Food Assistance for Refugees and Vulnerable Host Populations

This operation has been modified as per budget revision 7 (see below)

The number of refugees and asylum seekers in Liberia grew substantially in 2011 following the unrest triggered by the December 2010 presidential election in Côte d'Ivoire. Persisting violence and a weak rule of law - especially in western Côte d’Ivoire – has made repatriation too dangerous. As a result, 65,000 Ivorian refugees continue to reside in four Liberian border counties: Grand Gedeh, Maryland, Nimba and River Gee.

The humanitarian crisis is putting additional strain on a precarious food security situation. Based on a joint assessment mission in November 2012, WFP and partners recommended continuing relief food assistance to Côte d’Ivoire refugees residing in designated camps and supporting early recovery for refugees living in host communities. Due to the high food insecurity among the host population, WFP will build on the experience gained during the recent emergency operation to scale-up activities that target vulnerable Liberian households hosting Ivorian refugees.

The objectives of this protracted relief and recovery operation are aligned to WFP’s Strategic Objectives1 (Save lives and protect livelihoods in emergencies) and 3 (Restore and rebuild lives and livelihoods in post-conflict, post-disaster or transition situations), specifically: improve the food security and nutrition of refugees from Côte d’Ivoire and vulnerable host populations in Liberia who have been adversely affected by the refugee influx. (Strategic Objective 1);treat moderate acute malnutrition in children aged 6-59 months from the refugee and host populations in the four refugee-hosting counties (Strategic Objective 3); prevent stunting through complementary feeding for children 6-23 months and pregnant and lactating women within refugee and host populations (Strategic Objective 3); Number of beneficiaries 90,000 Duration of project 24 months (1 July 2013 – 30 June 2015) WFP food tonnage 23,859 mt WFP food cost US$12,235,036 Total cost to WFP US$27,470,914 protect the livelihoods of vulnerable host populations and alleviate their food insecurity during the lean season (Strategic Objective 3); and,improve enrolment and attendance rates among refugee primary school children attending schools in Liberia (Strategic Objective 3).

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Budget revision 7 extends PRRO 200550 for 6 months from 1st January to 30th June 2017.