Sub-region faces severe atrocities, says USAID

The fighting in Liberia continues to threaten the stability of the Mano River Union countries- Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone; yet they have faced humanitarian severe crises, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) reported on Wednesday. "Sustained conflict in the Mano River basin has spread across borders and engulfed the region in a severe humanitarian crisis. Several failed peace accords and peacekeeping efforts, collapsed economies, and some of the worst human rights atrocities in recent history made this one of the world's most severe humanitarian crises," USAID said in a situation report dated 9 October. At least 232,000 people are displaced while another 269,000 are refugees in the region, according to USAID. This includes 100,000-300,000 IDPs and 173,000 refugees in Guinea; 126,000 IDPs and 66,000 refugees in Liberia and 12,000 IDPs and 30,000 refugees in Sierra Leone. In Guinea, the reports said, the security situation had been stable throughout most of late 2001. As a result of recent fighting in Liberia, at least 13,000 new refugees had entered the country since May 2002. The new arrivals, mostly women, children, and the elderly, reported continued problems with Liberian security restrictions when attempting to cross into Guinea. In Liberia, violent conflict continued between the Armed Forces of Liberia and the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy, mostly in the northern Lofa County. "The overall situation continued to deteriorate in 2002 as sporadic fighting and insecurity hindered the efforts of relief agencies to reach vulnerable populations," the reports said. The security situation in Sierra Leone, which had steadily improved since August 2000, was bolstered by the May 2002 re-election of President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah. However, areas near the Liberian border remained unstable as a result of continued border incursions by both the army and LURD. The full USAID report