Freetown, Sierra Leone - World Vision
today delivered another shipment of measles vaccine to the SKD soccer stadium
in Monrovia, Liberia. World Vision has managed to maintain its primary
health clinic at the stadium throughout the worst of the fighting over
the past three weeks. One of the main challenges was transporting medical
supplies, such as the vaccine, to the stadium through the urban warfare
taking place outside.
"Some of our staff were traumatised
by the gunfire and shelling, but still others managed to continue their
work," said World Vision National Director Johnson Olufowote. The
situation in Monrovia is still far from secure but with Nigerian UN peacekeepers
beginning to deploy in waves, the fighting in Monrovia has settled considerably.
The World Vision office was badly damaged by shelling and most of the equipment
was looted. Eight of World Vision's fourteen vehicles were stolen or destroyed
during the fighting.
In neighbouring Sierra Leone, World Vision has positioned $450,000 in relief supplies for delivery into Monrovia once the port is secured. The port remains in the hands of LURD rebels, but they have said they are willing to allow humanitarian aid deliveries. World Vision will ship blankets, cooking sets, soap, mosquito netting, and plastic sheeting for temporary shelter. The goal is to look after the needs of 25,000 people inside Monrovia.
World Vision's Global Positioning Unit Director Rich Moseanko will conduct a security assessment of the city and port starting Saturday. "This is going to be a tough one. Monrovia is still very insecure and the political situation has not yet been resolved. Anything could happen in the coming days."
For more information contact World Vision Communications Manager, Steve Matthews, +(232 76) 697 899 in Freetown, Sierra Leone