Three staffs from our
office visited Dakpansu and two other villages in the Sanoyea area where the
violence that erupted as a result of the land dispute left many people wounded and
houses and rice kitchens burned down to assess the humanitarian and conflict
situation to enable the senator approach the issue from an informed position.
In Vuku village, 8 out
of 11 houses were burnt along with all household items in them. One kitchen
filled with rice was also burnt down. The people of Dankpansu alleged accused
the owner of the village of taking side with the Dennis Family in the land
dispute. One person reportedly passed away in the wake of the violent conflict.
He had been sick and discharged from hospital not too long before the violence.
The village has a population of 75 persons but only five households are
participating in the kuu making farms. There is no hand pump to provide safe
drinking water. People get drinking water from the creek. The residents now
sleep in the open and in on the farms. 12 school children are presently
displaced and out of school.
In Dakpansu 16
houses were burnt down along with one school building and 13 rice kitchens.
Dakpansu has a population of approximately 616 persons. 42 farmers are
participating in the kuu. Only 25 out of 42 houses remained standing. Seven
persons were severely wounded. Seed rice is available in the district for sale
at one thousand two hundred
In Korlon town
there are twenty-five farmers. Thirty-two (32) out of thirty-eight (38) houses
were burnt long with ten (10) rice kitchens. There is also one hand pump that
is not working. Four hundred intended to purchase spare-parts to repair the
hand pump was burnt. The people of Korlonta got this money as pay for work they
did on Dennis farm.
Police recently arrested
nine persons and changed them with attempted murder and arson. Jurors from the
Gbarnga magisterial court went to conduct and immediate investigation. Some
were reportedly released on bail. FIND, UNHCR, UNMIL, Vision in Action, DEN-L
and other NGOs have visited the area and are planning a coordinated relief
interventions.
We plan to continue
monitoring the conflict situation
through regular visits and to continue monitoring the justice system’s
handling the case through conversations with the Superintendent and the county
attorney. We will also be in touch with the Development Education
Network-Liberia (DEN-L), the Foundation for International Dignity (FIND), the
UNHCR, LRRRC, government and all others assisting to address the impact the
violence on the three villages.
We plan to assist sixty-seven (67) rice farmers working together in
the KUU (work groups) in three of the villages with some rice to feed the KUUS
and at least half bag of seed rice to plant on the farms. We plan to repair the
dysfunctional hand pumps in two of the villages and depending on the
availability of funds construct a hand pump in the village that has none. We
plan to commence our intervention by May 6, 2008 in partnership with the
Sanoyea Lutheran Parish and the KUU of each of the three villages.
|
Items |
Quantity & unit
price |
Amount in US$ |
|
|
67 farmers @ US$10 |
US$670 |
|
|
67 farmers @ US$10 |
US$670 |
|
|
1 |
US$1500 |
|
|
2 |
US$500 |
|
|
|
US$150 |
|
|
10 visits @ US$20 for
gasoline, food, etc |
US$200 |
|
|
|
US$3 690 |
|