LIBERIA: INSIDE VIEW FROM AN NGO
The secondary source of this material is Rualink, via a letter from Clare Walters, propaganda person for the Sean Devereaux Children's Fund (readers will recall the story of Sean Devereaux, Salesian Past Pupil, killed some years ago in Africa while working as a Volunteer). The primary source is a Fund worker in Monrovia.
MONROVIA: August -- "....More ECOMIL troops arrived yesterday at the Roberts International Airport. More expected to arrive today. They have not yet deployed on the city and its suburbs. National and International Journalists entered the rebel-controlled area in Bushrod Island where the Free Port of Monrovia is situated. This port housed World Food Programme Warehouses and National and International NGO's relif items. NGOs have no access to the port at the moment. The rebel heads made a policy stament to the US Ambassador and to Ecomil Field Commander that they are in the position to turn over their control areas to the peacekeepers. According to the journalists, the civilians that are trapped in the rebel controlled areas are well taken care of with food and security.Unlike those in the Government
controlled areas who are without food, medicine, safe drinking water. No petrol (gasoline) in the city, and as a result you see people trekking from one point to another in search of their relatives, friends, food, and their children.
The presence of Ecomil in Liberia has brought high spirits to the children and also to the combatants. The belligerent forces, both Government and rebel forces met two days ago and embraced each other in high spirits on the bridge linking central Monrovia to Bushrod Island. In this high mood, the combatants were able to identify relatives and friends on both sides. As a result, they started sharing tears, exchanging clothing, food and cigarettes as the sign of a cease fire and ending the war.
350,000 women and children have been declared as war weary, destitute and depressed war victims. According to a health report, there are about 10,000 injured
persons in Liberia as the result of this latest war. There is an outbreak of cholera, diarrhea, malaria and other diseases in the various camps/compounds where
thousands of people are seeking refuge. The root causes of the diseases are the lack of safe drinking water, limited supply of pit latrines and an acute shortage of food, medicine and nutritional diets. There is pandemic increase of mosquito according to health and world news, and an estimated 2000 people have died from this in
the recent war.."
controlled areas who are without food, medicine, safe drinking water. No petrol (gasoline) in the city, and as a result you see people trekking from one point to another in search of their relatives, friends, food, and their children.
The presence of Ecomil in Liberia has brought high spirits to the children and also to the combatants. The belligerent forces, both Government and rebel forces met two days ago and embraced each other in high spirits on the bridge linking central Monrovia to Bushrod Island. In this high mood, the combatants were able to identify relatives and friends on both sides. As a result, they started sharing tears, exchanging clothing, food and cigarettes as the sign of a cease fire and ending the war.
350,000 women and children have been declared as war weary, destitute and depressed war victims. According to a health report, there are about 10,000 injured
persons in Liberia as the result of this latest war. There is an outbreak of cholera, diarrhea, malaria and other diseases in the various camps/compounds where
thousands of people are seeking refuge. The root causes of the diseases are the lack of safe drinking water, limited supply of pit latrines and an acute shortage of food, medicine and nutritional diets. There is pandemic increase of mosquito according to health and world news, and an estimated 2000 people have died from this in
the recent war.."
