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

 Fact Sheet # 18                      May 10, 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
740,000 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 U.S. Embassy reported on May
10 that sporadic gunfire was heard in some areas of the capital,
despite the announced acceptance by the faction leaders of the
Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) demands for a
cease-fire.  USAID/BHR/OFDA's Disaster Assistance Response Team
(DART) reports that fighting and a lack of unimpeded access,
including travel restrictions at bridges and other checkpoints,
have isolated areas of Monrovia from humanitarian relief
personnel, supplies, and food.  Thousands of displaced have
congregated on Bushrod Island attempting to find a safe haven in
warehouses, schools, and near ECOWAS Military Observer Group
(ECOMOG) installations.

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.  A lull in recent fighting around the compound has
permitted improvements in water, health, and sanitation for those
taking refuge inside.  USAID/DART arranged a daily water delivery
to Greystone using U.S. Embassy and European Union water trucks
to fill an old water tower on the compound with chlorinated
drinking water.  From the tower, water flows through a central
pipe to dozens of temporary water access taps in different areas
of the compound.  USAID/DART arranged for a helicopter delivery
of measles vaccine from Swede Relief Hospital on May 8.  On May
9, Action Contre la Faim staff recommenced the measles
vaccination program, immunizing a total of 176 children under
five.  Additional latrine areas are also being dug in the
compound and community education on sanitation is ongoing.  The
U.N. Humanitarian Assistance Coordination Office will now hold
emergency relief coordination meetings in the U.N.'s Riverview
compound on Tuesdays and Saturdays.  ECOMOG has also
re-established a weekly security meeting at ECOMOG headquarters.
ECOMOG agreed to provide security at Catholic, Swede Relief, and
Redemption hospitals.  Medecins San Frontieres reports that one
of three stool samples sent abroad for cholera testing was
positive.  Two representatives from UNICEF and two Save the
Children Fund/UK staff members arrived in Monrovia on May 10.

On May 8 and 9, the World Food Program (WFP) distributed 84
metric tons (MT) of food to displaced persons in the Ducor Hotel
area, Vamoma House, Barnersville, and the UNICEF warehouse. 
There are reports of about 6,000 - 7,000 people at a Baptist
Seminary in Monrovia who are in need of food.  USAID/DART is
checking into the possibility of moving food in by helicopter, as
a WFP road convoy attempting to deliver food was turned back.  
WFP and the U.S. Embassy have delivered a total of approximately
2,000 MT of food in Monrovia and surrounding areas since April
10.  WFP is coordinating with ECOMOG to improve security at the
port where WFP and Catholic Relief Services food warehouses are
located.  Port security became a grave concern on May 5 when
thousands of Liberians flooded the port, attempting to board
ships leaving Monrovia.  On May 5, approximately 3,000 - 4,000
Liberian refugees left the port in a Nigerian vessel, the Bulk
Challenger, bound for Ghana.  The ship was forced to put into
port at San Pedro, Cote d'Ivoire, on May 7 because it was taking
in water.  Some repairs were made to the vessel, which sailed for
Ghana on May 9.  However, there are concerns that the ship might
not be seaworthy.  In addition, it is heavily overloaded, with
little food and water on board.  The vessel is expected to arrive
in Ghana on May 12.  There are still approximately 1,000 people
at the port in Monrovia who were sold tickets for transport on
the Bulk Challenger but were not allowed to board before
departure.  Most will either receive refunds or passage on
another ship departing Monrovia May 11.

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