US Must Lead Liberia Peacekeeping ForceOxfam-America International agency Oxfam today urged the United States to put its troops on the ground in Liberia immediately, to give the strong leadership needed to stop continuing bloodshed and provide access for desperately needed humanitarian aid. American warships are expected to arrive off the coast of Liberia at the weekend to support an advance force of Nigerian peacekeepers slated to arrive on Monday. But so far, the Bush administration has given no clear details about the exact role of the US troops.  "The Americans must get off their ships as soon as they arrive and give strong leadership on the ground," said Oxfam's Sam Nagbe, speaking from Monrovia where he has been trapped in his house by fighting for much of the past fortnight. "The US must provide the logistical backbone and political leadership for this peacekeeping operation. The African nations are providing troops, but the Americans are the ones with the logistical capability and political weight to push warring parties to stop the killing quickly and make it safe enough for us get humanitarian aid in." The 1,500 Nigerian troops will pave the way for a West African force of 3,250 peacekeepers expected to deploy within three weeks. The United Nations Security Council is authorising the mission. Its resolution, expected to be passed today, also envisions a multinational UN peacekeeping force being in place by October 1st. Oxfam's team of 25 Liberian staff have been continuing their emergency work in Monrovia during lulls in the fighting. They have been providing clean drinking water to some of the thousands of displaced families living in makeshift shelters, as well as building emergency latrines at Monrovia's sports stadium where an estimated 50,000 people are camped out. Oxfam is preparing to send a plane full of water and sanitation equipment from London to Monrovia next week as soon as security allows.
For more information, or to contact Oxfam-America, see their website at: www.oxfamamerica.org |
 |
Email Article To A Friend |  |
Link to us! |
