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REPRESENTATIVE OF THE UN SECRETARY-GENERAL CALLS FOR SWIFT ACTION TO ENSURE PROTECTION AND ASSISTANCE FOR INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS IN LIBERIA
31 July 2003
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31.07.2003
Following is a statement issued today in Geneva by the Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General on Internally Displaced Persons, Francis M. Deng:
The Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General on Internally Displaced Persons today voiced grave concern about the deteriorating plight of internally displaced persons in Liberia and called for swift action to ensure their protection and assistance.
The resumption of hostilities in Liberia in recent weeks has forced hundreds of thousands of civilians to flee for their lives and safety, Dr. Francis M. Deng said. The number of internally displaced persons in Liberia continues to swell and their situation is worsening by the day. Most lack access to food, clean water, medical care, and basic sanitation facilities. Due to the prevailing situation of insecurity, international humanitarian operations have virtually come to a halt, depriving people of essential assistance for survival. Moreover, civilians’ physical safety remains at severe risk. In recent days, there has been indiscriminate mortar shelling of settlements and shelters where displaced persons have sought refuge, including churches and a compound of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Looting, rape and harassment of the civilian population by militia is reportedly widespread. From all accounts, the humanitarian crisis has become truly catastrophic.
Of course, responsibility for ensuring the protection and assistance of civilians rests first and foremost with their Government, Dr. Francis M. Deng also said. However, when a Government is unable to do so, as is clearly the case in Liberia, the international community, often acting in partnership with regional actors, can and should be called upon to play a role.
The Representative reiterates the United Nations Secretary-General’s call upon the parties concerned, and in particular the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD) rebel forces, to immediately cease hostilities. He urges all armed actors to cooperate with the planned deployment of forces by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and any other international forces deployed with UN support so that humanitarian operations can safely be resumed and that assistance and protection be provided to populations in need without delay. As the Secretary-General has said, the United States can lend crucial support to ECOWAS in its planned efforts to bring security to the country and is called upon to do so.
In addition to restoring security in the country generally, regional and international forces have a critically important role to play in protecting the internally displaced and other civilians at risk. This is a responsibility that ECOWAS forces importantly have assumed in the region in the past, though not always with full respect for human rights and humanitarian standards. Respect by troops of human rights and humanitarian law is essential to their effectiveness in protecting the displaced and other civilian populations. The Representative urges that any regional or other outside forces to be deployed be instructed and expected to abide by international standards for the protection of civilians. Special attention must be given to ensuring the protection of women and children, whose lack of protection in West Africa’s conflicts has often been of particular concern, especially with respect to sexual violence and exploitation.
Above all, the Representative appeals to the international community and all relevant regional bodies to act swiftly to ensure that assistance and protection are provided to internally displaced persons and all civilians in need and at risk in Liberia.
Following is a statement issued today in Geneva by the Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General on Internally Displaced Persons, Francis M. Deng:
The Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General on Internally Displaced Persons today voiced grave concern about the deteriorating plight of internally displaced persons in Liberia and called for swift action to ensure their protection and assistance.
The resumption of hostilities in Liberia in recent weeks has forced hundreds of thousands of civilians to flee for their lives and safety, Dr. Francis M. Deng said. The number of internally displaced persons in Liberia continues to swell and their situation is worsening by the day. Most lack access to food, clean water, medical care, and basic sanitation facilities. Due to the prevailing situation of insecurity, international humanitarian operations have virtually come to a halt, depriving people of essential assistance for survival. Moreover, civilians’ physical safety remains at severe risk. In recent days, there has been indiscriminate mortar shelling of settlements and shelters where displaced persons have sought refuge, including churches and a compound of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Looting, rape and harassment of the civilian population by militia is reportedly widespread. From all accounts, the humanitarian crisis has become truly catastrophic.
Of course, responsibility for ensuring the protection and assistance of civilians rests first and foremost with their Government, Dr. Francis M. Deng also said. However, when a Government is unable to do so, as is clearly the case in Liberia, the international community, often acting in partnership with regional actors, can and should be called upon to play a role.
The Representative reiterates the United Nations Secretary-General’s call upon the parties concerned, and in particular the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD) rebel forces, to immediately cease hostilities. He urges all armed actors to cooperate with the planned deployment of forces by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and any other international forces deployed with UN support so that humanitarian operations can safely be resumed and that assistance and protection be provided to populations in need without delay. As the Secretary-General has said, the United States can lend crucial support to ECOWAS in its planned efforts to bring security to the country and is called upon to do so.
In addition to restoring security in the country generally, regional and international forces have a critically important role to play in protecting the internally displaced and other civilians at risk. This is a responsibility that ECOWAS forces importantly have assumed in the region in the past, though not always with full respect for human rights and humanitarian standards. Respect by troops of human rights and humanitarian law is essential to their effectiveness in protecting the displaced and other civilian populations. The Representative urges that any regional or other outside forces to be deployed be instructed and expected to abide by international standards for the protection of civilians. Special attention must be given to ensuring the protection of women and children, whose lack of protection in West Africa’s conflicts has often been of particular concern, especially with respect to sexual violence and exploitation.
Above all, the Representative appeals to the international community and all relevant regional bodies to act swiftly to ensure that assistance and protection are provided to internally displaced persons and all civilians in need and at risk in Liberia.