Liberia: Shortages of fuel and food compound crisis

(New York: 31 July 2003) - Acute shortages of fuel and food continue to drive up the prices of basic commodities in Liberia, hindering aid operations and compounding the critical food situation.
A gallon of gasoline is now sold for LD1,000. Before the last round of fighting in Monrovia, the price was LD225. The increase in the price of fuel has caused, for example, a proportional increase in transportation fares, fare from Monrovia to Paynesville at LD150.00 against prewar price of LD25.00.

More importantly, the skyrocketing cost of fuel makes water distribution even more difficult for non-governmental organizations (NGOs) trying to aid hundreds of thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs). The NGO Merlin says with the current fuel shortage in Monrovia, it may be forced to begin flying fuel into the country to continue water supply to people in desperate need. Water distribution is also hindered by a shortage of trucks, due in part to looting. The international NGO OXFAM's capacity has been significantly undermined by the looting spree, but it is still is supplying water to some 9,000 IDPs in Monrovia.

Aid agencies report that food in Monrovia is in desperately short supply and when available, their prices are prohibitive. Cassava, often used as a substitute for rice, is sold at LD2000.00 per 50 kg, bag against prewar price of LD400.00 a bag. Action Against Hunger, an international NGO, is currently involved in nutritional screening and supplementary feeding at the Sport Stadium in Paynesville and the Tubman High School. ACF reports that the two therapeutic feeding centers (TFC) at Mamba Point and Sinkor have remained operational since the crisis.

While Monrovia was relatively calm, the UN continued to receive reports of people having been displaced by recent fighting near Buchanan and Gbarnga. Thousands of IDPs were reported to be on the move as a result of recent fighting around Buchanan, Liberia's second-largest city. Most of the new displaced are said to be moving northwest, towards Habel and other areas in the Firestone Plantation Company, where thousands of IDPs are already taking refuge from fighting in Monrovia. In Bong County, heavy fighting took place between government forces and LURD rebels in Gbarnga.