The joint U.N. Development Program (UNDP) and Liberian government team conducted the field visit in continuation of support to post-Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) border control and surveillance, according to a UNDP press release issued Monday.

It said the three counties are among eight that are benefitting from the Japanese funded Emergency Support to National Response to Ebola Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Epidemic (Enhanced Border Surveillance Project) and the proliferation of small arms.

It is being managed by the UNDP in close collaboration with the Ministry of Justice and the Liberia National Commission on Small Arms.

According to the release, the Mission visited a number of border posts and other facilities to assess prevailing working conditions, triage facilities and surveillance activities.

There were also community and local leadership engagement meetings held to provide and share information about the project activities, and make community members more responsive to the needs on the ground.

The Team comprised of key stakeholders, including UNDP, Small Arms Commission, Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization (BIN), Liberia National Police (LNP) and Ministry of Justice (MOJ).

Major challenges identified during the Field Mission include weak surveillance due to the lack of logistics; increase in the use of single barrel guns and other small arms, due to weak record keeping system; deplorable roads; poor accommodation and limited food supply for officers, among others.

It was agreed that community engagement should involve all relevant stakeholders such as clan, town and zone chiefs, women and youth groups; increase sensitization to enhance community involvement and collaboration with security personnel to maintain border surveillance, among others.

Similar consultations are expected to take place in the five remaining border counties of Grand Gedeh, Maryland, River Gee, Grand Cape Mount and Gbarpolu, the release said.
LINA PR/TSS/PTK