afrol News, 5 February - A New York conference today and tomorrow is to define the Liberian needs and international response to reconstruct the war-ravaged country. The conference seeks nearly US$ 500 million to rebuild and recover Liberia and secure the fragile peace.

UN Headquarters in New York served as host for the donors' conference, which is seeking almost US$ 500 million for the next two years to help Liberia rebuild from its devastating 14-year-long civil war. At the opening today, speakers were calling for generous pledges to help the nation - and the West African region - get on the track to stability and recovery.

UN agencies and the Monrovia transitional government are seeking support from the international community to consolidate the Liberian peace. Following the war, nearly 80 percent of Liberians now survive on less than a US dollar a day and 85 percent are unemployed.

The meeting was termed "a critical milestone" in the country’s journey from crisis to recovery, offering a chance "to help achieve a real and lasting peace dividend" for Liberians, according to Mark Malloch Brown, chair of the UN Development Group (UNDG), who opened the conference today.

A Liberian peace accord was signed in August last year, leading to the halt of fighting and the creation of a transitional government. "But it is a fragile peace and urgent action is now needed to help ensure that the gains that have been made towards Liberia’s recovery are not reversed," warned Mr Malloch Brown in his opening speech.

A team comprising representatives from the UN, World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF), non-governmental organisations and the Liberian transitional government has been working for the past two months to prepare a report for the Conference assessing the country's needs.

According to that report, an estimated US$ 488 million in assistance will be required for priorities ranging from demobilising combatants - some as young as 12 - and helping them return home, get schooling and find jobs, to organising elections in 2005, rebuilding roads, restoring electricity, reopening schools and health clinics, and stopping the spread of HIV/AIDS.

Another Liberia initiative by the UN development agency UNDP is supporting human rights, working in cooperation with the Liberian Ministry of Justice and the National Human Rights Commission. "UNDP will also help establish a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to bring past atrocities to light and promote healing," the agency announced today.

There have been concerns that women's need would not be sufficiently represented, and on the eve of the conference, Liberian Minister for Gender and Development, Vabah Kazaku Gayflor, has called for the full participation of women in the reconstruction process. "Women constitute half of the population. It is crucial that they are adequately represented and fully involved in all decisions that determine the country's future", said the Minister.

Minister Gayflor highlighted areas such as security, health, education and economic empowerment as issues of particular concern. "The special needs of women and children have to be addressed and support must be increased. This also means that the capacity of coordination mechanisms like the Gender Ministry and the NGO Secretariat in Liberia must be strengthened in order to work effectively and efficiently."

Today's session at UN Headquarters was devoted to technical discussions, while the second day will hear contribution pledges. Participants on the second day will include UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, US Secretary of State Colin Powell, French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin and Chairman Gyude Bryant of the transitional government of Liberia.

Further, a national women's conference in Liberia in March is set to further discuss women's priority concerns in the post-conflict period and to develop an action plan for women's participation in the reconstruction and rehabilitation process in Liberia.

By staff writers

© afrol News

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