UN humanitarian agencies find Liberian camps need better facilities

United Nations humanitarian agencies have increased aid to internally displaced people in Liberia after finding that their camps lack shelter and satisfactory water and sanitation facilities.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) issued a statement today in New York following an assessment mission earlier this week to three temporary camps for internally displaced Liberians.

The OCHA mission to the camps of New Lands, Soul Clinic and Barclay, about 20 kilometres from the Liberian capital of Monrovia, found they were filled mainly with people from Lofa County.

The mission found that as well as lacking many facilities, the camps did not have the capacity to deal with the huge demand for scarce medical services.

At other camps around Liberia, the World Food Programme, other UN agencies and their non-governmental organization (NGO) partners increased the amount of aid, including food stocks, to internally displaced people. New health and sanitation facilities are also being constructed and in Montserrado County, a measles vaccination campaign is continuing.

Yesterday, the Force Commander of the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) travelled to Gapo Town, where fighting between former Government troops and rebel forces had been reported.

Lt. Gen. Daniel Opande called for an immediate end to hostilities and the removal of all roadblocks from major roads so that civilians can move freely. He warned commanders that they would be held responsible for any atrocities committed by their troops.