|
|
 Liberia’s capital, Monrovia, was shattered by an October 1 shootout, even as authority over peace enforcement transferred from West African to United Nations troops. Nine people were killed, and tensions heightened throughout this country of nearly 4 million, by last week’s shootout between troops from the main rebel group, Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD) and government forces.
Liberian interim president Moses Blah and LURD leader Sekou Damate Conneh exchanged accusations over the shootout, while professing their commitment to the peace process.
In the meantime, the shootout suspended nearly all humanitarian work in and around the city as aid organizations pulled their staff members out of project areas due to the insecurity. World Vision relief manager Paul Sitnam put his staff on high alert Wednesday and Thursday, October 1 and 2, but continued to express hope that the fighting would be short-lived.
“Most people here expected some fighting as the transition gets underway,” said Sitnam. “But they are hopeful that security will improve once the new government is in place and U.N. troops arrive in greater numbers.”
A force of 15,000 U.N. peace enforcers is expected to arrive in Liberia over the next six months. World Vision currently is distributing food and providing immunizations and health care to tens of thousands of Liberians who have been displaced from their homes by the 14-year civil war.
|  |
|
