US troops to intervene in Liberia
US troops could help stabilise the situation in the Liberian capital, Monrovia, in a bid to ensure that humanitarian aid can reach its one million residents who have been trapped with few or no supplies for nearly two months.
Around 150 marines are expected to be sent tomorrow to secure the city’s airport, in order to allow the west African peacekeepers to tackle ongoing rebel resistance at Monrovia’s port – a vital channel for bringing in large quantities of food and water cheaply.
The situation in the region has improved since former president Charles Taylor stood down earlier this week, but the two rebel groups are still presenting problems for the ECOWAS peacekeepers.
Jordi Raich, a spokesperson for the International Committee of the Red Cross, noted that although there was a tentative agreement by the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD) that they would withdraw from the port area, there had also been renewed fighting south of the airport with the other rebel faction.
He also claimed that it was still “impossible” to gain access to all the local residents.
“LURD and Model-controlled areas have received no aid for weeks and weeks now,” he remarked.
UN staff returned to the Liberian capital yesterday and are assessing the immediate needs of the people.
The UN’s World Food Programme said it hoped to resume full-scale distribution once access to its warehouse has been granted by the LURD rebels who control it, while UNICEF is bringing in emergency supplies of high-energy biscuits and oral rehydration salts by plane.
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees is also flying in supplies to re-stock its Monrovian office in readiness for the estimated 250,000 displaced people.
The arrival of the marines could lead the way for further deployment of troops. Three US warships containing more than 2,000 marines are within sight of the Monrovian coast, and could lend assistance if requested by the west African forces.
