CRS Commits $1 Million to Relief Efforts in Liberia

Catholic Relief Services
Saturday, 16 August 2003

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) today announced a commitment of $1 million for relief and reconstruction in the war-torn country of Liberia. Instability in the capital city, Monrovia, had forced the suspension of programming, but the agency has resumed activities in partnership with Caritas Liberia. Returning staff will resume major operations today.

The recent resignation of Charles Taylor and the increased presence of United States marines have caused many Liberians to be hopeful that the country's long-running civil war is finally over. "We are pleased that the African intervention force has been able to establish a measure of stability in Monrovia. Our priority is getting relief in and working with our local partners to help Liberians begin to get their lives back to normal," said Ken Hackett, President of CRS. "We are equally hopeful about the presence of U.S. marines and are thankful that the Bush administration has responded, but long-term development in this region will be contingent on a lasting peace; this cannot occur if present conditions are allowed to destabilize again."

As a result of months of fighting and the subsequent economic blockade of Monrovia, medicines and other necessities are in short supply.

CRS is moving $100,000 worth of emergency medical kits to be utilized by the Catholic Church medical network of clinics and hospitals. The supplies will initially assist 20,000 people for three months; distribution is being done in coordination with the Caritas Internationalis network.

The agency will be distributing materials for shelter, sleeping mats, blankets, water, buckets, soap and clothing to 6,000 beneficiaries to help them replace items lost due to damage and looting. These items have been pre-positioned in Freetown, Sierra Leone. CRS is currently finalizing plans to access much needed food for distribution to those most in need; additional staff will be moving into Liberia to assist in the agency response to the crisis.

CRS and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops sponsored the visit last month of Archbishop Michael Francis of Monrovia, who met with members of the Bush administration to call for U.S. intervention in Liberia and the commitment of troops to assist the West African peacekeepers.

In a statement released in July, the agency noted that U.S. support to Liberia should be discrete and with a clearly defined exit strategy, but that it must be of a level and length of commitment that encourages a return to economic and political stability.

The United Nations estimates that nearly 450,000 people in Monrovia have been displaced over the past two months by fighting in the city. Many are in need of food and medical attention, as the security situation has kept aid agencies from delivering much needed assistance. Widespread looting has further exacerbated the situation, leaving many groups scrambling to access relief supplies for distribution now that a relative calm has been established.

Catholic Relief Services has been working in Liberia since 1990, initially providing assistance after the start of the civil war and, in recent years supporting activities in areas such as health, agriculture, education and peace building.

For more information, or to contact Catholic Relief Services, see their website at: www.catholicrelief.org