Liberia: Combatants must cease hostilities

Monrovia: 10 September 2003 - Renewed fighting in Kakata town, 50 kilometres northeast of Monrovia, yesterday morning, and looting in Salala - 140 kilometres northeast of the capital, prevented the continuation of emergency humanitarian assistance to thousands of vulnerable Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and other civilians.
The United Nations Special Humanitarian Coordinator in Monrovia, Mr Ross Mountain, called upon combatants to immediately cease their sporadic outbursts of violence.

The clash in Kakata between Government militia and Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD) seriously endangered the lives of IDPs, civilian populations and humanitarian aid workers. Although the fighting was not prolonged, preliminary reports indicate that as many as 3,000 civilians fled the area.

The Special Humanitarian Coordinator urged all signatories to honour the 17th of August 2003 Agreement on the Distribution of Humanitarian Aid and Assistance in Liberia, that includes the Government of Liberia and LURD.

"It is unacceptable that these IDPs, already displaced, should find themselves once more caught in the crossfire. Frequently, combatants intentionally spook IDP populations with gunfire, sparking their mass-movement, with the intent of moving into their villages and homes and looting goods and property left behind," said Mr Mountain.

Managing a major IDP camp in Salala, the Lutheran World Service/Federation (LWS/F), also confirmed yesterday evening the theft of three vehicles, and a forth from Phebe Hospital, by armed combatants. While the vehicles were later recovered, all the internal communications equipment had been removed. Phebe Hospital has been evacuated. The condition of its patients, two of which underwent major surgery last weekend, remains unknown.

"These acts are in direct contravention of the Agreement. It is vital that humanitarian actors can undertake their work, unencumbered by these violent and intimidatory tactics", added Mr Mountain.

The Agreement provides for the safe passage and unimpeded access to enable the delivery of humanitarian aid, and guarantees the security and safety of all members and equipment of international organisations and non-government organisations operating in the territory under the respective control of each signatory.

"Theft of equipment belonging to international organisations and NGOs must now end," said Mr Mountain.

The instability comes as the humanitarian community had begun to make inroads into addressing some of the needs of these vulnerable IDPs. Some 650 West African peacekeepers from Guinea Bissau deployed and established a base at the Booker Washington Institute in Kakata just hours after the clash. Humanitarian actors, including UN agencies and NGOs, will undertake assessments missions to Kakata and Salala today.

For further information, please call Nicholas McGowan +377 47 530 433 (OCHA Liberia); Stephanie Bunker +917 367 5126 (OCHA NY), Elizabeth Byrs +41 22 917 2653 (OCHA Geneva).