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Education
liberia: concern for children trapped in conflict
2003-06-12, Issue 114
http://pambazuka.org/en/category/education/15571
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UNICEF has expressed concern for children caught up in the escalation of civil war in Liberia and appealed to all warring parties to ensure that civilians, especially children, are protected from harm. "As heavy fighting forces thousands of civilians to flee the shelter of camps on the outskirts of Monrovia, we are deeply troubled about the plight of Liberian children and the civilian population caught up in the mayhem," Â said Carol Bellamy, Executive Director of UNICEF.
Press Release
UNICEF Deeply Concerned About Children Caught in the Conflict in Liberia
NEW YORK / DAKAR, 7 June 2003 -- UNICEF today expressed concern for
children caught up in the escalation of civil war in Liberia and appealed
to all warring parties to ensure that civilians, especially children, are
protected from harm.
"As heavy fighting forces thousands of civilians to flee the shelter of
camps on the outskirts of Monrovia, we are deeply troubled about the plight
of Liberian children and the civilian population caught up in the mayhem,"
said Carol Bellamy, Executive Director of UNICEF. "The last few days have
raised real concern for the security and well-being of civilians caught in
the fighting, especially children. We appeal to all parties to protect the
children from harm."
Liberia, a country with a population of 3.1 million, has been ravaged by
conflict for almost fourteen years, which means that children under 14 have
no idea what it means to live in peace.
Several hundred thousand Liberians have been repeatedly displaced through
the years, losing all their worldly belongings in their constant search for
security. The Liberian economy and basic social services have been
devastated, while unemployment stands at 85 percent. As a result, nine out
of ten Liberians live in absolute poverty (less than $1 per day) and, out
of these nine, half live on less than $0.50 per day.
UNICEF said this has translated into high malnutrition rates among
children, lack of access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation,
and poor access to school. Some 81 percent of Liberian children aged 6-12
are not in school and, even for the few in school, only 42 per cent attain
minimal levels of learning achievement because they are hungry and distracted.
"Today, Liberian children who have all been affected by the war one way or
another are faced once again with a totally chaotic situation," Bellamy
said. "We plead for their safety."
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For further information, please contact:
Margherita Amodeo, UNICEF Media, Dakar (+221) 545-1612
Alfred Ironside, UNICEF Media, New York (+212) 326 -7261