| WE GOT FUEL, 5,000 gallons to be
precise, however two thousand five hundred gallons will be provided
to other NGO's urgently requiring fuel until such time as fuel
is replenished within the local pipeline; an example of interagency
cooperation.
The Nrowegian Church Aid Boeing 747 has landed with 96 tons
of humanitarian items. The plane arrived at approximately 14:50
hours carrying 3 persons form NCA, a desk officer, press officer,
and Water/Sanitation technician.
Mr. Luke Asikoye, the head of the CAT Team arrived today. The
remaining members will arrive on the 18th and 21st of August.
The humanitarian situation can be evidenced by yesterdays fight
to get across the bridge into the port area. There were tens
of thousands of persons trying to cross the bridge at once causing
several to be pushed off the bridge into just about the most
polluted water in Liberia. Six (6) persons were confirmed drowned
before 5PM. Most of the people trying to get to the port area
were desperately in search of food. Access across the bridge
in to the communities leading to Po River reveals widespread
looting and wanton destruction to the other side finds wide
spread evidence of total destruction of property.
The World Food Program (WFP) Ship arrived at the port today.
The ship is to be used as an office for WFP workers who have
been constrained by evacuation after evacuation from Monrovia.
The idea with the ship is that in the event of further hostilities,
they can safely remain off?shore and continue to operate.
Incidentally, on a routine patrol across the bridge near Hotel
Africa, about 8 miles across, an ECOMIL patrol sighted several
LURD Rebels in a pick?up who had taken up a check?point position
nearby. The ECOMIL exclaimed, "You are supposed to be across
the Po River". The LURD immediately moved toward the River.
It is obvious that signed agreements are not enough.
Because of the limitation of numbers (770), ECOMIL will only
be able to provide security in Monrovia and its environs until
the remainder of the force is on the ground. This may take until
March of 2004. However, upon receipt of their next battalion,
they are to take up positions on the Monrovia side of the Po
River within the next few weeks. This will provide security
for the Internally Displaced People (IDP)Camps in Brewerville.
It is felt that the displaced will then return to the camps
for further assistance.
Submitted By: Charles Pitchford
LWF/ ACT partner in Liberia |
