wfn.org | Liberia: Providing Alternative Livelihoods for Ex-Combatants

["Frank Imhoff" <FRANKI@elca.org>]

Liberia: Providing Alternative Livelihoods for Ex-Combatants Major Challenge
after Demobilization 
LWF/DWS Liberia Contribution to Peace and Reconciliation 

MONTREUX, Switzerland/GENEVA, 5 May 2004 (LWI) - The Lutheran World
Federation (LWF) representative in Liberia Mr Charles Pitchford is optimistic
that former combatants in the country's 14-year civil war are committed to
the ongoing disarmament and demobilization process. "But the biggest
challenge is how to actively engage these young men and women so that they
have alternatives other than looting and perpetrating all sorts of violence,
acts they routinely carried out literally drugged during the civil war," he
told Lutheran World Information (LWI) in an interview. 

Pitchford, director of the LWF Department for World Service (DWS) program in
Liberia, was interviewed by LWI at the April 26-27 DWS Annual Forum in
Montreux. The yearly gathering brings together LWF/DWS donor agencies,
representatives of some of the field programs and Geneva Secretariat staff to
focus strategically on common concerns. At a workshop on the topic "Prophetic
Diakonia: Contributions to Peace and Reconciliation," Pitchford explained the
DWS program's involvement especially in the ongoing Disarmament,
Demobilization, Rehabilitation and Re-integration (DDRR) process, targeting
an estimated 40,000 ex-combatants of former rebel groups' factions and of
ex-government forces.

DWS Takes Lead in Managing Cantonment Sites

Of the four cantonment sites selected for the United Nations Mission in
Liberia (UNMIL)-led DDRR, the LWF program is responsible for the construction
and management of two camps in Gbarnga (northeast of Monrovia) and Buchanan
(southeast of the capital), said Pitchford. On April 15, LWF/DWS Liberia
completed the Gbarnga camp, and started operations at Buchanan on April 20.
The United Nations Development Program sponsors the actual camp management.

A pre-condition for disarming and demobilizing is that the expected 15,000
UNMIL peace keeping forces are completely deployed. But the process that
began last December is continuing with around 13,200 peacekeepers currently
on the ground, due to pressure on the National Transitional Government of
Liberia (NTGL) by the international community. Demobilization is a key
prerequisite to the release of the USD 520 million pledged to Liberia during
the February 2004 donors conference in New York, United States, Pitchford
explained.

The actual surrendering of arms takes place at UNMIL centers, after which
those disarmed are driven to the demobilization camps. Involvement in the
DDRR has been a major undertaking for DWS Liberia. Until April 1 the office
had only 153 staff that increased to a workforce of over 625 in a period of
about one month, and is still rising in order to cope with demands for
construction, as well as need for specialized personnel to assess the
disarmed former fighters. "The construction activities, required within a
short time frame, mandated the use of more than 500 workers at each site,"
Pitchford said. 

Each camp consists of 50 dormitories, with a capacity for 28 persons each. A
camp has 3 kitchens, 8 dining halls, 10 improved latrines, 10 bath
facilities, 10 water wells, recreational facilities, and a razor-wire
perimeter fence with electric lighting. They are constructed in such a way
that men, boys, girls and women are kept apart. Those aged 17 and under are
separated from the adults as soon as possible. They are removed from the
demobilization camp within 72 hours to an interim care center for three
months, during which contact is sought with their parents or guardians. 

The disarmed ex-combatants remain in a demobilization camp for five days. On
the first day they go through a general induction that involves interviews,
medical screening, issuance with photo identity card and meal cards. The
following two days are dedicated to a rehabilitation interview process in
which DWS Liberia involves the trauma, healing and reconciliation team of the
Lutheran Church in Liberia (LCL). This is followed by a personal development
orientation that integrates classes on civic education, career counseling,
human rights, sexual and reproductive health, and HIV/AIDS awareness. On the
last day, the former fighters are given USD 150, World Food Program food
rations for one month for three people, and provided with transport to their
home area or their preferred region of resettlement. They are asked to wait
for a radio announcement, one to three months post-demobilization, requesting
them to report to UNDP-contracted local agencies, where they get another USD
15
 0!
, and further instructions on rehabilitation and placement.

Ex-Combatants Surrender Small Arms and Ammunition

Pitchford expressed optimism that most of the ex-combatants throughout
Liberia will heed the call to return whatever arms they may still be keeping.