Ban Rules out Major Troop Reduction Police Training Crosses Target Refugee Repatriation Ends Message from the Special Representative of the Secretary-Ggeneral

Vol. 3, No.UNMIL 04 FOCUS June - August 2007

Ban Rules Out Major Troop Reduction Police Training Crosses Target Refugee Repatriation Ends Message from the Special Representative of the Secretary-GGeneral

s Africa’s oldest republic celebrated its 160th independence anniversary this year, four years after the end of the prolonged civil war, the nation is Aseeking to fulfil its promise as the “Land of Liberty.” The recent graduation of the final group of trainees from the National Police Academy is a significant step towards strengthening Liberia’s national security, which is vital for the country’s recovery and future progress. In July the Liberia National Police met the planned target of 3,500 personnel. A well-trained police service that protects and promotes the constitutional rights of all Liberians will go a long way in ensuring sustainable peace in the country. Although the LNP has achieved its targeted strength, we must continue to focus on improving the quality of law enforcement personnel, while providing them with adequate logistical support. It is equally important to expand presence of the LNP in the rural areas to ensure that the rule of law prevails throughout the country. As Liberia consolidates peace and the security situation remains stable, we will begin to implement some adjustments in the deployment of UNMIL security forces. The Secretary-General’s fifteenth progress report on Liberia, issued in August, recommends that the adjustments should be done in stages and in a measured and prudent manner so as to maintain UNMIL’s capacity to deal with any security threats in the country. These adjustments in the troop strength of UNMIL will be linked to the accomplishment of a number of core benchmarks that will monitor Liberia’s own capacity to take over security responsibilities, as well as the security situation in the region. This approach underlines the fact that the international community does not want to put at risk the major investment that it has made in helping Liberia restore peace and freedom. Liberia is emerging, slowly but steadily, as an inspi- rational story of how a shattered nation can put its divisive and painful past behind it and rise again to embrace the dream of a promising future. The UN family will continue to actively assist the country deal with the mas- sive challenges that it still faces. A lot more remains to be done before Liberia can fully emerge from the shadow of the devastating conflict that ravaged the country for 14 dreadful years. Education, health, employment creation, poverty alleviation and infrastructure development are all in need of urgent support from donors and multilateral agencies to back up the Government’s own efforts. The peaceful celebration of the 160th anniversary was a moment of encour- agement and hope for Liberia. After so many years of misery people can now look forward to the prospect of a better future. Our job in the UN is to help Liberians make that future a reality.

Alan Doss Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Coordinator of United Nations Operations in Liberia

2 UNMIL FOCUS June - August 2007 6 10 12 24 Liberia has reached the UNHCR's two-and-a-half A large number of Liberian The Sapo National Park, planned target of a 3,500- year repatriation pro- children were forced out of regarded as an area of sig- strong new police force, gramme for Liberian school as a result of the nificant biodiversity, suf- three years after the train- refugees has come to an civil war. The Accelerated fered environmental dam- ing of the first group of end, drawing to a close Learning Programme, con- age due to illegal occupa- large-scale refugee repatri- densing six years of pri- recruits began. The new tion and mining activities ation in the West African mary schooling into three law enforcement agency region. More than 100,000 years, is drawing thou- during the civil war. Efforts replaces Liberia's earlier refugees have returned to sands of children back into are currently underway to discredited police force, Liberia as part of the pro- the classrooms and help- conserve its heritage by which had turned from programme while over 50,000 ing them make up for the offering alternative liveli- tectors to predators during refugees returned sponta- lost time. hood to the communities the civil war. neously. surrounding the Park.

IN THIS ISSUE Special Representative of the Secretary-GGeneral and Coordinator 14 Ban Rules Out Major Troop Reduction of United Nations Operations in Liberia 6 Police Training Crosses Target Alan Doss 8 Female Recruitment Makes Headway Deputy Special Representative of the 9 Army Training Continues Secretary-GGeneral for Recovery and Governance 10 Refugee Repatriation Ends Jordan Ryan 12 Making Up for Lost Time Officer-iin-CCharge of Public 14 The Plight of Orphans Information 16 Beating Poverty Ben Dotsei Malor

18 Reversing Brain Drain Editor and Head of Publications 20 Interview: Sarah, Duchess of York Mathew Elavanalthoduka

22 The Agony of Childbirth Staff Writers 24 Conserving Sapo’s Heritage Sulaiman Momodu Rebecca Bannor-AAddae 26 World Bank Grant for Health Sector J. Wesley Washington

27 Skills Training for Former Child Soldiers Design and Graphics 28 Winning Hearts and Minds Paddy Defoxy Ilos, II

30 Lost limbs, yes, but not hope Photos 32 Soccer Star Thuram Thrills Liberian Youth Eric Kanalstein

33 CSTs Gain Momentum Published by the Public Information 34 Benin President, UN Envoy Discuss Liberia’s Security Office, United Nations Mission in Liberia 35 Call for More Protection for Women 36 Duchess vows to be “loudspeaker” [email protected]

38 Liberians Speak Printed by Buck Press Ltd., Accra, Ghana

June - August 2007 UNMIL FOCUS 3 Visit us at www.unmil.org Ban Rules Out Major Troop Reduction By Mathew Elavanalthoduka peacekeepers takes into account both the “great strides” made by Liberia’s govern- proposed plan to gradually ment in consolidating peace and promot- scale down the troop levels ing economic recovery, and the enormous of the United Nations challenges still facing the country. Mission in Liberia Completing the measures required to (UNMIL) forms part of lift the timber and diamond sanctions, ASecretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s fif- implementing the interim Poverty teenth progress report on Liberia issued in Reduction Strategy, increasing public rev- August. If approved by the Security enues by 48 per cent, and restoring elec- Council, the plan calls for over 9,000 tricity to some parts of the capital are troops to remain in Liberia at the end of among the government’s achievements, 2010 as the country still faces possible the report pointed out. Ban also highlight- threat of political instability. ed the increase in school enrolment by 40 Almost four years after its deployment per cent, the improving human rights situ- in October 2003, UNMIL still remains one ation, and the government’s focus on of the largest peacekeeping operations in fighting corruption, reforming the security the world with over 14,000 soldiers and sector and cultivating mutually beneficial Other challenges include economic inse- more than 1,000 police personnel. The relations with the country’s neighbours. curity, proliferation of disaffected groups plan to scale down UNMIL’s force levels Despite these remarkable achieve- such as unemployed ex-combatants, deac- is linked to the achievement of a number ments, the country still faces formidable tivated army and police personnel, as well of core benchmarks, most of them relating challenges and remains vulnerable to the as elements from the dismantled irregular to the security situation in the country as risk of a relapse into lawlessness, Ban cau- militias. well as in the region. tioned. “The process of consolidating Liberia still faces the risk of possible “The proposed plan allows UNMIL to peace and rebuilding State institutions is resurgence of armed groups, which may be adapt to evolving priorities and to conduct still in its formative stage. Until the army easily organized to cause political instabil- a gradual, phased and deliberate transfer and police can stand on their own and the ity, Ban warned. “These factors, as well as of responsibility for the security of Liberia justice system is rehabilitated and accessi- the risk of a possible spill-over from the to the government in a manner that gives ble to all Liberians, the country will unstable situation in Guinea, Sierra Leone the government the opportunity to build its remain vulnerable to the risk of a return to and Côte d’Ivoire, underscore the coun- capacity, while the Mission continues to lawlessness.” try’s continued vulnerability.” help sustain the prevailing stability,” Ban The most immediate threats to sus- The enactment of the Rape said in his report. The plan for a gradual tained peace and stability in Liberia at this Amendment Act in 2006 has had “little withdrawal is based on the many chal- stage include increasing violent criminal impact” in stemming the high incidence of lenges that still face Liberia, he said, “in activities, especially armed robberies and sexual violence, including rape of women particular its complex and fragile security rape, the limited capacity of the security and girls, the report pointed out. The judi- environment.” sector to curb violent crimes, and a weak cial system is constrained by limited infra- Ban’s proposal for withdrawal of justice system, the report pointed out. structure, shortage of qualified personnel,

4 UNMIL FOCUS June - August 2007 UN Peacekeepers have restored peace and stability in Liberia lack of capacity to process cases and poor reintegration of ex-combatants and resettle assessed in the context of specific bench- management. “As a result of these short- returnees and internally displaced persons. marks identified in the report, Ban comings, many Liberians have little confi- The Mission also supports the govern- stressed. He called on the Liberian govern- dence in the justice system,” Ban ment’s efforts aimed at restoring proper ment and the international community to observed. Deficiencies in the justice sys- administration of the country’s natural make timely and effective investment for tem continue to pose serious challenges to resources, promoting and protecting the accomplishment of these benchmarks. the promotion and protection of human human rights, and forging national recon- The Secretary-General’s proposal for rights in the country. ciliation. the gradual reduction of peacekeepers Describing the status of the implemen- Although the humanitarian situation in from Liberia is largely drawn from the rec- tation of UNMIL’s mandate, the report Liberia continues to improve, a lot more ommendations made by an inter-depart- said following the installation of the new remains to be done in the areas of health, mental technical assessment mission led government in 2006, the Mission has rede- education, food, and water and sanitation, by the Department of Peacekeeping fined its strategic goals to focus on peace the report said. Six moths after the launch Operations that visited Liberia in June. consolidation and helping the country of the 2007 Common Humanitarian Action The assessment mission had held exten- achieve a steady state of security with a Plan for Liberia, only 21.1 per cent of the sive consultations with the Liberian gov- police and armed forces that can “stand on US$117 million needed to address high ernment, UNMIL, the Economic their own.” UNMIL’s priorities currently priority humanitarian needs has been Community of West African States include assisting the government to received, the Secretary-General pointed (ECOWAS), and other actors involved in rebuild the country’s security and rule of out. efforts to restore sustainable peace and law sectors, re-establish functioning The proposed scaling down of the economic development in the war-torn administrative structures, complete the peacekeeping troops will be continually nation.

June - August 2007 UNMIL FOCUS 5 More that 3,500 police personnel have graduated, crossing th Police Training Crosses Target By J. Wesley Washington of intensive training. Liberia’s discredited police force with one But this was not just a regular gradua- that, unlike in the past, protects and pro- ressed in their crisp blue tion ceremony. The celebration on 7 July motes the constitutional rights of the citi- uniforms with the police marked a milestone in the history of post- zens. insignia in bright yellow, conflict Liberia as the country crossed its “It’s the beginning of a new day for 366 police trainees stood target of a 3,500-strong new police force. policing in Liberia,” said Jacques Paul at attention as the guests of Three years ago on 12 July 2004, the Klein, then Special Representative of the Dhonour inspected ‘Class 30’ to begin the National Transitional Government and the Secretary-General, at the launch of the graduation ceremonies at the National United Nations Mission in Liberia training, recalling the long years of civil Police Training Academy (NPTA). After launched the training programme for a war during which the police function was an impressive march past, they quietly new police service at the newly reopened “abused, exploited and politicized.” took their seats for the long-awaited com- Police Academy with 150 recruits. It her- During the 14 years of civil war that mencement -- the culmination of 29 weeks alded a significant step towards replacing killed over 250,000 people and displaced

6 UNMIL FOCUS June - August 2007 SECURITY

By March 2005, just over two years the realization of this crucial national ago, the first 123 officers graduated from objective. “While there are still daunting the NPTA. The graduation of ‘Class 30’ on challenges in achieving the security sector 7 July 2007 not only achieved the planned reform, the role of UNMIL has been full strength but exceeded the goal as the encouraging and remarkable, a classic number of trained officers has now example of accountable support,” Minister reached 3,522, including 203 women. A Johnson noted. She challenged graduates further group of 168 officers, among them to take a stand against violence and other 146 women, will graduate before the end vices that have the potential to retard or of this year, taking the total number of reverse progress toward sustainable peace trained police personnel close to 3,700. and development. At the ceremony marking the key Following the graduation ceremony, achievement in enhancing the country’s Ryan handed over 30 brand new motor- law-enforcement capacity through the new bikes, donated by the government of Liberia National Police (LNP), Deputy Netherlands, for use by the LNP, especial- Special Representative of the Secretary- ly those assigned in the rural areas. General Jordan Ryan praised the graduat- UNMIL has been facilitating and coor- ing class. “Each of you have displayed dinating donor support towards enhancing individual commitment and courage, the manpower and logistical capacity of the LNP. Already, through donor funding, UNMIL has been facilitating UNMIL has renovated a multi-purpose cafeteria and an existing dormitory for use and coordinating donor by female recruits at the Police Academy. support towards enhancing In its continuing efforts to enhance the the manpower and logistical law-enforcement capacity of Liberia, UNMIL has renovated or reconstructed 24 capacity of the LNP. Already, police facilities throughout the country through donor funding, while another 21 construction projects, UNMIL has renovated a including new training facilities at the Police Academy, are currently ongoing. multi-ppurpose cafeteria and These include a modern building housing an existing dormitory for use 12 classrooms and a new male dormitory by female recruits at the with a capacity to host 200 recruits. In he planned target for the new police force other counties, restructuring projects three times as many, the country’s security Police Academy. include the construction of barracks for forces had turned from protectors to pred- LNP officers. Six prison cells at the LNP ators. Ordinary Liberians could not distin- while collectively you are offering your headquarters were renovated recently with guish the gun-totting rebel combatants nation the chance for peace, security and funding from the Dutch government. who killed, raped and maimed indiscrimi- stability,” he said. Partners who have contributed to the nately from the country’s police personnel. Viewing the milestone achieved as a restructuring of the LNP include the As the civil war came to an end in 2003, “new beginning with new challenges”, United States, United Kingdom, Nigeria, the UN peacekeeping mission deployed in Ryan urged the NPTA not to become com- China, European Commission, Norway, the country was mandated to replace the placent but to set goals and objectives that Netherlands, Belgium, Ghana, Egypt, and discredited police force and train a new reinforce the LNP as a model of profes- INTERPOL, and within the UN family, one as part of the Comprehensive Peace sional and democratic police service in the UNPOL, UNDP, UNICEP, WFP and Agreement signed by the warring factions. sub-region. UNHCR. A target of 3,500 police personnel was Addressing the new graduates, Justice Despite crossing the targeted number set, to be trained by the UN Police Minister Frances Johnson Morris said of police personnel, there is still consider- (UNPOL), in collaboration with the Liberia’s government was committed to a able need for advanced training to enhance Transitional Government. The trainees policy of good governance, human rights the quality of the LNP personnel as well as were vetted and recruited in accordance and the rule of law. She stressed the need to adequately equip them. Equally impor- with pre-set standards. Only high school for the graduates to abide by these values, tant is to ensure the presence of law- graduates or above, between the ages of 18 recognized by the UN in its Declaration of enforcement officers in the rural areas, and 35 and without a criminal record, were Human Rights. which lack even basic facilities such as eligible to apply. They were also tested on She praised UNMIL for the pivotal offices and housing. medical and physical fitness. role it has played and continues to play in

June - August 2007 UNMIL FOCUS 7 Female Recruitment Makes Headway By J. Wesley Washington al level of interested females up to the high to cover the entire syllabus. school graduation level, which would sub- “I think from our end we did our best lthough Liberia has exceed- sequently qualify them to be recruited into or else we would have had a mass failure; ed the benchmark and grad- the restructured police force. but the WAEC results showed 90.3 per uated 3,522 police officers, The project was launched on 20 cent success of the 124 persons that only 203 are female offi- January 2007. Three weeks later, of the enrolled in the programme. This is quite cers, representing 5.8 per 380 candidates that completed registration positive for us,” says Keke Nah, the centA of the police force. In line with UN forms, 228 sat the aptitude test. However, Campus Coordinator of the project at Security Council Resolution 1325 and in only 151 passed, with 124 females finally Stella Maris. support of the Convention on Elimination commencing the tutorial classes. “Overall, performance has been good. of all forms of Discrimination against For some of the candidates who are They are not behind the other graduates Women (CEDWA), female recruitment housewives, mothers and breadwinners, that have been here and they have been into the Liberia National Police (LNP) has enrolling for police training was both a working quite hard. However, there are been a key consideration as the country challenge and the realization of a dream. challenges for ladies that are not used to a restructures its discredited police force. With her husband ill and bed-ridden, Elous paramilitary environment. It is a little dif- The lack of the requisite qualification Jackson, a mother of five, says her accept- ficult for them to adopt this into their daily has, however, been a big challenge for ance to start the training came at a very lives; but they are coping,” said the difficult time. But her husband encouraged UNPOL Training and Development

A special education programme has helped increase female intake in the police force many women who could not complete her to pursue the training, which motivat- Coordinator at the Academy, Dag Dahlen. their secondary school education largely ed her. In January 2008, the academy will embark on a new training curriculum with as a result of the country’s 14 years civil Following three months of intensive plans to expand it for a year, which will war when education was frequently dis- schooling covering a total of nine subjects include six months academic and six rupted. Women and girls became the pri- at Stella Maris Polytechnic, examinations months field training. “We sincerely hope mary victims of the war. were administered by WAEC and 112 stu- that about 30 to 35 per cent will be ladies. In an effort to increase female repre- dents triumphed. The 12 who could not make it are currently undergoing an addi- We are going to take 150 recruits into the sentation in the Liberia National Police next training cycle and an additional 150 (LNP) to 20 percent or an appreciable tional two-month remedial tutorial class and, if successful, will enroll at the acade- after six months. This is to increase the level, the United Nations Mission in quality and sustainability of the training,” my during the next cycle. Liberia (UNMIL), in collaboration with Dahlen said. For Ciatta Bambara, who stopped the government, initiated in January an It is hoped that the Educational school at 12th grade some years back, educational support programme for female Support Programme will increase female completing secondary education this year candidates between 18 and 35 years. participation in LNP and address the dire This pilot project designed by UN was quite fulfilling. “It was a worthwhile need for additional female police officers Police and the LNP, in collaboration with experience going back through those les- in the area of criminal investigation, par- the ministries of Gender, Education and sons I vividly remembered way back,” she ticularly in the Women and Child Justice, the West African Examinations said, a view shared by others who under- Protection Unit, as well as Community Council (WAEC), and the Stella Maris went the three-month intensive pro- Policing Programmes and other strategic Polytechnic, aimed to bring the education- gramme, some eight hours six days a week areas.

8 UNMIL FOCUS June - August 2007 Army Training Continues

By J. Wesley Washington the United States of America and the Armed Forces of Liberia which had United Nations Mission in Liberia become a factional army since the civil fter a six-month lull, train- (UNMIL) for their support in restructuring war began in December 1989. The UN ing of the second group of the army as part of the security sector Security Council Resolution 1509 mandat- the new Armed Forces of reforms in the country. He pledged the ed UNMIL to assist the creation of a pro- Liberia (AFL) recruits has government's commitment to providing fessional army for Liberia as part of a commenced, this time at support and mentoring for personnel of the broad security sector reform. theA refurbished and renamed Sandi Ware restructured AFL. The US government has taken the lead Military Barracks, 35 kilometers outside The US Ambassador to Liberia, in the restructuring process. In early 2005, capital Monrovia. On 21 July, at what was Donald Booth, called on the new recruits it contracted the project to a privately formerly the Voice of America (VOA) to put Liberia first in whatever they do owned security company, DynCorp Compound in Caryesburg, 525 new thereby seeing themselves as agents of International, a US-based government recruits, all vetted and tested, were admin- change. "Military service requires great contractor. Over the next two years, istered the 'Oath of Affirmation' by sacrifice. This is not a Monday to Friday, 9 DynCorp International will assist with Liberia's Vice President, Dr. Joseph N. a.m. to 5 p.m. job; rather a 24 /7 commit- recruiting, vetting, training and equipping Boakai. the new army of 2,000 soldiers, Pledging allegiance including 94 civil servants for to protect and defend the the Ministry of Defense. Republic of Liberia, as The first group of 106 army well as to respect the recruits graduated on 4 rights of all within the November 2006. Nine of those country's borders, the commissioned as Second new recruits dubbed Lieutenants have been granted 'Class 07-09' began their military scholarships by the initial entry training United States government under expected to last for eight the International Military weeks. Members of the new Armed Forces of Liberia Educational Training (IMET) Vice President Boakai acknowledged ment," he reiterated. Ambassador Booth programme and are currently receiving the determination of the new recruits to thanked the new recruits for volunteering specialized skills training. provide protection and defend the country. to serve the new Liberia. "You need to Although the US government is the "I believe you are among the best selected respect yourselves as soldiers so that the major facilitator in training the new army, from among thousands of other applicants citizens would respect the new AFL." The other governments too have come forward available. You are the ones God has training of the second group of AFL to support the Liberian government. ordained to serve and set good examples recruits began with funds made available Nigeria has provided the new AFL with and make the army a true representative of by the United States. the Command Officer-in-Charge. The decent young men and women willing to Defense Minister Brownie Samukai British government has also assigned a serve their country," he said. urged the newly recruited personnel to senior officer who is working closely with The Liberian Vice President hoped that remain vigilant during their initial training the Ministry of Defense and DynCorp at the end of their training they would per- which would qualify them for greater tasks International while the Ghanaian govern- form their duties and responsibilities in the ahead. "Your selection is strictly based on ment has expressed interest in assisting the prime interest of the country and execute merit and your own character and we hold new AFL with training opportunities. their mission with utmost dedication, you to that. You stand to that merit in your The Chinese and French governments patriotism and nationalism. "We shall rely continuous training programme and the have made scholarships available for the on your training to become prudent citi- rendering of your service upon gradua- benefit of the Ministry of Defense and the zens using your good judgment to prevent tion," he cautioned. "We demand that you AFL. The Chinese government has also human rights abuses and to deal intelli- accept the challenges that are presented to provided funds for the rehabilitation and gently with transgressions when they you to prepare for the duties that are ahead expansion of the Camp Tubman Military occur." of you." Barracks near Gbarnga, Bong County, Turning his attention to those friendly The 2003 Comprehensive Peace intended to host a battalion of 800 mem- countries that are contributing to the SSR Agreement among the parties to the con- bers of the new AFL. program, Vice President Boakai praised flict called for the restructuring of the

June - August 2007 UNMIL FOCUS 9 Refugee Repatriation

By Sarah Fyneah Brownell days in exile, I did not want to hear the progress in the country helped her to make name Liberia mentioned.” But positive the decision to return home. “For me to or the first time in 16 years, come back at this time means that I am Musu Kamara touched the As the next step, UNHCR really convinced that the war is over in Liberia,” says Kamara, quite oblivious of Liberian soil, a land that held and those countries still sad memories for her, on 30 the pouring rain, as she clambers down the June. Accompanied by her hosting thousands of UNHCR repatriation truck. five children, she returned to her home Liberian refugees are For most Liberians who fled the car- F nage of the civil war, retuning home country from neighbouring Sierra Leone, preparing to start long-tterm where she had spent much of her time means accepting a painful past and since fleeing Liberia. projects aimed at achieving rebuilding shattered dreams under difficult Kamara was seven months pregnant their local integration, bring- circumstances. Despite the uncertainties and challenges of starting all over, more when armed men murdered her husband in ing the displacement chap- Bong County in 1990. Alone and fearing than 500,000 Liberians have returned for her life, she trekked through the forest ter in the West African home from camps and communities with- surviving on wild fruits to reach Guinea, region to a successful clo- in and outside the country, either sponta- neously or with assistance from the UN from where she moved to Sierra Leone sure. later. “Time heals all wounds,” she said. refugee agency, to conditions far from sat- Her narrow escape from death had erased isfactory. The lack of basic amenities such the hope of ever returning to her home developments in the country, such as the as shelter, schools, clinics, and livelihood country. “To be frank, during the early presence of the UN peacekeepers, the opportunities did not deter them from peaceful elections of 2006 and the returning home.

10 UNMIL FOCUS June - August 2007 plement its fleet of trucks to facilitate the Governments of Liberia with host coun- repatriation of the refugees. At the height tries Ghana, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Côte of the civil war, an estimated 800,000 d'Ivoire and Nigeria. UNHCR also set up Ends Liberians were displaced within and out- six field offices, Transit and Way stations side the country. and distribution facilities in Nimba, Lofa, The 2003 Accra Peace Agreement and Bomi, Bong, Grand Gedeh and Maryland the deployment of the UN peacekeepers counties to serve as hubs to provide mate- led to the gradual restoration of peace and rial and physical protection to the security in Liberia. Encouraged by the returnees. The returnees also received a 4- positive developments, Liberian refugees month food ration, domestic items, sec- and internally displaced persons began ondary cash allowance and vocational flocking home. Some returned to camp- training opportunities. like situation as counties were not yet safe At the end of the repatriation pro- to go back to, while some were marooned gramme, UNHCR had assisted over at sea or stranded at the borders. UNHCR 108,000 refugees to return home from had to organize rescue missions to aid neighbouring countries, mainly from some of these spontaneous returnees. In Guinea, Côte d’Ivoire and Sierra Leone, addition, the refugee agency also had to while some 50,000 refugees spontaneous- establish transit centres to host the many ly returned. Over 50 percent of the spontaneous returnees, the majority of refugees and a large number of the half a whom came from Sierra Leone. million internally displaced have returned home to Lofa County, followed by Grand The deployment of peacekeepers in Cape Mount, Bomi, Montserrado, Bong, Nimba, Grand Gedeh and Maryland coun- The repatriation programme ties. for Liberian refugees has The repatriation programme for Liberian refugees has been demanding, been demanding, calling for calling for huge logistics involving returns huge logistics involving by air, sea and road, in addition to signifi- returns by air, sea and road, cant human and material resources. Bad roads, broken bridges and heavy rains in addition to significant were some of the constraints faced during human and material the repatriation exercise. The refugee agency had to engage in mass awareness Sarah F. Brownell/UNHCR Sarah F. The last group of refugees return resources. campaigns to dispel misinformation on Sinoe Ballah was also part of conditions in Liberia and to help refugees Kamara’s convoy that brought home 798 Liberia’s counties paved the way for the make informed decisions. Refugees were Liberian returnees from Sierra Leone on delivery of unhindered humanitarian assis- themselves involved in the process with that rainy day, which marked the end of tance and the subsequent declaration of their representatives brought to visit return the refugee agency’s voluntary repatria- safe counties for return. UNHCR com- areas to see the conditions first-hand and tion exercise in Liberia. Protecting her menced the organized voluntary repatria- report back to their compatriots. infant twin-girls from the rains, Ballah tion exercise of Liberian refugees from the The end of the Liberian repatriation programme draws to a close large-scale could not contain her joy of being back region on 1 October 2004. A month later, repatriation of refugees in the West home after living for five years in a under the interagency collaborative African region. UNHCR concluded the refugee camp in Sierra Leone. She gave approach, UNHCR extended similar assis- repatriation of Sierra Leonean refugees in birth last month to twins and decided to tance to internally displaced people in the 2004. country. After resettling over 300,000 join her husband who had returned ahead As the next step, UNHCR and those internally displaced people, the IDP camps of her to prepare the way for his family. countries still hosting thousands of were closed in April 2006. "Thank God for my safe delivery and Liberian refugees are preparing to start UNHCR that helped me to get proper The refugee agency’s involvement in long-term projects aimed at achieving medication,” Ballah sighs. the repatriation eliminated the risky means their local integration, bringing the dis- UNHCR's decision to end its two-and- employed by refugees to return home, placement chapter in the West African a-half year repatriation programme for increasing their confidence and leading to region to a successful closure. Liberians on 30 June sent many refugees a surge in the number of returnees. To set racing home. The UN agency had used the legal framework for the smooth facili- The writer is Public Information commercial flights from Ghana and tation of the repatriation process, agree- Assistant/Mass Information Focal Point, Nigeria and chartered sea vessels to com- ments were signed by UNHCR and the UNHCR, Liberia

June - August 2007 UNMIL FOCUS 11 Making Up for Lost Time By Sulaiman Momodu primary schooling into three years of intensive education, enabling youngsters lutching a few books in to make up for lost years. Liberia’s MoE one hand and a pen in the authorities say about 73 per cent of other, Lee Gongar is on the Liberian school children in conventional way to school. But he is primary schools today are above the offi- late. Not by a few minutes cial primary school age of six -11. but by a few years. “I never thought I will Harriet Matthews, the ALP Project C Officer at UNICEF, says the programme is make it to school again,” says 18-year-old Gongar. At his age one is usually expected being implemented in approximately 582 to be finishing high school, but Gongar is schools of which 210 are being supported just starting his primary school education. by the children’s agency through the MoE. As a result of Liberia’s 14-year civil UNICEF is supporting ALP in seven coun- conflict which constantly disrupted educa- ties: Montserado, Bong, Bomi, Nimba, tion, thousands of children either never Lofa, Grand Gedeh and Maryland. enrolled in school, or fled for safety to Currently, a number of organizations areas where they could not access educa- are using the ALP approach and other stan- tion. The Accelerated Learning dardized ALP tools. They include Creative Programme (ALP), led by the Ministry of International Associates Incorporated, Education (MoE) and supported by a num- International Rescue Committee, Save the ber of different organizations including the Children –UK and IBIS who support the United Nations Children’s Fund Ministry of Education, and the Norwegian (UNICEF), has come to the rescue of the Refugee Council, which works in commu- children who missed out on education. “I nities. The United Nations Development am very happy for this opportunity with- Programme (UNDP) has renovated a num- out which, I wonder what the future will ber of ALP implementing schools while be like,” says Gongar, who has set his eyes the United Nations High Commissioner on becoming a medical doctor. for Refugees (UNHCR) has provided fur- The ALP National Coordinator, niture. At the moment, over 41,000 Alphonso M. Sheriff, says the programme Liberian children, aged above 10, are par- started in 1999 with a pilot project in five ticipating in the programme. counties during a brief spell of respite After spending three years instead of from civil war following an assessment six, 17-year-old Ophelia Cole was among visit to Uganda where a similar pro- pupils who sat for the West African gramme had been implemented. However, Examinations Council (WAEC) sixth the programme was briefly interrupted in grade exam of 2007, an entry requirement 2003 as the civil war worsened. to gain admission to secondary school. “I The programme condenses six years of hope I will pass the exams so I will contin-

12 UNMIL FOCUS June - August 2007 EDUCATION

Many children have resumed ue my education and one day be like Ministry of Education, the meetings of the school after disruption during the President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf,” she says, ALP partners are now held biweekly to war brimming with optimism. share experiences and standardize the var- Presently, the ALP is being implement- ious documents that are used in the pro- ed in 11 out of the 15 counties in the coun- gramme. try. In the remaining four counties of Many of the teachers who work in the Grand Bassa, River Cess, Sinoe and formal schools also teach in the ALP. Margibi, the programme is being imple- Classes are held in the afternoon when the mented in community schools with limited formal school learners have returned home support. The programme takes note of the as part of a shift system. For their extra fact that until recently about 260,000 effort, the teachers are paid incentives. Liberians were living as refugees in neigh- Although the programme started some bouring countries while about 300,000 years ago, records are not readily available were internally displaced persons. For to show how many pupils have benefited some organizations, one criterion for the from the programme or how many have implementation of the programme is moved on to secondary school. There are heavy return areas with large numbers of also no statistics to show how many have children, adolescents and young people. completed the ALP or the number of chil- Although they do not attend conven- dren that remain to be enrolled. To rectify tional school, the ALP pupils are also this, the MoE is currently undertaking an required to wear uniforms to school. assessment of the programme, with “Once they are in their uniforms, one UNICEF’s support. Based on the informa- hardly notices that they are grown ups,” tion from this assessment and a data col- says ALP teacher, William Philips. He lection exercise which is currently taking points out that most of the children are place in ALP implementing schools, it is very committed to learning. envisaged that a thorough review of the The MoE in collaboration with current programme will take place with UNICEF has devised a teaching curricu- the aim of improving it by building on the lum and manual that accelerates the nor- experiences of the past few years. mal six year primary school cycle. To In all the counties where ALP is imple- accomplish this, teachers have been spe- mented, district educational officers serve cially trained and continue to be trained in as focal points. In UNICEF supported accelerated learning pedagogy. Initially, areas, all monitors have been provided the teachers undergo a 10-day training with motorbikes to facilitate their move- course to be followed by a five-day ment to monitor implementation, but bad refresher training. road conditions challenge the monitoring ALP’s Level I combines grades 1 and of the programme, especially during the 2 of the normal primary school, while rains when road networks become virtual- Levels II and III combine grades 3 & 4, ly impassable. and 5 & 6, respectively. Pupils then sit for But how long will the ALP last? Both the WAEC grade six exams and if success- UNICEF and MoE say efforts have begun ful, they continue their education normal- to review the programme in order to ly in the formal secondary schools. strengthen it and by identifying and struc- Students are supplied with books and other turing in more realistic exit points for the learning materials and do not pay any graduates rather than assume that all will school fees (which were abolished for proceed to the secondary school cycle. public primary schools in 2006), making Since the ALP is intended to clear the the learning process attractive. backlog of older than primary school aged UNICEF provides support to ALP children, the aim is to have no such pro- schools in a number of areas including ramme once this objective has been through the provision of essential learning achieved. Continued ALP programme, no materials, Facilitating minor classroom doubt, will help Liberia fulfill one of the renovations, provision of furniture and eight Millennium Development Goals of other supplies. The UN agency also achieving universal primary education by assists the MoE to co-ordinate all ALP 2015 besides giving children the opportu- activities in the country. Chaired by the nity to make up for lost time.

June - August 2007 UNMIL FOCUS 13 says Cherue. More than 90 per cent of the orphanages in the country are funded by faith- based organisations, mainly located in the The Plight of United States. “For a parent who does not have any means, the orphanage is seen as an opportunity whereby the child will get some kind of schooling no matter how substandard it is. Also the child will get at Orphans least a meal or two a day,” says Deputy Minister Cherue. However, she points out By Rebecca Bannor-AAddae mental organizations contribute in that that many orphanage owners don’t really regard. Sufficient schooling, medical care, have the case of the children at heart. very child has the inherent those are things we find difficult to estab- “Some are not caring for the children even right to life, survival and lish,” says Ketevan Gagnidze, Child in the most basic sense of the word. I development, declares Protection Advisor to UNMIL Human won’t go as far as saying that running an Article 6 of the United Rights and Protection Section. This view orphanage is business, but it is a fact that Nations Convention on the is echoed in UNMIL’s report on “Human some proprietors do exploit the fact that RightsE of the Child. The Convention Rights in Liberia’s Orphanages,” pub- there is funding out there. Some evidently acknowledges that children have human lished in March 2007. exploit the situation to their own end.” rights too -- civil, cultural, economic, A startling revelation from the assess- Currently 126 orphanages house an political and social rights. Liberia is ments is that the vast majority of the chil- estimated 6,000 Liberian children but 84 among the 193 states that have ratified the dren in these institutions are not really per cent of these children are not orphans Convention, adopted in 1989. orphans but have one or, in several cases, in the real sense of the word. Most of them Yet, for the vast majority of Liberia’s two living parents. This, according to ended up in these institutions due to pover- children, whose lives were consumed by Vivian Cherue, Deputy Minister of ty. More than 80 per cent of these institu- the brutal civil war that lasted 14 long MoH/SW, is due to the underlying factor tions are located in Montserrado County, years, these lofty ideals belonged to a dif- of poverty. “Many parents simply see the which hosts Liberia’s capital, Monrovia. ferent planet. Recruitment of children into orphanage as a sort of boarding school,” However, more than 8 out 10 children the fighting forces, brutal killings, and displacement of a third of Liberia’s population had a devastating effect on the social fabric of the country. Four years after the end of the war, formidable challenges pre- vail in sustaining the most basic social unit -- the family. Today, thousands of Liberian children languish in orphanages, many of them squalid and filthy. Liberia has no considerable history of orphanages. Prior to 1989 there were only 10 orphanages in the country. But by 1991, the number of orphanages established to cater for children abandoned or neglected by their families had shot up to 121. During the past four years, UNICEF and the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MoH/SW), together with partners, have conducted a number of assessments of orphanages throughout the country. The vast majority of the institutions revealed astoundingly poor standards of nutrition, hygiene, care and schooling. “The orphanages are usually very crowded and badly maintained and often the children sleep on the floor. We frequently see a scarcity of food although non govern-

14 UNMIL FOCUS June - August 2007 were born in other counties which experi- taking practical steps to deal with the and rice fields outline the Calvary enced large displacements, such as Bong, issue. Orphanage, pigs snuffle in pens and chil- Lofa and Grand Bassa. In the first half of 2007, MoH/SW and dren play in the large open yard. “We care These numbers point to the challenges its partners completed documentation of for 102 children, among them 46 are gen- of disintegration that many families are all children in orphanages countrywide. uine orphans. The war forced many people facing in post-war Liberia. “These are The documentation verifies name, sex, to flee, families disintegrated and every- rural areas where families are just as poor age, place of origin, when the child was thing we had built up was destroyed. The as in the urban setting but where the admitted and the reason why -- informa- harsh economic situation caused some par- African family structure works, where the tion necessary in meeting the govern- ents or relatives to place their children in extended family is involved in bringing up ment’s aim to reunify non-orphans with orphanages in the hope for survival, pro- the child. Maybe poverty, mixed with dis- their biological families. “Now that the tection, an education and food to eat.” placement and rapid urbanisation, makes academic year is coming to an end we will A Norwegian flag is painted above the for lack of parenting,” suggests Alfred reunify the children who have parents and door of the orphanage’s cafeteria building. Mutiti, UNICEF Reintegration Officer. for those who are orphans, we will move “We have friends from UNMIL police, a The early stages of the assessments of them to better facilities (i.e. accredited small group of Norwegians. They have Liberia’s orphanages led to the establish- orphanages complying with the minimum helped us tremendously by donating the ment of the Child Protection Network standards),” says Cherue. Rev. Alexander cafeteria as well as a generator, a water Task Force, chaired by MoH/SW and com- Stemn, President of the Union of tank system and fencing of the yard, which prising UNICEF, Ministries of Justice, Orphanages, concurs with the approach: is one of the minimum standard require- Education, Planning and Gender and “The Union has agreed to cooperate in the ments set by the government,” says Stemn. Development, Union of Orphanages and aim for reunification. We should rightfully Being an accredited orphanage, the various local and international NGOs. leave orphanages to real orphans. Calvary receives government subsidy, and Aiming to provide care and protection for Hopefully we will be able to find foster monthly food rations are delivered by the all separated children living in orphan- families in cases where it is not possible to Christian Aid Ministries, which together ages, the Task Force issued a guideline for send a child back to the biological family.” with the World Food Programme, provide minimum standards for operating welfare Stemn is also the proprietor of the food assistance to orphanages in Liberia. institutions in Liberia in 2006. As a result, Calvary Orphanage Mission Home on the Since 2005 UNICEF has been provid- more than 60 orphanages have been placed outskirts of Monrovia, one of the 50 ing assistance to the MoH/SW in the form on a closure list and MoH/SW is currently accredited orphanages in Liberia. Maize of training of social workers to carry out Many children still live in squalid orphanges assessments of orphanages and to educate communities on prevention of separation of the child from the family. Mechanisms have been developed for regular monitoring and supervision of accredited institutions to see that they operate in line with the minimum standards. Moreover, UNICEF together with MoH/SW, completed Phase 1 of training for orphanage caregivers. “The workshop was very help- ful in educating us on the sensitive aspects of how to ensure that a child feels that someone cares for them and encourages them,” says Stemn. Phase 2 of workshops for caregivers will take place before the end of 2007. Are we on the right track? “We [MoH/SW] recently met with the Justice Minister to discuss issuing court orders for closing unaccredited orphanages. This is a step in the right direction. You see, this proliferation came about because of the war. My belief is that with the law on our side, if we keep working, if we keep talking and creating awareness, gradually these things will iron themselves out,” says Deputy Minister Cherue.

June - August 2007 UNMIL FOCUS 15 Micro credit loans have helped some, especially women, to start small businesses Beating Poverty

By Sulaiman Momodu “I used to sell on mats on the ground. Liberia’s Vice President, Joseph Boakai. But with micro finance, from the ground, I Kollie’s account of how micro credit nce upon a time, Korpo went to the table, and from the table, I can has transformed her life from rags to rich- Kollie sold various items now travel all over the world - I have gone es won her several rounds of applause on a mat spread on the to countries that I never thought I would,” from the audience, including excited co- ground for a living. The Kollie, who won the UNDP 2005 global marketers, government officials, and non- meagre commission she micro finance award for which she trav- governmental organizations and UN staff. receivedO from middle men could not ade- elled to New York to receive her prize, Based in Monrovia, Kollie has also creat- quately support her family and she lived in narrated her story to a packed audience in ed employment opportunities for several a rented house. Today the middle-aged the Centennial Pavilion in Monrovia. hundred Liberians who are currently doing Liberian woman who never had an oppor- Donning T-shirts inscribed “Crushing business under her supervision. She also tunity to acquire formal education has poverty through micro finance,” benefici- runs a small loan programme for women, become an inspiration to many. Kollie has aries gathered at the pavilion in June to providing them credit to engage in small built two houses, sends her children to ‘Honour Liberia’s Unsung Heroes of businesses. school and has even travelled abroad. Microentrepreneurship”supported by the With their partners either dead (some What is the secret behind Kollie’s rags “Launch of an Inclusive Financial Sector killed in the war) or out of job making to riches story? Micro credit. The scheme (LIFS) Project” during which 10 unsung them breadwinners, for many Liberians, that gives out small loans to mostly those heroes of micro finance entrepreneurship especially women, the advent of the UN- who haven’t even seen the inside of a in Liberia were honoured with certificates funded Launch of Inclusive Financial bank. and gifts, which were presented by Sector Project is a welcome relief.

16 UNMIL FOCUS June - August 2007 MICRO CREDIT

The stories of the unsung heroes of the support of UNDP, the UN Capital At the moment some people are getting micro finance, who started with small Development Fund (UNCDF, the techni- loans between US$800 - 1,000. loans of between US$60 to 100, are heart- cal arm of the UN for micro finance) and The UNCDF Country Technical warming. Sianah Haddad was in tears Cordaid as donors, at least over the next Adviser who is at the helm of the pro- when she narrated her story. She dropped five years. gramme, Kenyeh Laura Barlay, says the out of primary school and began selling a Some of the micro credit beneficiaries programme is being mainly implemented local sweet made up of groundnut and are returnees (former refugees and inter- by the Local Enterprise Assistance sugar called “Ground-pea Candy”. During nally displaced persons). Kebbeh Sumbo Programme (LEAP) and the American the war, she and her family lost all their who fled to Guinea during the war said Refugee Committee/Liberty Finance. The possessions and had to move to a dis- that upon her return from refuge, she start- three donors of micro finance have jointly placed persons camp where she started life ed her business with one gallon of palm approved US$870, 970 for lending to and business all over again. With the oil. clients and for operational costs. So far, restoration of peace, Haddad returned to By joining the micro credit scheme over US$560,000 has been disbursed to Gbarnga in Bong County and became a and through the repayment of her loan and these institutions. part of the micro credit programme. applying for and receiving more, she was More than 8,000 Liberians have bene- Through the micro fited from the micro credit loan, she now credit scheme with owns a shop and 80 per cent of them sells both retail and being women in the wholesale goods. Montserrado, Before, Haddad Margibi, Bomi and lived in a rented Bong counties, apartment, but now according to Barlay. she has built her own “We have just house and her chil- touched the tip of the dren are going to iceberg. We are school. expanding slowly. In Liberia, where Our vision is to reach the unemployment out to many low rate is about 80 per income earners and cent, micro credit is give them greater helping low income access to financial households set up services in the com- small businesses or ing years,” she said engage in other pro- but acknowledged ductive activities. that the programme The overall goal of Launch of the Inclusive Financial Sector Project needs more funds for the project, operating out of the Central able to move from selling in gallons of it to benefit the thousands of Liberians Bank of Monrovia is to reduce poverty in palm oil to selling in drums and subse- who urgently need assistance. the country by providing sustainable quently opened a warehouse. Sumbo has The main criteria set by micro finance access to financial services to the poor. built her own house, has some people in institutions for one to benefit from a loan The project is also in line with the Liberian employment and is supporting her children is that one has to be among the working government’s vision as articulated in its and some relatives, some of whom are poor, and not an idle poor. For this year, economic growth and revitalization pro- now in university. “From pints,” she the programme is targeting some 15,000 gramme. President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf explained, “I went to gallons, and from beneficiaries and will progressively has expressed delight that the Central gallons, I went to drums.” She advised her expand. Plans are also underway for the Bank of Liberia and the UNDP have begun fellow marketers to be trustworthy by convening of a donor round table confer- “the process of policy design to help repaying their loans so that others can ben- ence for micro finance by next year. improve financial inclusion and the opera- efit. The beneficiaries of the micro credit tion of the micro-finance sub-sector”. “When you take a loan, you pay back have applauded the efforts of the UN “When you have a little, it is the begin- with interest, with that we can reach out to peacekeeping mission in Liberia and oth- ning to get more. The difficulty is to get more women, to more men in the micro ers for the restoration of peace, which that little,” says Dr. Mills Jones, Executive finance sector,” UNDP Country Director makes it possible for them to do business Governor of the Central Bank of Liberia. Steven Ursino said. “Nation-building is without fear of armed men taking every- The vision of micro finance is to see that not the business only of the President, it is thing from them at gun point. The battle Liberians all over the country benefit with the business of everybody,” he points out. against crushing poverty continues.

June - August 2007 UNMIL FOCUS 17 Reversing Brain Drain

By Rebecca Bannor-AAddae

right minds have long left Africa for opportunities unavailable at home. The world’s poorest continent has lost some 20,000 pro- Bfessionals annually since 1990, according to an estimate by the International Organization for Migration (IOM). In Liberia, no historical records exist of the number of professionals who have migrated in the quest for greener pastures. Nevertheless, it is well known that the 14- year civil war killed thousands of skilled workers and technicians and led to an exodus of countless educated and professional Liberians. Liberia’s deeply debilitating brain drain stands in stark contrast to the soaring expectations among its people today. The restoration of peace and the choice of a technocrat -- Ellen Johnson Sirleaf -- as President have brought about renewed hope and aspirations among the people. They are eager to see quick improvements in their lives and speedy development and economic progress. However, one of the major challenges facing the new government has been the lack of competent professionals to restore the seriously weakened state institutions and to jump start the economy -- a direct result of the exodus of skilled profession- Lack of competent professionals is a major problem facing Liberia als. “Liberia is facing serious development to institute decentralization. have been appointed by the President and challenges and it would be difficult for the Facing serious economic woes, the placed in leadership positions in various new government to deliver without com- government is unable to offer adequate government institutions such as the petent people in leadership positions,” salaries to competent professionals, mak- University of Liberia, the National Police, says Wilmot A. Reeves, UNDP National ing it difficult to compete with other the Centre for Agricultural Research Economist and Programme Manager. employers for skilled personnel. The Institute and the Ministries of Justice, In April 2006, the government Project is expected to run for three years Finance, Information, and Planning and launched the Liberia Emergency Capacity with a 100 per cent salary supplement dur- Economic Affairs. These professionals are Building Support Project (LECBS), tech- ing year one. In year two, starting March expected to contribute to the much needed nically and financially supported by the 2007, donor funding is cut back to 67 per capacity building within the government UNDP and the Open Society Institute for cent of the salaries with the government structures while enhancing transparency West Africa (OSIWA). By assisting with covering the remaining 33 per cent. In the and accountability. The project’s steering salary supplements for expert positions, final year, from March 2008, the govern- committee is chaired by the Ministry of the objective of the project is to help the ment is expected to cover the salaries in Planning and Economic Affairs and co- government phase out corruption and to full. The LECBS contracts range from one chaired by UNDP and OSIWA. The Civil undertake major reform initiatives in the year to 18 months. Service Agency and Liberia civil service, land and security sectors, and In total, 25 top-notch professionals Reconstruction and Development

18 UNMIL FOCUS June - August 2007 Committee (LRDC) take up the rest of the government in many ways, there is a long for reviewing TOKTEN applications as seats. Monitoring and evaluation of output way to go before Liberia’s institutions can well as chairing the steering committee, is conducted by UNDP. claim a semblance of professional compe- which is co-chaired by UNDP and addi- Toga McIntosh, Minister of Planning tence. A government assessment conduct- tionally composed of the Governance and Economic Affairs, is one of the ed in 2005 covering 33 agencies and insti- Reform Commission (GRC), Civil Service tutions indicates that of the more than Agency and LRDC. The professionals 19,000 civil servants interviewed, 8.3 per submit a monthly progress report as well cent are illiterate, 47.3 per cent have high as quarterly and end of assignment reports school education, 12.5 per cent have first to the MPEA. degrees, 1.9 per cent hold graduate While LECBS has boosted the higher degrees and a whopping 70 per cent were levels of government and TOKTEN helps hired through personal contacts, outside through specialised short term contractors, established procedures. the middle level of government institu- To help strengthen immediate techni- tions are still in need of an injection. In cal capacity in key institutions and agen- February 2007 at the Partners Forum held cies of government, a new initiative, the in Washington, D.C., President Johnson Transfer of Knowledge through Expatriate Sirleaf advocated strongly for donor sup- Nationals (TOKTEN) was launched in port for a new capacity building pro- May 2006 with a projected duration of 18 gramme, the Senior Executive Service months. TOKTEN personnel act as con- (SES), to help advance the government’s sultants to government institutions per- reform agenda. forming specific tasks with clear terms of Endorsed by the international commu- reference. They are recruited for anything nity, the SES has already begun receiving between a few months to the full length of funds from governments and organisa- the project. TOKTEN is not a project tions, including UNDP and the World unique to Liberia but has been applied Bank. The first wave of recruitment will elsewhere in the world. In fact UNDP sup- take place from July 2007 and will bring in ported a similar project in Liberia in the 100 technical professionals over a three- early years of the conflict. Interestingly, 75 year period to fill existing positions within per cent of those recruited decided to stay the civil service. beyond their initial contracts. The civil service reform constitutes Bako Freeman is a TOKTEN profes- right-sizing the government which sional serving as the Economic Advisor to includes letting go of employees occupy- the Minister of Commerce and Industry ing positions for which they are not after leaving a position with the Federal trained. “The SES is meant to address the Reserve Bank of New York. “Historically missing middle when it comes to the gaps Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of we have in terms of human capacity. Finance were where you found the most Ultimately, as the government’s civil serv- entrenched and endemic corruption. We ice reform measures take hold, we hope had to start with basics like putting frame- that we will be able to keep the SES bene- experts identified by the President under works in place, create organisational struc- ficiaries by transferring to a government LECBS. “The President brought on a team tures, workflow, none of which existed payroll. The aim is to have SES benefici- of high-level international civil servants. before. And then of course we had to get aries merge into the civil service,” says Not only did they come with their skills the actual work done such as negotiating William Allen, Director General of Liberia but also with their reputation, their con- trade agreements. A lot of progress has Civil Service Agency, which chairs the tacts. Some of these people have spent 25- been made over the past year,” says implementation committee of SES. 30 years out there interfacing with the Freeman, who has spent 17 years away “We have received a lot of support international community,” says McIntosh, from Liberia. from the international community and for who left a lucrative job in the private sec- TOKTEN and LECBS recruit from the nearest future we will continue to need tor to join the rebuilding of his country. “In among Liberians both at home and in the more. The sound fiscal management sys- addition to bringing to the table in terms of Diaspora. Salaries are drawn from a fund- tem established in the Ministry of Finance, preparation of the Investment Guide under decision making processes, they have also ing pool so far contributed to by UNDP the National Investment Committee, the been able to strengthen our relationship and USAID. Currently, a total of 23 pro- Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper -- these outwards to quickly bring Liberia back on fessionals are engaged by the TOKTEN are just some of the real tangible benefits her feet.” project. The Ministry of Planning and of the efforts during the past year,” affirms Although LECBS is benefiting the Economic Affairs (MPEA) is responsible Reeves of UNDP.

March - May 2007 UNMIL FOCUS 19 IN CONVERSATION: SARAH, DUCHESS OF YORK UNMIL’s contribution is phenomenal… On a two-dday visit to Liberia recently to promote her charity work, Sarah, Duchess of York, took time off to witness the dedication of a school that was built by the United Nations Mission in Liberia under its Quick Impact Project on the outskirts of capital Monrovia. In an exclusive interview with Editor Mathew Elavanalthoduka, the Duchess discusses the importance of supporting children’s education in Liberia and acknowledges the key role played by the UN peacekeepers and UN agencies in the country. Excerpts:

What is the purpose of your visit to them have never been to school, then we Yes, one of the key things about Liberia? have a lot of work to do. Children in Crisis is that we focus on the I am visiting Liberia to support the forgotten children. Conflicts, wars and work of Children in Crisis, the charity I The civil war has had a tremendous even natural disasters have left in their founded 14 years ago that seeks to help impact on the children and many of wake hundreds of thousands of children in forgotten children, particularly their edu- them are traumatized by their experi- very difficult conditions. Once the world’s cation. In Liberia we work with the Forum ence. There is little psychological help attention moves away from these situa- for African Women’s Educationalists for them by way of counselling, etc. tions, the child victims too are often for- (FAWE), which is involved in many Would this be an area Children in Crisis gotten. African countries. We want to support will look at? Some 250,000 people died in Liberia these dedicated women who are doing a great service for the disadvantaged people across Africa. In Liberia we want to support their work and also help build schools in this country.

Three quarters of the schools in Liberia were destroyed during the war and perhaps Liberia is the only country where the younger generation is less educated than the older generation. So the challenges are huge. What kind of impact do you think you’ll be able to make through your organization? I believe that we can support the efforts of the Liberian government to enhance education in the country through building schools. Children in Crisis has already completed one school. We intend to open four or five more schools in the next 18 months. We can also help children on the curriculum. We can inculcate spirituality in the children, like, for example, teaching them that rape is an abhorrent crime, that sexual abuse should not happen. It’s just the question of broadening their minds through education. If half of the population is under 18 and majority of

20 UNMIL FOCUS June - August 2007 because of the civil war and there are country. Without UNMIL here there would lic life. I feel so proud to be able to do this many families without fathers and mothers be so much unrest. I cannot speak more work, it’s just a sense of duty. I think that to look after children. Their bereavement highly of the excellent work the peace- people in public life should use their and the experiences they have gone keepers and the UN agencies are doing in image to champion needy causes. I love through have certainly impacted their this country. UNMIL’s contribution is phe- charity work and that’s what I really want minds. We want to give these children nomenal. I don’t honestly know how to do. I don’t want to go back to my nor- hope by supporting them, by counselling Liberia would have picked up the pieces mal life in America or London where them, by introducing them to spirituality. and managed to move on without UN’s everything seems so complacent and we We want them to feel nurtured, loved and active involvement. live in such abundance. embraced. Do you feel the international communi- As a celebrity, you have easy access to How do you view the United Nations ty is adequately focused on the dire the world media. Will you be advocating current role in Liberia? For example, needs of this country or do you think the the cause of Liberia using the Western UNICEF is doing a lot of good things for focus on Liberia is receding because of media? the children. The UN peacekeeping mis- other crises elsewhere in the world? Tomorrow, I’m doing an interview for sion has brought peace back to the I think people have begun to forget an Australian magazine and I will be talk- country, and it’s maintaining the securi- Liberia. Liberia is no longer on people’s ing about Liberia. I will be in America ty… minds. My job is to get Liberia back on the next week and will be talking on NBC The United Nations has come under map and to be the loud speaker to the about Liberia. I might even see if I can do unwanted, misplaced criticism from some sound of whispers - as they call it - and to a Larry King show focusing on Liberia quarters. The tremendous work the UN is speak very openly about Liberia and wake and what needs to be done. Every time I doing around the world is not given the up people. So yes, I do think that the news appear on television, I will be using the recognition it deserves. For example, is on to another disaster, and it’s on to Iraq opportunity to spread the word about UNICEF is doing an amazing job in a lot now. But what my job would be is to Liberia. Liberia. I really can’t support enough of get Liberia more on the lips of people. We Liberia has the first ever elected female the mothers’ clubs! UNMIL is such a have to. Some 60 per cent of Liberian chil- president in the whole of Africa and that good example for people all over the dren have never been to school. We have is a great inspiration for women all over world to see how UN works so well in a to help them get education. We have to the world. How do you think Liberia is help the government to make sure that the moving forward under her leadership? children get at least one meal a day at It’s absolutely amazing and inspiring school. The school feeding programme that there is a woman president. It pro- run by WFP is facing a cash crunch, which vides a great deal of hope for people that if means many children risk being left out of they work hard they too can get there. this programme. That shouldn’t happen. I President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is really want to lobby for more funds for the getting to grips with the work that needs to school feeding programme with the UN be done to develop this country, to making and with the American government. a difference in the country. We just need to America has a special relationship with support her. Liberia, and I want to lobby the American administration to support Liberia more. What is your message to the Liberian people? I understand that you are planning to I admire the people of Liberia. The do a fund raising event for Liberia? country is back on track after so many Yes, on 11 July in New York I’m going years of bloodshed. The prevailing peace to get a group of influential people into a should be nurtured and cherished, there room and start talking about Liberia, show should never be a war again. I also admire slides and footage of my trip to Liberia, the UN peacekeepers, the NGOs, the char- and raise awareness and raise funds which ity workers. I can’t say more about the will go to support the people of Liberia, actions of these people. They are making a particularly children. huge difference in the lives of Liberia’s people and I cannot say how much that What motivated a celebrity like you to inspires me and makes me feel so humble champion the cause of disadvantaged to be in their presence. children? I was very lucky to marry a prince and Thank you. it took a while to get used to being in pub-

March - May 2007 UNMIL FOCUS 21 Improving mat The Agony of Childbirth By Sulaiman Momodu those living in the rural areas, realizing the Ministry of Health (MoH). dream of motherhood can be risky. One As Liberia emerges from the devastat- t the Redemption hospital out of every 16 women dies while giving ing civil war that destroyed much of the in Monrovia, Joana birth in Liberia. In the developed world, country’s infrastructure, including hospi- Denmia, 25, has delivered only one out of 3,800 women faces such a tals and clinics, improving maternal health twins. “My parents tragedy. Beyond the risk of women losing and reducing child mortality -- two of the brought me to this hospital their lives while giving birth, one in every eight UN Millennium Development Goals Abecause I was very sick,” she says, busy four children in Liberia also dies before (MDGs) -- are among the priorities of the breastfeeding her babies. “This is my fifth the age of five. government. The United Nations born. Two of my children died before the Among the causes of maternal deaths Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the World age of five.” Though anaemic and com- in Liberia are hemorrhage, hypertensive Health Organization (WHO) and United plained of bodily pains, Denmia was lucky disorders of pregnancy, unsafe abortion, Nations Fund for Population Affairs to have given birth safely. Next to her bed prolonged or obstructed labour, (UNFPA) are among the organizations in the maternity ward, Ruth Jallah, 28, Infection/sepsis; other direct causes supporting the government’s efforts. The says she was admitted to the hospital include malaria, AIDS, and anaemia. The task ahead, however, is enormous. because she was bleeding profusely, which highest cause of child mortality is malaria, In addition to destroying the health caused her five-month-old pregnancy to accounting for about 42 per cent of cases, facilities across the country, the civil war abort. “This is my second miscarriage,” followed by diarrhoea with 22 per cent, also took the lives of several medical pro- she lamented. and acute respiratory infections account- fessionals. Many others fled the country For many Liberian women, especially ing for about 12 per cent, according to during the war and are reluctant to return

22 UNMIL FOCUS June - August 2007 MATERNAL HEALTH

medical personnel say a woman in labour safe birth. has to walk for days to reach a health facil- Currently there are 364functional ity. Compounding the scenario is the high health facilities in Liberia, including hos- prevalence of teenage pregnancy in the pitals, heath centres and clinics. By and country. large, deliveries in health facilities are To help improve the delivery of med- very low and are sometimes done by tradi- ical care across the country, the United tional midwives or trained traditional mid- Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) has wives (TTM), who are not competent to funded 15 newly-built or rehabilitated handle complex cases. Health authorities health facilities in eight counties through have begun training middle-level health its Quick Impact Project. “Health is workers to ensure they are well equipped wealth. We must help you generate this to carryout their functions. The MoH and wealth. Without healthy children, there partners work with TTMs in the communi- will be no healthy Liberia,” says Alan ties to improve their skills and encourage Doss, the Special Representative of the them to refer cases. MoH, in collaboration Secretary-General. Peacekeepers also with partners, is also undertaking immu- carry out medical outreach activities in nization to prevent child mortality. towns and far flung areas, sometimes Now that Liberia is moving from an trekking for miles to render free medical acute humanitarian situation to one of assistance to the ailing. recovery, some non-governmental organi- “There are a lot of gaps in service zations which came to the country’s assis- delivery in addressing emergencies that tance during the height of the civil crisis to kill our mothers…having skilled person- rehabilitate health facilities and carry out nel in service delivery is key to reducing free medical services are folding up their maternal and child mortality,” says Dr. operations, a development that is of great Musu Julie Conneh-Duworko, the Family concern to the government. Efforts are Health and Population Adviser at the being made to fill the gap when many of WHO. The organization is supporting the the organizations would have finally government in its drive to improve health pulled out by 2008. Working conditions delivery across the country. It has provid- are also being revisited to make them more ternal health is a major priority in Liberia ed both financial and technical support for attractive so that doctors and other medical home due to poor working conditions and the development of the “Maternal – new practitioners can move from the city to the facilities. Today, Liberia is faced with born health road map,” which defines the counties. acute shortage of qualified medical staff to vision of the government to address the One of the major challenges of the meet the health needs of the population. situation of maternal and child health Liberian health sector is the lack of statis- Dr. Eileen Reilly of Scottish issues. tics. MoH officials say they are putting International Relief, who works at the The MoH is putting in place a strategy their records in order. Meanwhile, a just government hospital in Tubmanburg, is to accelerate child survival in the coming released 2007 Liberia Demographic and the only gynaecologist for the population years through interventions that are high Health Survey (LDHS) points to encour- surrounding the area. There is just one impact and low cost. Dr. Isabel Simbeye, aging trends in maternal and child health. government doctor in the hospital. “We the Project Officer, Health and Nutrition at The survey shows that the current fer- have only one ambulance serving three UNICEF, says the UN agency helps with tility rate in Liberia is 5.2 children per counties…most times pregnant women technical support, equipment, drugs and woman, down from 6.2 children in come to the hospital bleeding and almost training. In areas that are inaccessible by 1999/2000. The under five mortality has at the point of death. The maternal health vehicles and motorbikes, health personnel been cut in half to 111 from 219 deaths per situation here is absolutely appalling,” she use bicycles or trek several miles in order 1,000 ‘10 to 14 years before the survey.’ laments. Without the voluntary medical to render medical services and to sensitize During pregnancy, 79 per cent receives assistance rendered by the Pakistani doc- people on healthy living. anti-natal care from a health professional tors stationed in Tubmanburg who also In Foya district, Lofa County, the and 78 per cent of births are protected provide free drugs, the operation of the WHO, in collaboration with UNFPA and against tetanus. However, only 39 per cent government hospital will be a nightmare. the MoH, has introduced “appropriate of children are considered fully immu- In some towns and villages, pregnant technology ambulances.” They are motor- nized against childhood killer diseases. women and other sick people have to bikes with a cushioned carrier fixed to it to Despite the marginal progress being either walk or be transported in ham- transport pregnant women to the nearest made, much remains to be done to mocks. In Grand Kru for example, which functional health facility. The pilot project improve maternal health and reduce child is referred to as the “Walking County,” is called “Wolorkendia,” a Kissi word for mortality in Liberia.

June - August 2007 UNMIL FOCUS 23 ENVIRONMENT Conserving Sapo’s Heritage By Rebecca Bannor-AAddae tive environmental damage by diverting rivers, uprooting trees and creating inade- iberia is home to more forest quate waste disposal. The occupants than any of the other seven undermined the sanctions and took advan- countries sharing the Upper tage of weak governance structures. Guinean ecosystem. More Although sanctions effectively curtailed than 45 per cent of the coun- trans-national trade, they did not ensure Ltry’s landmass is covered in forest, repre- reform. senting half of what remains in West The United Nations Mission in Liberia Africa. (UNMIL) is the first ever peacekeeping In 1983, Liberia designated the Sapo operation to incorporate environmental National Park as the first nature conserva- and natural resources advisors to assist tion area in the country. Regarded as an establishing control of natural resources in area of globally significant biodiversity, a post-conflict country. By mid 2005, Sapo the park covers more than 180,000 occupants were successfully evacuated hectares and expands through the south- following an integrated approach by gov- eastern counties of Grand Gedeh, Sinoe ernment ministries [at the time the and River-Gee. National Transitional Government of “Sapo National Park is very unique in Liberia], including the FDA, UNMIL, its flora and fauna that remain relatively other UN agencies and NGOs. “The 2005 intact. It has hardly been walked over, so evacuees included a large number of peo- to speak. The park also has mineral ple living in the park to eke out a liveli- deposits, and combined with the abun- hood. So we focused very much on alter- dance of fauna, it has become the liveli- native livelihood projects, which have hood of some people, not only for commu- since been established in a number of nities surrounding the park but also for communities surrounding the park,” people of foreign nationalities,” says John explains Hiroko Mosko, an Environment Woods, Managing Director of the Forestry and Natural Resources Advisor with Development Authority (FDA). UNMIL. Liberia’s 14-year conflict was heavily Liberia Association for Community fuelled by the income generated through Empowerment (LACE), a government exploitation of natural resources. In 2003, branch operating as a non-for profit insti- the UN Security Council imposed sanc- tution, responded to the Sapo evacuation tions on Liberia’s timber export, adding to by embarking on a Community Driven existing sanctions on diamonds.* By early Development (CDD) approach with fund- 2005, an estimated 4,000 people lived in ing from the World Bank. Since the end of settlements inside the park in search of 2006, CDD projects have been established gold and other minerals, causing destruc- in 8 communities surrounding the park.

24 UNMIL FOCUS June - August 2007 The projects cover water and sanitation engaging in alternative livelihood projects. and building of schools and market places. Now, the people who inhabit the park “When you take people away from their today, an estimated 200-300, are more livelihood, you need an alternative. People organised in their activity. They work need jobs. The building of infrastructure closely with community leaders, they due to CDDs create jobs, schools create threaten FDA rangers and a number of jobs,” says Ramses Kumbuyah, Executive them are nationals from neighbouring Director of LACE. countries,” explains Mosko. The CDD projects are community Creating alternative livelihoods for the owned. Community residents identify the surrounding communities is not the sole needs and control the funding by choosing solution, says FDA’s Woods. “Some local contractors and overseeing the work. authorities act as gateways to the park, “Once people are part of the process from they benefit from a group of hunters and start to finish, you will usually see that poachers who do not belong to the com- they take an interest in operating and munities. Although it is small scale mining maintaining what they have created. The creating limited destruction to the environ- idea is to provide people with the social ment, the occupants are engaging in illegal services they need. In doing so, it is activity. Also, and probably more impor- expected that eventually the dependency tant in the light of conservation efforts, on the park for their entire livelihood will poaching is a severe threat to endangered species. We need to enforce the law,” con- cludes Woods. From the sky, Sapo’s crown From the sky, Sapo’s crown canopy canopy looks impressive in looks impressive in its density and the its density and the many many shades of green. Below the trees one can only imagine the diversity of flora and shades of green. Below the fauna representing some of the most intact trees one can only imagine ecosystems in the entire West African the diversity of flora and region. “Sapo could become a significant area of eco-tourism, of research activities fauna representing some of and of other pursuits highly beneficial not the most intact ecosystems in only to the government but also to the sur- the entire West African rounding communities,” says Alex Peal, Country Director of Conservation region. International, another NGO that collaborates in conservation efforts. be reduced. In that way you increase the A project based approach brings in sustainability of the park,” says money but is it sustainable in the long run? Kumbuyah. The other component of CDD The international community will dip in is education. Together with the NGO, and out with assistance and according to Flora and Fauna International, LACE pro- Webby Bwanali, Senior Environment and vides training on the importance of con- Natural Resources Advisor with UNMIL, serving the forest and preserving the the real move will have to come from the wildlife. government. “The major lesson learned UNMIL Quick Impact Projects (QIP) from the 2005 evacuation is that we need and a number of other NGOs have includ- to have ample involvement by the govern- ed a variety of alternative livelihood proj- ment, especially Ministry of Internal ects for surrounding communities in their Affairs, need to take a leading role to sen- efforts to conserve Sapo. However, some sitise community leaders on the need to people, a number of them non-Liberians, protect the park. This is no longer just a have gone back into the park to continue conservation matter but a matter of nation- mining and poaching with the help of local al security as well.” Sapo’s crown community leaders. “In 2005 we called it canopy is dense evacuation and not eviction because when *UN sanctions on Liberia’s timber and impressive we evacuated people they had room to trade were lifted in September 2006 and consider the humanitarian option of on diamonds in April 2007. Rebecca Bannor-Addae/UNMIL

June - August 2007 UNMIL FOCUS 25 World Bank Grant for Health Sector By J. Wesley Washington ing to Liberia’s Deputy Minister of Health medical teaching institutions, including for Administration, Dr. Mohammed the A.M. Dogliotti College of Medicine he World Bank (WB) has Sheriff. “About US$2,365,000 will be and the maternal and children’s wards at approved grants totalling used for management support system, the John F. Kennedy Medical Centre. It US$13.5 million to support US$2,830,000 on human resources, while would also help in building several new the reconstruction of US$3,305,000 will be used on infrastruc- health centres and equipping them. Liberia’s health care delivery ture and equipment.” While strengthening The WB reiterated that government’s Tsystem and other social services. Through the management capacity of the Ministry, national health policy and plan reaffirm its an International Development Association the grant would also help policy develop- commitment to work toward the achieve- (IDA) grant, the WB has made available ment, health management and information ment of the Millennium Development US$8.5 million to an Emergency Health system, and monitoring and evaluation. Goals with particular focus on activities Project while US$5 million is dedicated to The project also aims to address the that will contribute to improvements in a Community Empowerment Project II lack of trained medical staff, a major prob- maternal and child survival. The project is (CEP II). lem facing Liberia’s health sector, by expected to be implemented over the next Prior to Liberia’s Partnership Forum training and providing teaching staff for three years beginning October 1, 2007. held in Washington, D.C., last February, the A. M. Dogliotti College of Medicine The IDA grant for Second Community the WB and other development partners Empowerment Project (CEP II) is to help improve access of poor rural communities played a critical role in supporting the “We have a serious problem Ministry of Health & Social Welfare to basic services and economic opportuni- (MH&SW) to publish a special paper on as it relates to the human ties through a community driven develop- the health sector and draw international resources gap. With a popu- ment approach, by investing in capacity building at the community and local gov- attention to the issue. At the Forum, a lation of an estimated 3.6 number of partners, including the WB, ernment levels. It will be implemented by United States Aid for International million, we have only about the Liberia Agency for Community Development (USAID), the European 51 Liberian medical doc- Empowerment (LACE), a government agency supported by the WB which is Commission Humanitarian Aid tors.” Department (ECHO), Irish Aid, and the implementing small-scale community United Kingdom Department for rehabilitation projects throughout the International Development (DFID) made and the School of Pharmacy at the country. commitments to support health services in University of Liberia as well as the A total of 260 sub-projects are ear- marked for poor communities in rural and Liberia. Tubman National Institute of Medical Arts remote areas of the country with emphasis As the focus on humanitarian assis- at the John F. Kennedy Medical Centre. It on vulnerable and disadvantaged groups. tance begins to fade, with some NGOs in will also seek to hire trained Liberian or Approximately 250,000 persons are the health sector leaving, the WB grant expatriate doctors, nurses and other essen- expected to be employed during the dura- would provide critical support to prevent a tial medical personnel for hospitals, clinics and health centres across the country. tion of the project, while some 860 will be collapse of the health services in Liberia. trained in various skills. The grant would strengthen the policy “We have a serious problem as it relates to the human resources gap. With a “The CEP II envisages a strong making and management functions of the involvement of local authorities in key population of an estimated 3.6 million, we Ministry and help restore some of the cru- sub-project phases by enhancing their have only about 51 Liberian medical doc- cial building blocks needed for a function- capacity and involving them in the selec- tors,” says Dr. Sheriff. “To include foreign ing health sector. The project will support tion and supervision of these sub-proj- doctors with private institutions and non- the MH&SW build its operational capaci- ects,” said the WB Team Leader of the ty through a health information manage- governmental organizations (NGOs), we project, Giuseppe Zampaglione. The ment system, policy development, and have nearly 220 doctors. Trained nurses European Commission is contributing 8.5 information technology. and other essential medical personnel are million Euro to the funding of CEP II, A significant portion of the grant will scarce.” which falls under the World Bank’s new go into development of health infrastruc- The WB grant would support the reha- rapid response procedures for emergency ture and also for new equipment, accord- bilitation of essential medical facilities and projects.

26 UNMIL FOCUS June - August 2007 grammes and policies for war-affected youth. During the war, CAFFs were forced to carry arms and serve as spies, porters, cooks and sex slaves. A total of 2, 485 ex-CAFFs are currently undergoing skills training and apprenticeship programmes in 14 of Liberia’s 15 counties. More than 2,400 trainees have already graduated from the skills training programme so far. The highest number of graduates has been in the areas of cosmetology, masonry, carpentry and pastry-making. “The objective of the skills training programme is to create opportunities for self-development through skills training and apprenticeships for former child soldiers," says Rozanne Chorlton, UNICEF Liberia Representative. The programme includes options such as agriculture, ani- mal husbandry, mechanics, carpentry, cosmetology, masonry, tailoring and baking. The training lasts between six and nine Farewell to arms, welcome to skills months, and also includes basic literacy and numeric training, psycho-social coun- seling, recreation, and business develop- Skills Training for ment. Children are also provided with tool kits for their trade to learn with and to use upon their graduation. UNICEF’s reintegration programme is Former Child Soldiers currently working with a total of 714 community structures which includes 293 By Adolphus Scott During the years of war, Tarnue never child welfare committees, 228 children’s had hope for a better future. “Since I clubs, and 193 youth groups. These struc- long a busy dirt road in joined this skills training programme, my tures have been very vital in mobilizing Kolahun city in northern life has changed. Soon I will be working children into the reintegration pro- Liberia, more than a dozen on vehicles and hope to make a living,” grammes and providing them psycho- youngsters in their twenties says the former child soldier. social care and support. In 2005, UNICEF are busy tinkering with var- Since the end of the civil war in 2003, provided access to basic formal primary iousA parts of a broken down automobile by UNICEF has been working with child pro- education in government and community the side of a dilapidated building. It is a tection partners to provide rehabilitation schools to 5,000 school-aged ex-CAFF skills training centre run by UNICEF for and reintegration services to ex-CAFFs and skills training to an additional 5,000 at Children Associated with Fighting Forces and other war-affected children. The pro- various educational centres across the (CAFF). gramme provides basic formal primary country. “During the war, I was taken away by education and vocational skills training. In an extraordinary logistical effort by force at the age of 14 by forces of With UNICEF support, more than 1,100 the United Nations Mission in Liberia, Liberians United for Reconciliation and teachers have also been trained to provide over 100,000 combatants were disarmed Democracy (LURD),” says Tarnue, clad in psycho-social services to the youngsters and demobilized as the war came to an end a grease-soaked overall. “At first, they through creative and recreational activi- in 2003. Among them were 11,780 made me carry ammunition on my head ties. Liberian children. All but 25 of these chil- through the forest to the front lines. Later The reintegration of ex-CAFFs is part dren have been reunited with their families I started to hold gun and began fighting of UNICEF's much broader child protec- or caregivers. with LURD against government troops. tion programme, which aims to strengthen Our Small Boys Unit fought all the way coordination mechanisms in the child pro- until we reached Monrovia. I saw plenty tection sector and provide leadership in the The writer is Programme Assistant of my friends die along the way.” design and implementation of pro- with UNICEF Liberia

June - August 2007 UNMIL FOCUS 27 BEYOND DUTY Winning Hearts and Minds By Sulaiman Momodu “We provide community assistance, we give some sort of help to develop the escued from the jaws of infrastructure; we go to the very remote death after he was areas where people don’t see the doctors involved in a gruesome and don’t have the facilities; even if there road accident, 25-year-old are no road connections, sometimes spe- Johnson Cole lay at the cial flights are going,” says Mohammad government hospital in Tubmanburg, his Ashraffudin, Staff Officer of CIMIC R ices to locals beyond their call of duty body partly wrapped in bandages. “If not Section. throughout the mission’s four sectors. for the UN peacekeepers who are treating Like most health facilities in the coun- From January to June this year, nearly me free of charge, I would have been a try, the Tubmanburg hospital was looted 100,000 Liberians have benefited from dead man by now,” Cole says. clean during the war. Today, it reels from free medical assistance. “Peacekeepers are good people. They have lack of medical personnel, drugs and facil- In April this year, President Ellen not only brought us peace, they are also ities. However, with the Pakistani medical Johnson Sirleaf inaugurated a free clinic helping us a lot.” practitioners lending a helping hand to the organized by Banglashehi Level II After 14 years of civil war, Liberia’s hospital, residents of Bomi County and its Hospital in CARI complex, Bong County. infrastructure lay in ruins -- many roads surroundings now breathe a sigh of relief. During her visit, the Bangladeshi peace- are virtually impassable, health facilities “We say ‘thank you’ to the UN,” says 17- keepers also formally handed over Shanti and educational institutions have been year-old Jatu Dormah, happy that her six- Angan (“premise of peace” in Bengali) destroyed, and safe drinking water and month-old baby who was constantly con- peace monument to the Liberian govern- electricity scarcely available. This stark vulsing had been treated. ment. President Sirleaf unveiled the mon- reality is not lost on UNMIL military per- Although the 70 Pakistani medics ument, dedicated to the people of Liberia, sonnel who have been, under the aegis of including 15 doctors based at the Level 11 and laid wreath to honour the memory of Civil-Military Coordination (CIMIC), Tubmanburg hospital are mandated to pro- peacekeepers who had lost their lives in focusing on recovery activities with con- vide medical services to peacekeepers, on the cause of peace. tingents working with local authorities, a daily basis, they provide specialised The provision of medical assistance is Government of Liberia ministries and medical services to locals who throng the not however, limited to curative medicine. agencies to assist in numerous humanitar- hospital. “The Pakistanis are very much In the fight against childhood killer dis- ian and development programmes. cooperative, whenever we are in need we eases, peacekeeping troops supported One striking attribute of the CIMIC just run over to them. They are doing immunization campaigns. During the initiatives is that funds for activities are everything for us. Even if you call them by National Integrated Measles follow-up mostly from the personal financial contri- 2 a.m. or 3 a.m. during emergencies, they campaign organised earlier in January, a butions of the peacekeepers, from will come, at any time we call them, they total of 946 vaccination posts were estab- resources available for their own use, or will come,” says a local medical staff. In lished around the country. UNMIL forces from donations from the governments and addition to the Pakistanis, peacekeeping provided assistance in the area of air and people of their respective countries. Since medical practitioners in the various contin- road transport, electricity supply and secu- 2003, peacekeepers have provided servic- gents comprising Bangladeshis, rity. All sectors are also involved in aware- es in the health, sanitation, agriculture, Ethiopians, Senegalese, Nigerians, ness campaigns on crucial issues such as sports and public works sectors, among Ghanaians, Chinese, Namibians and gender-based violence, including rape, and others. Jordanians all render regular medical serv-

28 UNMIL FOCUS June - August 2007 Projects have been undertaken by peacekeepers, who also make their own personal contributions. The Vincent Compound Hall in Tubmanburg, for example, was constructed with Pakistani peacekeeping engineers undertaking the construction far more than was budgeted for. The Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary- General, Jordan Ryan, in his remarks at the inauguration of the hall commended the contingent and engineers for what he described as “doing more than what was expected on the project”. QIPs have also been undertaken by contingents like the Bangladeshis who have constructed a youth centre, an agriculture and medical project in Nimba County, and the Chinese contingent engineers in the area of road rehabilitation. “I believe that real recovery has to begin at the local level. We are working at the community level to assist the Liberian people. My immediate objective is to A Pakistani medic treats patients at a free medical camp make sure that the non governmental health and hygiene. Sanitation activities accidents. On average, some 40 rescue organisations, the military force and other are carried out with cleaning exercises of operations are undertaken in a month. UN agencies are working together towards public places undertaken while hand- Skills training programmes like car- a common objective,” says Colonel pump wells have been installed in some pentry, masonry, plumbing, wiring, vehi- Christopher Thomas Mayer, Chief of communities where residents had no cle and generator repair, tailoring, and CIMIC. access to safe drinking water before. basic computer skills have formed part of Although UNMIL military has neither Donations of various items including CIMIC activities. Over the past six the material nor the funding resources medicines, food, sporting and building months, more than 5,000 Liberians have available to undertake the many humani- materials have also been made to the local benefited from various trainings, and some tarian assistance projects requested by the population. During the first half of this of them are now engaged in productive communities, there is no doubt that peace- year, the Ethiopian troops donated medi- ventures. keepers have won the hearts and minds of cines to the government hospitals in In a few cases, UNMIL’s Quick Impact most Liberians through their sacrifices. Zwedru and Greenville. Peacekeepers help rehabilitate a road Despite the ghastly consequences of the 14-year war, the nation’s passion for football was unscathed. Over time, peacekeepers have used sports to promote peace, unity and reconciliation in communities, a strategy that has proved very effective in bringing former foes together. Some other activities that have been undertaken include repair and mainte- nance of roads and bridges, constructing children’s parks, cleaning graveyards, organising art and essay competitions and cultural events in which both natives and peacekeepers exhibit their cultural heritage. Peacekeepers also provide logistic support and security for various events such as the “Fight Hunger - Walk the World” campaign. They also undertake rescue operations of vehicles involved in

June - August 2007 UNMIL FOCUS 29 By Rebecca Bannor-AAddae

ormer combatants from rival militias who lost their limbs in battles have found common ground on football fields in Liberia, adding Fmomentum to the much needed reconciliation in the war-torn nation. Joining them are also civilians who got caught up in the fighting during the 14-year civil war. Liberia Amputee Sports Association (LASA) is the country’s first amputee football team founded with the goal to bring hope to those who lost limbs during the conflict. “People used to point fingers at me. They used to call me names,” says Dennis Parker, LASA’s star striker, resting on a pair of crouches. His right leg was wound- ed in a battle when he was 19, fighting for Charles Taylor’s National Patriotic Front of Liberia. The leg was amputated just below the knee and for several years Parker was forced to beg on the streets of capital Monrovia for a living. “Today I am a different man. Football has done amazing things for me,” says Parker with a res- olute look on his face. More than 100,000 former combatants went through UNMIL’s Disarmament, Demobilisation and Rehabilitation and Reintegration (DDRR) programme. Each participant received a cash payment and the majority of them have benefited from formal or vocational education as part of the programme. However, many remain Lost limbs, yes jobless in the bleak economy of post-war Liberia and the disabled are amongst the worst off with no welfare system to turn Commission on Disarmament, February 2007. to. Demobilisation, Rehabilitation and LASA made bustling headway and In late 2005 close to 300 former fight- Reintegration (NCDDRR). Rev. Karloh came second at the Tournament. In June ers, all disenchanted amputees, stormed was aware of amputated ex-combatants the team represented Liberia in the World Taylor’s party headquarters. Their ampu- playing football in Sierra Leone. “Many of Cup of Champions in Russia. Despite the tated limbs stood out as the symbol of a the guys playing fought for different fac- notable achievements it is difficult to past most Liberians are eager to forget. tions but today they can see eye to eye on muster funds to sustain the team. A few The society disregarded them making it the football field. Through amputee foot- donations have come in from private indi- difficult to find jobs let alone a place to ball they develop a sense of oneness. They viduals and local NGOs but the players live. The amputees occupied the party are able to leave the past behind, their self- still have to find ways to make a liveli- headquarters for 10 months before Parker esteem is being restored and many of them hood. Parker ekes out a living selling palm and his peers negotiated a settlement with leave the streets. Not only that, the com- oil to support himself, his girlfriend and the NPFL party paying each man US$30 to munity begin to respond, they see an ath- eight children. leave the premises. lete and not a crippled criminal,” says Rev. United Nations Development A key figure in the negotiations was Karloh who helped found LASA just a few Programme (UNDP) in Liberia supported Reverend Robert Karloh, Deputy months prior to the All-Africa Amputee LASA for the two competitions. “We con- Executive Director of the National Tournament hosted by Sierra Leone in tributed towards transportation, board and

30 UNMIL FOCUS June - August 2007 incidental contact between the ball and a crutch is allowed. There are six players on the field and one goalkeeper. The goalie is a hand-amputee and is not allowed to leave his net. Games consist of two peri- ods of 20 minutes each since it is extreme- ly demanding on the players. LASA came back from Russia in June and although they did not score high, the experience was elevating. “I had never travelled. Today my face is known not only in Liberia, my picture has travelled all over the world. I want to take this far,” says Parker. “The transformation of some of these guys is truly unbelievable. Not long ago many had given up and you would hear them say things that could make you cry. They believed they had already been buried. It takes a lot of work to mould the mind but I do my best to make them believe that they too can become the next pastor, the next president. They too can become role models in life,” says Paul Tolbert, coach of LASA. The Amputee Football Federation of Liberia was established in May 2007 as an umbrella for the league of teams. The 2007/08 budget of the Ministry of Youth and Sports has allocated some funding for amputee football. “During a budget hear- ing someone stood up to ask why money should be set aside for the crippled. Afterwards I went up to the person to let Soccer has restored the self-esteem of the amputees him know that it was no one but the amputees who brought us to the World Cup,” says Marbue Richards, Deputy Minister of Sports. The majority of our s, but not hope population is youth and our mandate is to keep them focused, keep them away from idleness. You participate in sports and accommodation as well as new gear when currently 6 amputee football teams in there are rules and regulations. The same the team went to Sierra Leone. For the trip Monrovia and an unknown number in the is true for society. You get penalised if you to Russia we funded a portion of the air- counties. Anthony Doe plays for the break the rules.” line tickets,” says Baboucarr Sarr, Deputy Mighty Conquerors. “This game gives me In conjunction with the tournament in Resident Representative of UNDP. “We strength, I become someone. Although Sierra Leone the Amputee Football contributed in the hope that this initiative most team mates fought during the war, Federation of Africa (AFFA) was estab- would prove an effective integration effort we rarely talk about it. We are here on the lished and Rev. Karloh was elected as for victims of war. UNDP will not be fully field together, former fighters and civil- President. Although LASA has represent- involved in this undertaking but will assist ians, and we are working towards a better ed Liberia on the international arena so far, with advice on a sustainable way forward tomorrow,” says Doe who was hit by a soon a national team will be welded -- how to raise funds, approach businesses stray bullet when he as a civilian was look- together with players from the various for sponsorship, affiliate with other sporting for food during the height of fighting teams. In November this year the national ing bodies and so forth. The amputee foot- in 1990. His right leg was amputated team will represent Liberia in the Amputee ball players of Liberia need to operate shortly after. football World Cup hosted by Turkey. under an organised structure,” says Sarr. The rules for amputee football differ Perhaps Parker and his peers will go far. More teams have been founded since slightly from two-legged football. The And with them, the much needed reconcil- LASA’s success in Sierra Leone. There are game is played on metal crouches and iation in the Liberian society.

June - August 2007 UNMIL FOCUS 31 By J. Wesley Washington

hen major football leagues and tournaments around the world are on, Liberia’s football fans areW often glued to their television sets either at home or in the proliferating video clubs in urban centres to follow their favorite teams and soccer heroes. The English Barclay’s Premier League, Spanish Primera Liga and Italian Serie A are just a few of the soccer tournaments in Europe that draw huge crowds in Liberia. So it was not surprising that when the most capped soccer player in the history of Soccer Star Thuram the French national team, Barcelona’s Ruddy Lilian Thuram-Ulien came calling, thousands of young Liberian football enthusiasts crowded various venues on his Thrills Liberian Youth itinerary on Sunday, June 24, to catch a glimpse of and interact with the soccer World Cup and Euro 2000 winning issues were very important to Liberia and star. squads, participated in two soccer matches pledged the government’s commitment to Thuram was on a one-day visit to involving young children, ex-combatants work with the UN and other development Liberia, organized by the United Nations and amputees during his one-day visit. He partners to ensure that issues affecting Office for West Africa (UNOWA) and participated in a community football youth were kept on the national agenda. facilitated by the United Nations Mission match where he played for each side for a The ‘Sports for Peace’ Task Force pre- in Liberia (UNMIL), to boost Liberia’s few minutes at the New Kru Town sented Thuram with a plaque in apprecia- ‘Sports for Peace’ programme, established Community Sports Ground at the D. Tweh tion of his visit, in addition to a ‘Stop earlier this year to reach out to young peo- Memorial High School to the delight of Exploitation and Abuse’ (SEA) bracelet. ple, whose lives were badly affected by the thousands of cheering spectators. He also He was also gowned and given a Mende devastating 14-year conflict. made a stop over at the Fish Market foot- name, Thuram Ngububla (literally one An icon and a role model, the FC ball practice ground where he interacted who splits fire), by the traditional people Barcelona defender who received a raptur- with amputees of the Liberia Single of Liberia. ous welcome on his arrival, urged Liberian Legged Amputees Sports Association. Among those who joined the soccer youth to shun violence, drugs and war Earlier, Deputy Special Representative star during his visit were UN and which he said was dangerous to peace and of the Secretary-General Jordan Ryan wel- Government officials, members of a num- a better life. comed the soccer star to an interactive ber of national youth groups and sporting Speaking at the Monrovia City Hall forum at the Monrovia City Hall attended federations, as well as students, musical upon arrival, Thuram, who also played by more than 300 national youth represen- and traditional artists and war-affected alongside Liberia’s soccer icon George tatives. “Liberia needs peace in every youth. Weah for Monaco, encouraged Liberia’s county, district, village and every home. The ‘Sports for Peace’ initiative is the youth to work harder to change the image One of the best ways to bring peace is result of efforts by UNMIL and the of the country. “Violence is dangerous. To through sports and we are delighted to Government of Liberia, with support from have a better life, it’s more important to have you join us in one of the continuing the International Olympic Committee have peace,” he said. HIV/AIDS protec- efforts to make sure that Liberia has peace (IOC) and several national sporting associ- tion, he added, was critical to population through sports,” he said, and thanked the ations and non-governmental organiza- and growth of any economy. While it was soccer icon for supporting the ‘Sports for tions. In early March 2007, President Ellen important for Liberians to prevent HIV Peace’ programme. “Your message today Johnson Sirleaf, the Special Adviser to the and AIDS, it was also important to do will have considerable impact on the UN Secretary-General on Sports for away with stigmatization, the soccer star young people of Liberia.” Development and Peace, Adolf Ogi, and reminded the thousands of young Deputy Youth and Sports Minister the Special Representative of the Liberians who had thronged to meet him. Jeremiah Witherspoon noted that as the Secretary-General for Liberia, Alan Doss, A role model for many Liberian youth, country was just coming out of a pro- launched the ‘Sports for Peace’ pro- Thuram, who was part of the French 1998 longed civil war, youth development gramme in Liberia.

32 UNMIL FOCUS June - August 2007 A CST workshop in progress CSTs Gain Momentum n July members of the County to play a supportive role to the national ties. HF radio waves will allow for email Support Team (CST) gathered in leadership. Our role is to help facilitate, to accounts enabling local government offi- Bentol City, the administrative attract donor resources and to pull the UN cials to send and receive data. capital of Montserrado County. together to work more coherently in each The afternoon was assigned to inform- Representatives of the UN family of the 15 counties,” said Jordan Ryan, ing participants about longer-term devel- Iin Liberia, County Superintendents and Deputy Special Representative of the opment efforts such as the preparation of government officials assembled for a one- Secretary-General. County Development Agendas (CDAs) day workshop under the theme, “Country Soon followed the “Market Place,” an and work to further refine the information Support Team – Lessons Learned and the interactive feedback exercise taking the processes in Liberia. Mohammed Way Forward.” The CSTs have now exist- participants through the CST Project, Massaley, Superintendent of Bomi ed in the 15 counties for over a year and which covers rehabilitation of administra- County, reflected on the theme of the are aimed at strengthening the presence of tive buildings, capacity building amongst workshop: “Overall the CST is working government authority on the ground in all local leadership and establishment of well. Of course there are areas where parts of Liberia. Information Management Offices (IMO). improvement is needed but it is a good The day unfolded with a hand-over One exercise was arranged as a role play exercise for all of us and if we continue ceremony of the Montserrado explaining the establishment of IMOs in this way we will succeed. The CST adds Administrative building. A component of two pilot counties enabling any develop- credibility to the government’s efforts to the CST includes rehabilitation of county ment actor to obtain vital information, decentralise. We are clearly seeing a move administrative buildings, which were such as how many doctors, wells or beyond Monrovia to include the rest of the badly damaged and looted during the 14 schools exists in a particular county. “It is country.” year war. More than 100 participants a forum allowing for questions and discus- The CST mechanism is a process fash- assembled in front of the freshly painted sion and also criticism between all CST ioned as a coherent UN approach to two-storey building for speeches and rib- partners. It gives us an opportunity to see strengthen the government’s recovery bon cutting. “We are all working to get where we are in the process, how certain process under the four pillars: expanding Liberia back county by county. You have aspects are going well and where we have peace and security, revitalizing economic an important role in making sure that you to improve,” says Julia Duncan-Cassell, activity, rebuilding infrastructure and pro- focus on reconciliation, focus on an honest Chair of Superintendent Council, before viding basic services, and strengthening accountable government that is responsive attending a demonstration of the HF radio governance and the rule of law. to every Liberian. We in the UN are proud system soon to be operational in all coun-

June - August 2007 UNMIL FOCUS 33 reconstruction of infrastructure in Liberia, which would generate employment opportunities, especially for the youth, most of whom were seriously affected by the country’s 14 years civil war. Briefing Boni, Special Representative of the Secretary-General Alan Doss highlighted UNMIL’s efforts to restore peace and security in Liberia and the mission’s progress since deployment in 2003. He noted that Liberia was calm and stable and that the country’s security forces were being restructured to enable the war-torn nation take care of its security needs. Doss also pointed out that UNMIL collaborates with the UN Mission in Côte d’Ivoire and provides security for the UN-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone. In addition to restoring peace and security, both the police and military components of the Mission are also rendering humanitarian assistance to the local population after long years of civil war, he said. Although Liberia is enjoying relative peace and stability, the general feeling among the population is that the UN mission should stay in the country until the security forces, including the army and the police, have been properly restructured. Doss reiterated that there would only be a gradual reduction of UN peacekeepers from Liberia over the next few years, which will not affect the peace and securi- Benin President, UN ty which the UN Mission is now working on consolidating. “UNMIL will not leave before the national security services are Envoy Discuss ready to take over the job,” he stressed. During Boni’s visit, Liberia and Benin signed a joint communiqué pledgeing to strengthen bilateral ties between them. Liberia’s Security Liberia’s President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Boni welcomed the finalization and he security situation in The Beninese President pledged that signing of four bilateral agreements call- Liberia and job creation for his country, which has its military ing for enhanced economic, scientific, the unemployed topped the observers in Liberia as part of the peace- technical and cultural cooperation. discussions between the UN keeping mission, would contribute more to The two leaders also discussed other envoy to Liberia, Alan Doss, stabilize Liberia and the entire region. regional and sub-regional issues including Tand the President of the West African state “We want to support Liberia and UNMIL. Guinea, Sierra Leone and Côte d’Ivoire, of the Republic of Benin, Yayi Boni, who We are prepared to send mililtary engi- and expressed concern over the situation was on a two-day state visit to the country neers to Liberia and eager to set up part- in the Darfur region of Sudan, Chad and in early August. Boni applauded the UN nerships with the private sector in this the Central African Republic. They wel- mission for helping to restore peace and country,” he said. comed the recent UN Security Council security to Liberia, and urged the United Boni, who was accompanied by his Resolution, mandating a 26,000 strong Nations to continue supporting the Minister of Defence, said he would con- hybrid United Nations/African Union Liberian government to bring lasting sider deployment of Beninese military peacekeeping force to be deployed in the peace to the war-torn nation. engineering assets to contribute to the Darfur region.

34 UNMIL FOCUS June - August 2007 Alan Doss calls for an end to sexual violence Call for More Protection for Women By Sulaiman Momodu Since women and girls were usually highlighted measures that have been taken the first victims of war, Doss said peace to deal with the problem. “It is a good s incidents of gender-based was the best investment in their protection. thing to have the laws in the books, but it violence (GBV) continue “Sadly, peace is not enough. Our statistics is another thing to see how we go about unabated in Liberia, taking reveal that there have been 100 reported implementing them,” she emphasized and a huge toll on women and cases of rape over the last three months. called on all institutions to come together, young girls, Special That is just the tip of the iceberg. We do mobilize resources and fight the menace. RepresentativeA of the Secretary-General not get reports of all the cases of rape com- Although nobody knows how many Alan Doss recently joined officials from mitted in this country and the more you get women are abused on a daily basis the Council of Churches and the Liberian out of Monrovia, the more difficult it is to throughout the country, Gayflor recalled government in denouncing such acts of get accurate information.” He also pointed that during her childhood, while girls used violence and called for more protection for out that 40 per cent of those serving sen- to expose their breasts, happily played in the country’s female population. tences in Liberia’s prisons are for sex- the moonlight and were protected by older Speaking during their silver jubilee related offences, which is a pointer to the men and neighbours, the same cannot be celebrations with the theme “the Church magnitude of the problem. said today. and Gender-based Violence,” the UN Liberia is a country of faith. Churches The UN envoy’s six-point proposal to envoy congratulated the Council of dot the landscape with the majority of the halt GBV included more support to have Churches for their contribution to the population being Christians. The role of Women and Children Protection Sections restoration of peace in Liberia and noted the Church is therefore crucial as a chan- in all of Liberia’s police stations with that in addressing GBV, there was the need nel for changing people’s attitudes and properly trained staff, increasing the num- to speak directly to “men and boys com- behaviour, especially among men and ber of women in the Liberia National mitting violence.” Citing a weekly report boys. Police and promoting zero tolerance of rape. He also called for improved medical that recorded 10 rape cases, compared to “It is a shame for this country to be on procedures at health facilities to help rape seven the previous week, Doss said the record for the degree of GBV that is com- victims, accelerated prosecution of rape majority of the victims of sexual violence mitted… women who have played such a cases and the establishment of special were girls under 18 with one as young as key role in bringing peace to this country courts to deal with GBV cases. He are being abused on a daily basis,” five. denounced female genital mutilation and Liberia’s Vice-President Joseph Boakai “In one case, two sisters aged 13 and called for an end to the practice. 14 were victims of rape committed by a said. He urged the Church to preach Talking about his own organization, 45-year-old male. Another incident came against the evil so that “the criminal act of Doss assured his audience that every accu- to light on 30 July when the mother of a GBV would be put under control, and that sation of GBV levied against UN person- victim reported that her daughter was older men who have siblings do not go out nel would be thoroughly investigated and raped by two male adults. She later passed to destroy other people’s children.” appropriate action taken. “If you see any away at the hospital. The girl was just 14 In her keynote address, Gender of our personnel misbehaving, call us, call years old… this is unacceptable, we can- Minister Varbah Gayflor described the me…we must be part of the solution and not tolerate that. We have to deal with and increase of GBV cases, especially inci- not part of the problem. GBV is illegal and confront this problem.” dents of rape, as “very alarming” and above all, it is wrong.”

June - August 2007 UNMIL FOCUS 35 he people of Perry Town received an unusual visitor in early July. Sarah, Duchess of York, attended the inauguration of the Sean Devereux TCommunity School in the small town in rural Montserrado. There was clapping and dancing as the Duchess greeted children neatly lined up to welcome their special guest. The doorframe of the newly built school was decorated with colourful flowers and the school bakery had pastries on display. The Sean Devereux Community School was built through an initiative by UNMIL Quick Impact Projects (QIP) constructing or rehabilitating bridges, hospitals, prisons, and schools in Liberia. The Community School will accommodate more than 300 children and provide skills training for men and women for whom

The Duchess went beyond the freshly painted classrooms to visit the nearby community. She spoke with little children, young mothers and grandmothers before leaving Perry Town. school was interrupted due to 14 years of civil war. “I want to learn the skill of tailoring to be able to sustain myself and my family,” confirms Francesca Dean, 24, as she takes a seat to view the inauguration Duchess vows to be ceremony. “You inspire me. You are determined to get your country back on its feet. This country can prosper and I will do my best “loudspeaker” to act as a loudspeaker in far away countries such as Australia and the United the Ministry of Education will equip the previously worked with Perry Town com- States. Liberia should not be forgotten,” Community School with more computers. munity in establishing a series of training says the Duchess in her address to the peo- Also present was the Deputy Special programmes. ple of Perry Town. The Minister of Representative of the Secretary-General, The Duchess went beyond the freshly Education, Joseph Korto, took to the podi- Jordan Ryan. He emphasised the need for painted classrooms to visit the nearby um, “We have been looking for space in educating Liberian women: “Every community. She spoke with little children, order to have our war-affected children woman who voted with her thumb in the young mothers and grandmothers before return to school. UNMIL QIPs have been last election must use her signature in the leaving Perry Town. The Duchess was on a blessing towards this end. We are stand- next.” Then it was time for cutting of the a two-day trip to Liberia exploring ways in ing in front of a beautiful building today ribbon and viewing of the new school, which her humanitarian organisation, but remember it is what goes on inside that built in the memory of Sean Devereux, a Children in Crisis, can support education- makes for a good school – that is our chal- British missionary and UNICEF staff who al projects. lenge,” says Korto before declaring that lost his life in Somalia in 1993. He had

36 UNMIL FOCUS June - August 2007 Senegal Contributes to Peace in Liberia By J. Wesley Washington counties of River Gee and Grand Kru. It of medical facilities. SENMED also han- proved a boon as they were able to bridge dles civilian cases in the area constituting he tiny West African nation of the communication gap and foster better about 40 per cent of the total daily atten- Senegal is the seventh largest understanding between Liberians in dance at the hospital. troop contributor to the 48- Maryland and their French-speaking coun- The health situation in the south-east is nation peacekeeping force of terparts just across the border. such that even J.J. Dossen Memorial the UN Mission in Liberia Currently, a 540-strong Senegalese Hospital, the government’s only referral T(UNMIL). battalion, the sixth since the inception of hospital, lacks trained medical personnel. For many years, Senegal has played a UNMIL, is deployed in Liberia. Along To help remedy the situation, medical doc- meaningful role in the sub-regional efforts with the Contingent’s Headquarters and tors of the SENMED contingent provides to bring peace to war-ravaged Liberia. Support Company in Harper, there is one voluntary medical and surgical services Back in 1992, Senegal provided 1,500 Infantry Company in Pleebo, Maryland there. “Besides our hectic schedule here, troops to ECOMOG, the our medical staff provide peacekeeping force under medical and other surgical ECOWAS. Six of these sol- services at J.J Dossen, most diers were captured and exe- times under very difficult cuted in Vahun, Lofa County, conditions due to the acute by the National Patriotic Front shortage of medical doctors of Liberia in May 1992. and equipment to work with Senegal was also among there,” says Maj. Cheikh the seven West African coun- Tidiane Ndour, tries that deployed the first ele- Commanding Officer of ments of the ECOWAS SENMED Level II Hospital. Mission in Liberia (ECOMIL) “By supporting the that separated the warring par- United Nations peacekeep- ties following the ceasefire ing operations, Senegal has signed in Accra, Ghana in demonstrated its commit- Senegales peacekeepers during a medal parade August 2003. The country deployed a total ment to international peace of 263 troops and three staff officers as County, and another in Weebo, River Gee and security,” says Special Representative their contribution to the ECOMIL van- County. Also, a Quick Reaction Company of the Secretary-General Alan Doss, who guard force in September 2003. These sol- is headquartered in Harper to respond to has praised the Senegalese peacekeepers diers were among the approximately 3,600 any emergency that may occur. for their dedication and commitment. ECOMIL troops re-hatted and reassigned The Deputy Contingent Commander, Senegal’s contribution to UN peace- to UNMIL as UN peacekeepers a month Maj. Papa Sene, says the local population keeping began with the Second United later. The newly designated UNMIL appreciates the Senegalese peacekeepers Nations Emergency Force (UNEF II) in troops remained in the deployment areas efforts as they work with the local author- the Suez Canal sector and later in the Sinai established by ECOMIL in Monrovia, as ities in securing peace and stability in the Peninsula in 1973. The country also con- well as on the main roads leading into the county. “Before, our work was a little dif- tributed a 600-member battalion to the UN city and along the Kakata -Totota and ficult as we were getting acquainted with Interim Force in Lebanon in 1978, Monrovia-Buchanan highways. the area; but the longer we stayed, we built Rwanda (UNAMIR) in 1994 and the As UN peacekeepers began to fan out confidence with the population which has Central African Republic (MINURCA) in to other parts of the country, in June 2004, made our work enjoyable.” 1997. a 600-strong Senegalese contingent was The Senegalese medical contingent Currently, nearly 2,000 Senegalese deployed to Maryland County, the south- (SENMED) runs two hospitals (Level I military personnel are deployed in mis- eastern tip of Liberia. The deployment of and Level II) in Harper. These two hospi- sions in the Democratic Republic of the French-speaking troops improved the tals provide medical support to the mili- Congo (MONUC), Côte d’Ivoire (UNOM- capacity of UNMIL to monitor the border tary units, UNMIL and non-governmental CI), Sudan (AMIS) and Liberia (UNMIL). with neighbouring Côte d’Ivoire, also organization (NGO) staff deployed in the Senegal also has gendarmes serving in engulfed in a civil war, and the costal south-eastern areas of the country devoid Haiti and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

June - August 2007 UNMIL FOCUS 37 LLiibbeerriiaannss H O W L O N G S H O U L D P E A C E K

As long as UNMIL is here and everything is under control, I’ll want them to remain here until between 2010 and 2012. For now, the country is still under threat from anti- peace elements in our society. Besides providing security, we would like UNMIL to continue its humanitarian activities throughout the country.

Matthew Saiewane (Money Changer) I want UNMIL to remain as long as this government’s tenure lasts because Liberians do not love one another; we are so cruel to one another; and we don’t have that I’ll like UNMIL to remain for some feeling of peace and love towards time, at least five years, to continue one another. Since our country is the good work they began in the not yet entirely safe, I would appre- country in 2003. The country is still ciate if UNMIL remain until they can not safe. We’re grateful to God that put together the relevant security because of their presence, there is structures necessary to take over peace and calm in the country. God from them. comes first and UNMIL comes sec- Esther Davies ond for saving Liberia. Fatumata Trawally (Gov’t Employee/Judiciary) (Hair Dresser)

I want UNMIL to remain in Liberia for as long as it’s necessary. What I mean is Liberians are hard to deal with. We usually don’t see the reality until we’re in the hole. This is when we reflect. As a human, it’s always better to know what is good for one- self than to regret later on. This is I would like UNMIL to remain why I’m saying that UNMIL should engaged in Liberia for the next ten remain and educate us on how to or more years. The reason is that nurture the peace so that all we want our peace consolidated. If Liberians can enjoy the peace and they leave prematurely, chaos could tranquility they’ve sacrificed their resurface in the society which we do lives for. not want since we have enjoyed relative peace for the last four years. Peter Massaquoi Ruth Thomas (Businessman) (Student) ss SSppeeaakk K E E P E R S S T A Y I N L I B E R I A ?

For me, I would want UNMIL to remain in Liberia for as long as they can. Since they came to Liberia, they’ve provided us peace and security and I would prefer that as long as we’re restructuring our security, they should stay with us. I want to say that the security situa- Terry S. Dymago tion in Liberia remains fragile. If (Businessman) UNMIL decides to pull out before time, it would be wrong to Liberia. We must first of all take into consid- As for me, I want UNMIL to remain eration our security. We do not have for some time. I think they should an army yet and we’re still going remain here for the next six years. about restructuring a police force. They were the ones that brought us For me, it’s good enough for peace; they have to consolidate that UNMIL to remain until our security peace. For now, in my view, the forces are well strengthened so that peace is still delicate; as such, they’ll it will be able to protect its citizens have to put the necessary mecha- and our borders. I will prefer that nisms into place so that Liberians UNMIL remain for some time, can sustain the peace when UNMIL maybe eight or nine years to say the leaves. least. Rita Chea (Student) Josiah Monger (Student/University of Liberia) As for me, I’ll want UNMIL to remain here until the end of the tenure of this current government because the country is still not safe. Once UNMIL remains, it will be a sign of protection for us, the vulnerable residents. If UNMIL leaves before the next five years, in my view, the country will not be stable.

I wish UNMIL could remain until our Prince Dunbar army and police are properly (Journalist) restructured. If you recall, after for- meTrh oPrsees icdaeungt hCt hina ralecsts Toafy mloor bw aviso- I’ll like UNMIL to remain here indefi- ellecntceed sihno 1u9ld9 7b,e thsev seurebl-ryr epgeinoanlaizled nitely. Since they’ve brought peace sofo racse t,o E CdeOteMr OotGhe, rps rferomma tuerneglyaging for us, they’ll have to consolidate dienp saurctehd a tchteio cnos.u n Ttrhyi sb iesf oimrep tohretant that peace which is very important arbmecy awuases roensctreu cpteuorepdle. Ncoont tilnouneg to for the country and its people in ainftsetirt,u aten motohebr vcioivliel nwcaer aenrdu pgteod with order to make progress. whimichp ulansittye dth uisn etinl c2o0u0r3a.g Aess osuthcehr Ito wish they can remain for at least engaRagtete ien Fsluocmh oacts. three or four more years. Archie Kiazolu (Student, AME University) Juah Tweh (Student) (Student) UNMIL FOCUS, Vol. 3, No. 04 A publication of the United Nations Mission in Liberia Public Information Office www.unmil.org