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He affirmed the need to finalize the disarmament and demobilization process
so that Liberians can embark on the major task of reconstruction. The war in
which some 200,000 people died, also led to the near-total destruction of 85
percent of the physical infrastructure throughout the country. As a result,
the country has "virtually no economy" according to Pitchford. There is
little health care, and the scarce employment opportunities were limited to
government jobs that offered financial incentives instead of formal salaries.
The NTGL is now beginning to pay public servants and establishing systems to
curb corruption. Elections are expected in October 2005. 

Pitchford cited other challenges. The NTGL includes former rebel
representatives, who are still empowered by armed groups languishing in key
strategic parts of the country. Security, he noted, remains a major concern.
The current transitional power-sharing government between political parties,
the outgoing administration, and the two rebel groups - Liberians United for
Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD) and Movement for Democracy in Liberia
(MODEL), was established after the August 2003 peace agreement in Ghana.

Anticipated Repatriation of Refugees and IDPs 

Almost half of the population of nearly 3 million people found themselves at
one time or other either as refugees or internally displaced persons (IDPs).
Six months after the October 2003 installation of the NTGL, some 300,000
Liberians are IDPs, and as many more are refugees mainly in the neighboring
countries awaiting repatriation, Pitchford said. 

In its regular operations, DWS Liberia manages two IDP camps, Jah Tondo and
Salala, accommodating more than 50,000 IDPs, 60 percent of whom are women and
children. After disarmament and demobilization, it is estimated that the IDPs
and refugees will want to resettle back home alongside returning, demobilized
ex-combatants. "We believe now is the time to begin preparation for their
return," said Pitchford. He stressed the need for programs that focus on
training of trainers in various skills including agriculture, income
generation, trauma healing, conflict resolution and peace building and
reconciliation. 

According to Pitchford, collaboration with the LCL/LWF/DWS country program
began in 1990 at the church's invitation/is crucial especially in operational
areas with a Lutheran presence. "Hand in hand with the LCL, we can serve a
larger beneficiary population while providing capacity building to both the
church and community institutions," the LWF Liberia representative concluded.
(1,204 words)

[The LWF is a global communion of Christian churches in the Lutheran
tradition. Founded in 1947 in Lund (Sweden), the LWF now has 136 member
churches in 76 countries representing 62.3 million of the almost 66 million
Lutherans worldwide. The LWF acts on behalf of its member churches in areas
of common interest such as ecumenical and inter-faith relations, theology,
humanitarian assistance, human rights, communication, and the various aspects
of mission and development work. Its secretariat is located in Geneva,
Switzerland.)

[Lutheran World Information (LWI) is the LWF's information service. Unless
specifically noted, material presented does not represent positions or
opinions of the LWF or of its various units. Where the dateline of an article
contains the notation (LWI), the material may be freely reproduced with
acknowledgment.] 

*    *	   *

LWI online at: http://www.lutheranworld.org/News/Welcome.EN.html 
 
LUTHERAN WORLD INFORMATION
PO Box 2100, CH-1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland
Tel: (41.22) 791.63.54
Fax: (41.22) 791.66.30 
Editor's e-mail: pmu@lutheranworld.org