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

 Fact Sheet # 20                     May 16, 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 May 14, fighting recommenced in the Mamba Point area of
Monrovia.  More than 50 people injured in the fighting were
treated at a clinic located at the U.S. Embassy's Greystone
compound.  Two deaths were reported at Greystone due to stray
bullet rounds.  On May 16, USAID/BHR/OFDA's Disaster Assistance
Response Team (DART) reported that small arms fire in the port
area caused a panic.  To escape the shooting, several thousand
people rushed aboard two ships docked at the port.  Troops from
the Economic Community of West African States Military Observer
Group (ECOMOG) brought the situation under control.  Medecins San
Frontieres International (MSF/I) reported that its Mamba Point
office was looted once again on May 15 by armed gunman.  On May
16, an MSF/I medical team was stopped and detained for several
hours by street fighters.  USAID/DART also reported shooting near
the U.S. Embassy the afternoon of May 16.  In general, 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
ECOMOG installations.

Current Humanitarian Situation:  The fighting has displaced at
least 80,000 people in the Monrovia area, with over 20,000 now
seeking shelter in the Greystone compound of the U.S. Embassy
since fighting began again on April 29.  Heavy fighting on May 14
interrupted the delivery of chlorinated drinking water to
Greystone.  A water delivery was made on May 15, but the
continued shortage of uncontaminated drinking water has
exacerbated severe diarrheal disease and suspected cholera cases.

On May 14, 58 new cases were admitted to the suspected cholera
unit established by MSF/I and Action Contre la Faim (ACF) staff
in Greystone.  A measles vaccination campaign recommenced on May
9 by ACF staff is ongoing; one death from measles was reported on
May 15.  In addition to its feeding program set up for
malnourished patients in Greystone, USAID/DART is providing
food-for-work for the Liberian staff of MSF and ACF who provide
24 hour coverage for the cholera unit.  Food is still available
in Greystone although supplies are running low.  A market is
operating within Greystone with fish and rice for sale, among
other items, at highly inflated prices.

On May 13, a medical team consisting of MSF/I and MERCI, a
Liberian non-governmental organization (NGO), entered the Barclay
Training Center (BTC) where approximately 15,000 - 20,000 people
took refuge when fighting began on April 6, including armed
members of ULIMO-Krahn, and the Armed Forces of Liberia, a
contending faction.  Due to security conditions, this was the
first time humanitarian organizations have been able to assess
the situation at BTC since April 22.  Sanitary conditions are
deplorable, with septic tanks broken and sewerage free flowing
between buildings.  A total of 18 patients were in need of
immediate surgery with three reported to be in very critical
condition.  There is also a measles outbreak at the BTC.  MSF is
prepared to begin a vaccination campaign if security conditions
and access permit.

>From May 6 - 15, the World Food Program (WFP) distributed 426
metric tons (MT) of food to displaced persons.  WFP and the U.S.
Embassy have delivered a total of approximately 2,789 MT of food
in Monrovia and surrounding areas since April 10.  

Approximately 3,000 refugees who fled Liberia on May 5 in a
Nigerian vessel, the Bulk Challenger, disembarked at Takoradi,
Ghana, on May 13.  The U.S. Embassy in Ghana is working with the
Ghanaian government, the United Nations High Commissioner for
Refugees (UNHCR), and a consortium of NGOs to coordinate
assistance.  OFDA released $25,000 in emergency funds to the U.S.
Embassy which provided food, water, fuel, and shelter for the
refugees.

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