Monrovia (Fides Service)-“ Disarmament of Liberian factions proceeds despite difficulties ” SMA Provincial Father Mauro Armanino in Monrovia told Fides. Most of the rebels who are handing in their arms are young boys who have known nothing but war. The United Nations peacekeepers mission deployed in Liberia give small amounts of money in exchange for each weapon. “Unfortunately very often rebel leaders keep all the money instead of sharing it equally among the military” Father Armanino told Fides. “This provokes revolts like the one last week 60 km from Monrovia, which degenerated into sacking of civilian homes”.
“Another unsolved problem is the return of refugees to their own towns and villages” Father Armanino told Fides. “At Totota alone there are still 100,000 refugees in a camp. Hundreds of thousands more live outside Liberia”.
It was Liberian refugees trying to return home who were involved in the case of the boat Dona Elvira carrying 300 passengers drifting at sea for three weeks due to engine failure and which finally docked in Ivory Coast. “The United Nations is organising the return of Liberians refugees from Ivory Coast, Ghana and Nigeria. But many prefer not to wait and try to make their own way and very often the boats used are in very poor condition” Father Armanino told Fides. The United Nations say the 300 Liberians will be transferred to Liberian within next week.
In a statement sent to Fides the UN High Commission for Refugees UNHCR says it “advises Liberians not to try to make their own way back at this stage” and that it is “waiting for a more stable situation before starting its organised repatriation programme. Many Liberians who have returned on their own have found it impossible to reach their villages and towns of origin. UNHCR has conducted a campaign of information in asylum countries urging Liberians to be patient: the agency plans to start repatriation in October and to help 15,000 Liberians to return by the end of the year”. According to UNHCR there are 350,000 Liberian refugees in west African countries. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 25/5/2004, righe 35 parole 426)