The situation in Liberia remains fragile. An armed confrontation that took place in April in Voinjama, Lofa county, had a destabilizing effect on the operation and led to additional displacements. Funding of the Liberian repatriation operation in 1999 remains difficult with a projected shortfall of some USD 5 million. In May, the Government launched an official campaign for the delivery of identity cards to all refugees above 14 years of age. These cards will attest their status and enable them to receive appropriate protection.
Guinea remains the host of the largest number of refugees in Africa.
A census conducted in February 1999 revealed that over 350,000 Sierra Leoneans currently reside in two provinces. Over 14,000 persons have been transferred to date. However, such initiatives are far from being able to meet the vast needs in this sector and a concerted effort from other more specialized agencies is therefore urgently needed. The humanitarian situation in Sierra Leone continued to be disconcerting during the first half of the year. May. A peace agreement was subsequently signed between the Revolutionary United Front and the Government on 7 July 1999.