Oxfam Statement on US Liberia Troops Announcement

Oxfam-America
Friday, 25 July 2003

Oxfam welcomes President Bush's announcement that US troops will be deployed off the coast of Liberia to support West African peacekeepers, saying it signals a strong commitment to Africa. But the international agency said the people of Monrovia need troops on the ground right now.

"We are encouraged by the Administration's announcement. If US peacekeepers hit the ground in Liberia this would be the most significant US humanitarian deployment in recent years," said Raymond Offenheiser, President of Oxfam America.

"The US move will only be called a success once peacekeepers are on the ground, people's lives are no longer threatened, and aid operations are moving safely and freely," said Oxfam's Sam Nagbe in Monrovia. "That has to happen now."

"People are dying here every day. The Americans must play a leading role in an immediate peacekeeping intervention."

Oxfam is urging the US to commit to leading a UN-authorized multinational peacekeeping operation.

"The US statement says its role will be limited, but we are urging the US to lead a multi-national peacekeeping force to provide desperately needed protection to the people of Liberia," said Nagbe.

Oxfam noted that:

• The US statement does not say how many troops will be deployed, nor give a time-line for when they will arrive in Liberia.



• The US has not committed to leading a UN-authorized multi-national operation, but has said that its role will be 'limited'.

• A clear mandate for the ECOWAS and US troops to protect civilians, and create conditions for agencies to provide humanitarian access



• The United Nations Security Council to urgently authorize the ECOWAS deployment and a US-led multinational rapid reaction force for Liberia.



• Other countries to provide support to ECOWAS and troops to a US led multinational peace keeping operation.

For more information, or to contact Oxfam-America, see their website at: www.oxfamamerica.org