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Thousands on the move again after fresh fighting in Liberia
Monrovia, Aug 26: Thousands of people are moving towards displaced camps in central Liberia, amid reports of fresh fighting between government and rebel forces, the UN andinternational aid agencies have said.
Monrovia, Aug 26: Thousands of people are moving towards displaced camps in central Liberia, amid reports of fresh fighting between government and rebel forces, the UN and
international aid agencies have said.
Officials from the UN`s Coordination body for Humanitarian Affairs (Ocha) as well as from the medical aid groups International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and Medecins Sans Frontieres said fighting had been reported near Gbatala, about 100 kilometres northeast of Monrovia.
"There are reports of skirmishing and people are on the move. Our estimation is that there are about 3,000 to 4,000 people on the road heading from Gbatala to Salala," said the UN`s special representative for Humanitarian Assistance, Ross Mountain. An estimated 50,000 people are currently displaced by four years of brutal fighting in three camps at Salala, Totota and Maimu about 80 kilometres northeast of Monrovia. Refugees have fled fighting in the country`s northern Lofa County.
The clashes were reported to have been taken place between government and forces of the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD), despite a peace pact signed last week between the two parties and the country`s second rebel group, the movement for democracy in Liberia, model. "These skirmishes are going on, but that does not mean that the ceasefire is not holding," said Mountain. "But we are calling on the political leadership in the country to take the necessary steps to disengage their troops."
Bureau Report
"There are reports of skirmishing and people are on the move. Our estimation is that there are about 3,000 to 4,000 people on the road heading from Gbatala to Salala," said the UN`s special representative for Humanitarian Assistance, Ross Mountain. An estimated 50,000 people are currently displaced by four years of brutal fighting in three camps at Salala, Totota and Maimu about 80 kilometres northeast of Monrovia. Refugees have fled fighting in the country`s northern Lofa County.
The clashes were reported to have been taken place between government and forces of the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD), despite a peace pact signed last week between the two parties and the country`s second rebel group, the movement for democracy in Liberia, model. "These skirmishes are going on, but that does not mean that the ceasefire is not holding," said Mountain. "But we are calling on the political leadership in the country to take the necessary steps to disengage their troops."
Bureau Report