click here to download the full 2006 CERF report for Liberia.

CERF project implementation in Liberia started as early as October 2006 following the approval by the CERF Secretariat.  UN agencies and NGOs utilized their own resources to pre-fund activities to get the process going.  As of 2006, most projects were close to completion, with the last project expected to be completed by April 2007.

In all three sectors, CERF funding contributed to the implementation and continuation of poorly funded core elements of the overall humanitarian response in Liberia.

FAO was able to enhance and expand the existing pest control project by using CERF support.  New materials were purchased and distributed to farmers, thereby increasing yields.  As the Comprehensive Food Security and Nutrition Survey (CFSNS) conducted by the Government and UN agencies in September 2006 illustrated, crop pests pose a serious threat to food security in the country.  According to the data, pests contribute to harvest losses of up to 50 percent of the total expected harvest. 

In the health sector, the impact of CERF funding to fill critical funding gaps was evident.  Prior to the CERF allocation, only two percent of health projects identified through the CAP had been funded by mid-2006.     

Latrine construction at a primary school in Lofa County [Photo: UN/Liberia]

In the water and sanitation sector, the greatest humanitarian concerns were endemic cholera and widespread outbreaks of diarrhoea reproductive health which are caused by poor hygiene practices, lack of latrines and poorly maintained and managed drinking water sources. 

According to the Comprehensive Food Security and Nutrition Survey, less than 25 percent of the population in Liberia has access to safe sanitation.  Each well, hand pump and latrine that has been constructed using CERF funds, was an essential element in reducing morbidity and mortality, and improving the overall sanitation and health conditions in the country.

[Last Update: 21 August 2007]

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Click here for CERF in Liberia 2007

 Click here to download the 2006 CERF report for Liberia