Save the Children sends aid to Liberia
Save the Children UK has unilaterally intervened in the humanitarian crisis in Liberia.
The charity yesterday flew tonnes of much needed food, clothing and medical supplies to war-torn Liberia.
Hundreds of thousands of civilians have been displaced and an estimated 1500 civilians have been killed in the last fortnight after rebel forces battled to oust Mr Taylor from power. Thousands are starving and cholera is rife.
The Boeing DC-8 left Manston Airport in Kent late last evening and will take about 11 hours to arrive in the nation’s capital, Monrovia.
The charity sent 8.5 tonnes of cholera and re-hydration kits, baby clothes and plastic sheeting for emergency shelters.
Also included in the 900,000 pounds of emergency aid were high-energy biscuits, medical kits and a month’s worth of water purification tablets.
The aid came as sporadic fighting continued Sunday between rebel forces and loyalists close to President Charles Taylor.
Mr Taylor said Saturday he would step down on August 11 but was less categorical on when he would leave the country.
He has accepted an offer of asylum from Nigeria as he is wanted elsewhere for war crimes.
Around 300 Nigerian soldiers are due in Monrovia Monday morning.
Brendan Parry of Save the Children said a bigger commitment was needed from western leaders to give a sense of stability and “finality” to the country.
He said: “The first thing that we need is some kind of political settlement, and an intervention by a UN mandated peace enforcement mission. We are seeing signs towards that. We’re seeing Nigeria and other West Africa peacekeepers going in.
“But Save the Children believes that we need a western component to give this force a sense of finality.
“There is a complete lack of clean drinking water, and there’s inadequate access to toilets. As a result of that, the risk of diseases like cholera spreading is absolutely appalling.”
