U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
                                      
                   BUREAU FOR HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE (BHR)
             OFFICE OF U.S. FOREIGN DISASTER ASSISTANCE (OFDA)
                                      
                        LIBERIA - Complex Emergency

Fact Sheet # 16                             May 6, 1996 1700 EDT

Background:  On April 6, 1996, fighting in Monrovia erupted
between two armed factions, Charles Taylor's National Patriotic
Front of Liberia (NPFL) and Roosevelt Johnson's wing of the
United Liberation Movement for Democracy in Liberia ULIMO-Krahn).

Other Krahn factions subsequently joined Johnson.  The fighting
came in the wake of scattered skirmishes that followed the
signing of the Abuja Accord, a comprehensive peace agreement
among leaders of the main warring factions in Liberia on August
19, 1995.  The accord came after nearly six years of civil war,
in which more than 150,000 Liberians died, about 725,000 fled the
country as refugees, and 800,000 became internally displaced.

On April 29, fighting erupted in the area of the executive
mansion, located near the Barclay Training Center (BTC), between
ULIMO-Krahn and NPFL forces.  Approximately 15,000 - 20,000
people took refuge in the BTC when fighting began on April 6,
including armed members of ULIMO-Krahn, and the Armed Forces of
Liberia, a contending faction.  The situation in Monrovia remains
tense and chaotic and civilians are fleeing.  USAID/BHR/OFDA's
Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) received reports that at
least 7,000 Liberians flooded the port on May 5, attempting to
board ships leaving Liberia.  By May 6 the number had dwindled to
approximately 400 - 500 people.  Food warehouses located at the
port are still secure. Twenty-five people were evacuated from
Monrovia on May 2, including three Americans.  The Embassy staff
remains at 22, including USAID's two-person DART.

The U.S. provided helicopter transport to Johnson to Freetown on
May 3.  Johnson plans to proceed to Accra, Ghana, for the
Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) emergency
summit to be held May 7 - 8.  Ambassador Dane Smith, the
President's Special Envoy for Liberia will represent the U.S. at
the ECOWAS summit.  The U.S. Department of State announced visa
restrictions for Liberian faction leaders, their families, close
associates, and others who are impeding Liberia's peace process. 
In addition, the U.S. called on faction leaders to reinstate the
April 19 cease-fire, re-establish Monrovia as a safe haven, and
attend the May 7 - 8 emergency ECOWAS summit.  The U.S.indicated
that it is prepared to consider further measures if faction
leaders continue to obstruct the peace process.

Current Humanitarian Situation:  The fighting has displaced at
least 80,000 people, with over 20,000 now seeking shelter in the
Greystone compound of the U.S. Embassy since fighting began again
on April 29.  USAID/DART worked in the compound on May 4 and 5
with a team of Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), Action Contre la
Faim, and Liberian Red Cross personnel to improve water,
sanitation, and health conditions at the compound.  However,
gunfire forced the international staff to leave the compound the
afternoon of May 5.  USAID/DART was able to return the morning of
May 6 but was once again forced to leave.  Lack of water is still
a grave concern at Greystone, with people leaving the compound
during the day to seek water.  USAID/DART arranged for a water
delivery of 2,500 liters on May 6 and is working on long-range
plans to improve the water situation, security permitting. 
Sanitation at Greystone has improved somewhat with six latrines
now available.  The Liberian Red Cross continues to provide
primary health care at the compound but is concerned about
security.  On May 4, a convoy made up of MSF and Swede Relief
hospital personnel delivered medical supplies for the compound
and picked up five patients for transport to the hospital.  The
convoy was stopped and harassed by armed fighters who finally let
the convoy pass unharmed after 30 minutes of negotiation.  There
have been reports of renegades entering Swede Relief hospital and
demanding that patients be handed over.  On May 4, a USAID/OFDA
chartered helicopter landed at the embassy carrying emergency
relief supplies including water pumps, tents, blankets, shelter
material, and water containers.  It also transported an MSF
surgeon and nurse anesthetist who will be working in Swede Relief
hospital.  The World Food Program (WFP) resumed food deliveries
on May 6, distributing food to approximately 4,000 - 5,000
displaced persons who have congregated around the ECOWAS Military
Observer Group (ECOMOG) base.  WFP and the U.S. Embassy have
delivered a total of approximately 2,000 metric tons of food in
Monrovia and surrounding areas since April 10.  A WFP ship is
currently docked at the port in Monrovia and is loading
approximately 750 tons of food and non-food commodities for
transport to Buchanan by sea.

U.S. Government (USG) FY 1996 Humanitarian Assistance:  
Total OFDA Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$3,789,058
Other USG Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$61,347,425
TOTAL USG FY 1996 Humanitarian Assistance (to date). .$65,136,483