Current Situation in Liberia

14 August 2003

Security

The long awaited departure of Charles Taylor occurred on 11 August 2003. He appointed his Vice President, Moses Blah, to be the 22nd President of Liberia. Taylor flew into exile to Abuja in Nigeria and the Nigerian military have promised to ensure that Taylor does not attempt to manage Liberia from a distance. At the moment, the country is split between two major rebel groups, namely; Liberia United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD) and the Movement for Democracy and Elections in Liberia (MODEL). The current government holds only Monrovia, the airport and the areas between. Government militias have been terrorising the local population for the past few months and have been responsible for a major part of the looting of central Monrovia. These forces have yet to be told to stand down by their leaders. LURD has held a large part of the country for several years and at present controls Bushrod Island up to the two major bridges leading to the city center.

With the arrival of the West African peacekeeping force (ECOMIL), Nigerian Battalion I, LURD has officially handed over the Free Port of Monrovia. The MODEL rebel group, the second fighting group, has been attacking the port city of Buchanan, down the coast from Monrovia. On Tuesday, 12 August, MODEL was continuing its advance on the Roberts Field Airport located at Harbel, just 50 minutes from Monrovia.

The second of two battalions of Nigerian troops is expected to arrive on 14 August. There still is not enough of an intervention force on the ground to ensure that the various fighting factions end hostilities.

UMCOR Activities

The United Methodist Committee on Relief NGO (UMCOR), like many other organizations in Liberia, was forced to cease operations when the main rebel group, LURD, renewed its attack on Monrovia in June. The Head of Mission departed Monrovia on 30 June after securing the office and assets as much as possible.

UMCOR is preparing to ship 15,000 health kits, 3,000 layette kits, as well as 10,000 plastic sleeping mats to Monrovia. UMCOR has also submitted an emergency assistance proposal to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance for the emergency distribution of non-food items for 20,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). The current estimate is that no less than 450,000 people are in need of assistance throughout Liberia.

UMCOR is also developing an emergency appeal to the Action by Churches Together (ACT) International to assist an additional 20,000 IDPs with non-food items, shelter materials, provision of clean water as well as sanitation services and construction of latrines.

UMCOR has been very much involved with the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) in the recent distribution of food in Nimba and Grand Gedeh counties. These operations were suspended following the escalation of the conflict, which has engulfed the whole country. UMCOR was assisting the WFP in Montserrado county (Greater Monrovia Area) with population assessments.

By the end of June, UMCOR had only a skeleton staff remaining in the Monrovia office with the remainder of the staff seeking safety in Monrovia as well as Harbel and outside of the country. All staff members are accounted for and are safe.

UMCOR currently is assisting the British medical charity, MERLIN, with logistical support for the transport of vital materials to and from emergency clinics set up in Mamba Point adjacent to their shared office space.

UMCOR will be working closely with other NGOs and UN agencies to quickly assess the extent of emergency needs in and around Monrovia and hopes to become fully operational before the end of August. In addition, UMCOR will work in coordination with the local United Methodist Church (UMC) in its relief efforts.

The Head of Mission is expected to return to Monrovia in the near future as the security situation begins to stabilize. In the meantime, he is located in the neighboring country of Sierra Leone where he has been working in coordination with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance (UNOCHA) and other NGOs involved in emergency relief efforts in Liberia.

UMCOR appeals to all armed groups to give the on-going peace process a chance, as it is vital that the humanitarian needs of the suffering be addressed immediately.