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While New Leadership Prompts Change, Violence Threats Leave Rural Vulnerable
Sweeping economic and political change characterized interim Liberian president Gyude Bryant’s first week in office. Hundreds of thousands of Liberians celebrated Bryant’s October 14 swearing-in ceremony, marking the formal change of power from ousted Liberian leader Charles Taylor. Bryant’s first changes included abolishing monopolies on rice and oil imports and rescinding a requirement that Liberian citizens obtain exit visas before leaving the country.
However, despite the improvements in everyday life, random violence still wreaks havoc on humanitarian efforts. The World Food Program (WFP) temporarily stopped distributing food to internally displaced people in rural Liberia as a result of continuing clashes between rebels and Taylor loyalists. While WFP continues its work in Monrovia, more than 100,000 people in rural areas are without food.
The recent arrival of Bangladeshi soldiers brings the current number of U.N. peace enforcers to 4,600, but experts estimate that 15,000 troops will be needed to stabilize the entire country.
“As long as insecurity persists, whole segments of the Liberian population will be vulnerable to hunger, disease, exposure to the elements and human rights abuses,” said World Vision relief manager Paul Sitnam. “Humanitarian agencies can’t do their jobs if they can’t reach the people most in need.”
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