Nigerian peacekeepers arrive in capital of war-torn Liberia

The UN has begun transporting the first of two battalions of peacekeepers from Nigeria to the troubled west African state of Liberia.

Despite inclement weather in the Liberian capital of Monrovia, a total of 142 troops and their equipment had been deployed to Robertsfield airport from Freetown, Sierra Leone, where they had been a part of the UN Mission in that country – UNAMSIL.

The airlift is expected to continue over the coming days and, barring any unforeseen development, is expected to be completed by 17 August.

The Nigerian troops are to form part of the Economic Community of West African States force that will police a recent ceasefire agreement between the Liberian government and the country's two main rebel factions, the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy and the Movement for Democracy and Elections in Liberia.

Two months of nearly non-stop fighting between Liberian rebels and government forces has devastated Monrovia, the UN has said.

Countless civilians have been killed or wounded and hundreds of thousands of others have streamed into the capital seeking refuge from the fighting. Many have been living in the streets with little if any access to clean water, sanitation and food. UN agencies have called the conditions “horrific” and say the city is now in the grips of a cholera epidemic.

Last Friday, the UN Security Council authorised the establishment of a multinational force to support implementation of the ceasefire, as well as a follow-on UN stabilisation force.

(GMcG)