§ Mrs. SpelmanTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what measures are being taken(a) to repatriate refugees from Monrovia to their homes in the rest of the country and (b) to reduce their dependence on aid handouts. [133550]
§ Hilary BennSuch measures cannot be taken until security is restored outside the region of Monrovia. Internally displaced persons (IDPs) are reluctant to return to their homes while skirmishes continue. Aid agencies are unable to support such moves until security can be guaranteed for their own activities outside Monrovia. The situation is expected to improve as UNMIL gains in strength.
IDPs have returned to camps in Montserrado, Bong and Margibi counties. The UN and aid agencies are supporting relocation of IDPs to these camps from which they previously fled. The World Food Programme has stopped general food distributions to IDPs in Monrovia. NGOs are also scaling down feeding programmes in the light of evidence of access by IDPs to their own supplies of food.