Yasmina Bouziane, UNMIL Spokesperson, Ellen Loj, Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Antonio Guterres, UN High Commissioner for Refugees,  Mr. Ibrahima Coly, UNHCR Representative-Liberia

Yasmina Bouziane, UNMIL Spokesperson, Ellen Loj, Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Antonio Guterres, UN High Commissioner for Refugees,  Mr. Ibrahima Coly, UNHCR Representative-Liberia

NEAR VERBATIM

Yasmina Bouziane (UNMIL Spokesperson)

Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen and welcome to this special UNMIL press briefing.

We have two special guests here with us here today. I would like to welcome all national and international media here at this special time; and also all UNMIL Radio listeners who are tuned in to this press briefing.

We have the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Mr. Antonio Guterres accompanied by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Ms. Ellen Loj. They have just returned from a trip to Nimba County. They are also here at the closure of a three day visit of the High Commissioner and we are welcoming them to this press briefing and they will have the opportunity to address this conference.

Ellen Loj (SRSG)

Thank you very much.

As many of you know, I recently briefed the Security Council on the situation in Liberia. Members of the Council asked me a lot of questions of the situation facing Liberia with the influx of refugees from Ivory Coast.

I underlined that two challenges were to be met. One was the humanitarian challenge and the other concern and challenge was the potential security concern. Let me underline that UNMIL has increased its military and police presence at the border with Cote d’Ivoire and closely monitoring movement across the border; we are closely coordinating with the Liberian security agencies in monitoring the border. It is a 700 kilometer porous border so we need all the help including from the Liberian population.

I appeal to each and everybody to be very attentive especially in relations to arms potentially crossing into Liberia. There are a lot of arms around and in Cote D’Ivoire; and we want to keep the peace in Liberia, we would work very hard with everybody to avoid these arms being channeled into Liberia. So I asked all Liberians living in Nimba, Grand Gedeh, River Gee and Maryland to be very attentive ; when things like that happen, report it to the LNP, BIN or UNMIL along the border because we are working very hard on the part of the Mission and the Government to maintain the peace that we have enjoyed for the past 8 years; to ensure that you can go to the ballot boxes in October in peace and decide the future of Liberia. I would like to appeal to everybody to monitor and when you see dubious individuals crossing the border please contact the LNP, BIN or UNMIL personnel in the counties border Cote d’Ivoire.

We also have to address the humanitarian challenge. Now there are over 90,000 refugees in Liberia. They need protection, assistance, services; but who is better to address that issue but the High Commission for Refugees so I will leave it to him to respond.

Thank you.

Mr. Antonio Guterres (UN High Commissioner for Refugees)

Thank you very much for your presence.

This visit has two main objectives. The first is to express deep gratitude and appreciation for what has been an exemplary attitude of the Government of Liberia in opening its borders to refugees from Cote d’Ivoire and granting them refugees’ status; but not only gratitude and appreciation to the Government of Liberia; but also to the people of Liberia.

I was extremely impressed yesterday when I visited the villages close to the border to see how Liberians have received their sisters and brothers from Cote d’Ivoire; to see how they have opened their doors, their  hearts, their pockets, how they have shared their mega resources and expressed their solidarity in way that corresponds to a lesson of today’s world. Unfortunately in many parts of the world we witness from of xenophobia, frontiers being closed, push backs and people sent back and not being allowed to enter a territory. To see this generosity from the Government and the people of Liberia is something that warms our heart and gives us confidence that refugee protection is still alive in today’s world.

The second reason is to make a very strong appeal to the international community; first for the international community to express to the Liberian people and Government the same kind of solidarity that the Liberians are now expressing to those coming from the Cote d’Ivoire in search of protection. It is very important for this humanitarian response. But is also important that needs of the local communities are effectively addressed and for that we need a lot of solidarity from the international community, a lot of support from all countries that can help us cope with this challenge and that can cooperate with the Liberian Government and the population to be able to cope with the extremely difficult situation in which they are faced.

But it is more than financial or humanitarian support. It is also to appeal to the international community to engage more effectively in bringing peace to Cote d’Ivoire. In today’s world there is a lot of attention in relation to what is going on in North Africa and the Middle East; the Libyan crisis, there was a lot of attention to what happen in Japan. But I think the international community should pay the same level of attention to the crisis in Cote d’Ivoire.

Not only because of the suffering of the people, 500,000 people displaced within the borders of the country, 90,000 refugees crossing the border to Liberia, but also because of the huge destabilizing impact that the crisis in Cote d’Ivoire can have in the region; representing a threat to the region’s peace, security and stability. It is very important that this conflict ends. It is very important that those who fled the country have the soonest opportunity to go back and to go back in safety and dignity.

We work like nurses that provide the experience tool to relieve the pain but we can not cure the disease. It requires antibiotic and only a doctor can provide antibiotic. The doctor here is the international community and the antibiotic is peace in Cote d’Ivoire. So my strong appeal is an engagement of the international community to make sure peace prevails in Cote d’Ivoire sooner rather than later.

At the same time, we are witnessing conflict taking place in Abidjan and also in places close to the border with Liberia. We have seen in the change in the pattern of displacement. First refuges coming from the north, now refugees are coming more from the south and we will need to increase our capacity in order to be able to cope with this challenge. It is difficult to predict what is going to happen depending on the situation in Cote d’Ivoire; but we plan to be ready to respond to the influx of 150,000 people. We hope that will not happen, but it is the our duty and the duty of the international community to support Liberia people to be able to face this very challenging situation
Questions and Answers

Q: Jennie Fallah (Inquire Newspaper)
There was information in the newspaper that there was an attack in Grand Gedeh where some refugees lost their lives. Please give us clear picture of what actually took place and what UNMIL is doing to ensure that such does not take place again

A: Ellen Loj (SRSG)
I returned from Nimba this morning and heard about the report. Let me say fortunately, the two persons in question have not passed away; they are in hospital. I can not give you the details because the incident happened far away from any UNMIL post or personnel or LNP. But I know that the two incidents are being investigated by the Liberia National Police (LNP) and we are of course assisting them.

Mr. Antonio Guterres (UN High Commissioner for Refugees)
I would like to express our deepest appreciation for the important deployment by the LNP and its security forces and also the very active engagement of UNMIL. I think that this will create an environment of protection for the refugees and also the local population.

Q: Wellington Railey (New Democrat Newspaper)
The President, Madame Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has expressed serious concern about the situation in Ivory Coast owing to the fact if serious attention is not drawn to the situation, it may cause some problem for Liberia; that those investments that have taken place in the country would be undermined. Some of the reports we have gathered from our Government officials stated that the borders are vulnerable. What is the UN system doing to ensure that things are actually put in place to protect the borders?

A: Ellen Loj (SRSG)
The High Commission talked about the political solution to the crisis in Cote d’Ivoire. I think the President is attending today the ECOWAS summit where they are discussion political solutions. As I said in the beginning, we have strengthened our presence at the border with our military and UNPOL. We have increased our patrols along the border; we have carefully coordinated with the LNP and BIN about how to cooperate on the ground. I know the Liberia Government has also strengthened their presence at the border. We are doing everything we can in order to ensure cooperation between the Liberian security agencies and UNMIL to strengthen the border. But you also know that the border is 700 kilometers long and porous. We can not be everywhere so we need the collaboration and the cooperation of those Liberians who want Liberia to continue as a peaceful country.

Q: Moses Garzue (Liberia Broadcasting System)
I heard you talked about the international community invention in the crisis in the Ivory Coast as they are doing in the north. What they are doing in the north is a military invention. Are you saying they should come to the Ivory Coast with air raid as is being done in Libya?

My second question goes to the SRSG; are you somehow frightened by the situation in Ivory Coast; that it will undermine your current peace process in Liberia?

A: Mr. Antonio Guterres (UN High Commissioner for Refugees)
As I said, we need a doctor to prescribe a medicine. When you have different diseases, you need different medicines. Obviously I am not advocating for Cote d’Ivoire the same that was done in Libya or elsewhere. But there is one thing that is common; we do need a doctor and we need the doctor’s commitment and the will of the doctor to prescribe medicine and the possibility for the pharmacy to deliver it. So my appeal is not for a concrete solution. UNHCR is strictly a humanitarian agency. We are just the nurses. We can ask the doctor to act quickly because the patient is suffering a lot.

Ellen Loj (SRSG)
Let me say I am frightened for the crisis in Cote d’Ivoire, for the people of Cote d’Ivoire. I am not frightened about the situation in Liberia but I think we all have to be very attentive. I think by working together; UNMIL, the Government securities institutions and the Liberian Government and people we are ready to meet any of those risks.

Q: BBC Reporter
I have reports that as many as 2,000 Liberians have crossed the border to fight on both side of the crisis. And I have also heard reports of active recruitment in Monrovia. I just want to know what UNMIL, LNP (ERU) are doing to prevent this?

A: Ellen Loj (SRSG)
I heard those reports too. I have no concrete proof. The President has appealed to the Liberian people not to engage in activities in Cote d’Ivoire. I have noticed that the President has underlined that according to the Liberian law it is illegal to partake in war in another country. We hear reports that Liberians are active in Cote d’Ivoire. I do not know if these are old or new recruits.

Q: Victoria Wisseh (Daily Observer Newspaper)
What is your current humanitarian response?

A: Mr. Antonio Guterres (UN High Commissioner for Refugees)
We have now two situations; refugees that come and remain with the local population and those who start to move in a camp that is offered. There is decision that has been taken by the Government to select 16 villages, that the conditions are better than those that are closer to the border. At present we are engaged with the Government on the registration of the refugees and their families. We are engaged in different forms of assistance to those refugees; shelter and food items together with WHO. Other agencies are involved with water and sanitation, health and we are coordinating all these efforts to ensure that support is being given when camps are built. We are talking about a second camp for the south because displacement is taking place in the south and at the same we are planning our contingency plan.

Q: Nichos Andres (News Newspaper)
Prior to your arrival to Liberia, the spokesman for the refugees has complained that they have been abandoned by LRRRC and UNHCR. During your visit to Nimba, what did you observe?

A: Mr. Antonio Guterres (UN High Commissioner for Refugees)
It is important to recognize that when you have such a big influx of refugees, it is difficult to cope with the challenge and to respond to the need of the people. But I do not think it is fair to say they have been abandoned. It is clear that they feel there is a presence and commitment both from the Government of Liberia, UNHCR and other UN agencies and NGOs. What is also clear is that their needs are very big and also the needs of the local community.

Q: Wellington Railey (New Democrat Newspaper)
The President said that the flash appeal is very slow to respond to the needs of the refugees. I want to know how far have you gone with that appeal and how can you assure that this programme is an adequate one?

A: Mr. Antonio Guterres (UN High Commissioner for Refugees)
The appeal that was made for at the time, we were foreseeing 50,000 refugees and to address the needs for six months; indeed the initial response of the international community was slow and the funds made available were very limited. Things are now improving and there will be a better response in the future. My strong appeal to the international community is to speed the financial support to humanitarian agencies that are involved and to the people of Liberia for the dramatic situation faced with the people that fled their country to be met.

Q: Victoria Wisseh (Daily Observer Newspaper)
What is the refugee situation at the Liberian/Ivorian borders is it increasing or not?

A: Mr. Antonio Guterres (UN High Commissioner for Refugees)
I think we have to look in a regional pattern that is changing from North to South. In the northern part where the inflow started with the fighting, we are not witnessing any influx; in fact people are now going back to Cote d’Ivoire. Fighting came south and yesterday, 6,000 people crossed the border. And we now need to shift our attention and priorities to be able to address the influx.

Q: Adolphus Marwolo (West Africa Max Radio-Dakar)
During your visit, what where some of the things the refugees in Liberia told you first hand?

A: Mr. Antonio Guterres (UN High Commissioner for Refugees)
I heard stories of people fleeing for fear there was a risk of insecurity. Stories of those whose families have been victimized or were themselves involved in the conflict which is a traumatic situation which required strong attention and the creation of a dignity return more difficult to meet in the short term.

Q: Nichos Andres (News Newspaper)
Sometime ago there were reports that some of the refugees were infected with HIV. How far have the Government and partners done to cater to has those diagnosed with HIV/AIDS so that the virus cannot be spread?

A: WHO Representative
In terms of health situation, we have been working closely with NGOs, county health teams and other partners to ensure that the refugees are getting appropriate and quality care. They have been screened to make sure they get treatment if they are sick. This is done for any condition. Almost 15,000 out patient have been treated and 50% are refugees.

When we are screening and find out that people are sick, they are taken care of for any condition. We are not discriminating anybody. In terms of HIV/AIDS, it may be possible that some patient may have the virus; they have the right to get treatment like any other patient with any other disease.

Q: Estella Liberty (Power TV)
You have done you assessment; can you describe the living conditions of the refugees in the area?

A: Mr. Antonio Guterres (UN High Commissioner for Refugees)
It is clear of the enormous suffering that taking place on the other side of the border and how people come in a desperate situation. The Liberian communities are doing a tremendous job of receiving them.