Historical Background

Liberia is a small country situated on the coast of West Africa with just over 3 million inhabitants. Fourteen years of civil war have taken an enormous toll on the population; an estimated 85% of the population lives below the poverty line. Even prior to the devastation of the most recent conflict, 35% of the population were undernourished; 25% of the population had access to safe water and some 78% of the population were illiterate.

In 2003, prolonged attacks by rebel groups Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD) and Movement for Democracy in Liberia (MODEL) claimed thousands of lives and caused forced displacement on a massive scale; creating an estimated 750,000 refugees and 250,000 internally displaced persons. In August 2003, the Accra Peace Agreement was signed between the Government and the rebel groups. The Agreement established an interim transitional power-sharing Government. Elections are scheduled to take place in October 2005, when the mandate of the Government ends.

Once the ceasefire was established in August 2003, a stabilisation force was deployed to Liberia by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). This was followed by the deployment of the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL). An Irish contingent of 430 troops is currently serving with UNMIL. The deployment of UNMIL troops has helped to create an enabling environment for the displaced population to return to their original towns and villages and for stability to return to the region as a whole. It has also created the opportunity for the international community and their local partners to fully respond to Liberia's humanitarian emergency after years of isolation.

Source: Development Cooperation Ireland.