Commander of Peacekeeping Forces in Liberia: We Will Deploy in Monrovia Starting Thursday - 2003-08-06

The commander of the West African peacekeeping forces in Liberia stated that his soldiers will begin deploying in various parts of the capital on Thursday. He told Voice of America on Wednesday that 500 soldiers will patrol areas under government control. He did not clarify whether the soldiers would later be stationed in other regions of the country. The first unit of soldiers arrived in Monrovia this week in an effort to end the civil war. On Wednesday, a seven-member U.S. military team also landed to assist the peacekeeping soldiers in Monrovia. According to another report, the United Nations states that residents of Monrovia, the capital of Liberia, are facing shortages of food and water and lack access to health facilities. The organization has requested $69 million to help the people of Liberia, who it claims are facing a severe humanitarian crisis. Hundreds of civilians, searching for food that is scarce in government-controlled areas, are attempting to enter areas held by rebels. Soldiers fired into the air to prevent civilians from crossing bridges at the front lines, but some managed to get through.