U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

                BUREAU FOR HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE (BHR)
            OFFICE OF U.S. FOREIGN DISASTER ASSISTANCE (OFDA)

                     LIBERIA - Complex Emergency

Fact Sheet # 15                              May 3, 1996 1700 EDT


Background:  On April 6, 1996, fighting in Monrovia erupted
between two armed factions, Charles Taylor's National Patriotic
Front of Liberia (NPFL), and Roosevelt Johnson's wing of the
United Liberation Movement for Democracy in Liberia
(ULIMO-Krahn).  Other Krahn factions subsequently joined Johnson. 
The fighting came in the wake of scattered skirmishes that
followed the signing of the Abuja Accord, a comprehensive peace
agreement among leaders of the main warring factions in Liberia
on August 19, 1995.  The accord came after nearly six years of
civil war, in which more than 150,000 Liberians died, about
725,000 fled the country as refugees,and 800,000 became
internally displaced.

On April 29, fighting erupted in the area of the executive
mansion,located near the Barclay Training Center (BTC), between
ULIMO-Krahn and NPFL forces.  Approximately 15,000 - 20,000
people took refuge in the BTC when fighting began on April 6,
including armed members of ULIMO-Krahn, and the Armed Forces of
Liberia, a contending faction.  Fighting has been reported at the
Schiefflin army barracks, located east of Monrovia.  The
situation in Monrovia remains tense and chaotic and civilians are
fleeing.  Twenty-five people were evacuated from Monrovia on May
2, including three Americans.  The Embassy staff remains at 22,
including USAID/BHR/OFDA's two-person Disaster Assistance
Response Team (DART).  

Roosevelt Johnson has announced his willingness to return to the
April 19 cease-fire.  The U.S. provided helicopter transport to
Johnson to Freetown on May 3.  Johnson plans to proceed to Accra,
Ghana for the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
emergency summit scheduled for May 7-8.  Reportedly, Charles
Taylor is still in Monrovia but Alhadji Kromah, leader of the
ULIMO-Mandingo faction, may have left Monrovia.  Ambassador Dane
Smith, the President's Special Envoy for Liberia will represent
the U.S. at the ECOWAS summit.  The U.S. Department of State
announced visa restrictions for Liberian faction leaders, their
families, close associates, and others who are impeding Liberia's
peace process.  In addition, the U.S. called on faction leaders
to reinstate the April 19 cease-fire, reestablish Monrovia as a
safe haven, and attend the May 7-8 emergency ECOWAS summit.  The
U.S. indicated that is prepared to consider further measures if
faction leaders continue to obstruct the peace process.

Current Humanitarian Situation:  The fighting has displaced at
least 80,000 people, with an estimated 20,000 now seeking shelter
in the Greystone compound of the U.S. Embassy since fighting
began again on April 29.   USAID's DART has been confined to the
U.S. Embassy compound since fighting was renewed on April 29. 
The U.S. Embassy has provided small quantities of food for
Liberian Red Cross workers in the Greystone compound.  USAID's
DART met with Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF)/Belgium and Action
Contre la Faim personnel today to plan the next steps for
improving the water situation at Greystone.  Two 10,000 liter
water bladders ordered by USAID/BHR/OFDA were delivered to
Monrovia today for use at Greystone and pumps are expected to be
flown in on May 4. MSF/Belgium personnel and a medical mobile
team from Swede Relief Hospital were able to deliver some medical
supplies to Greystone on May 2.  The team returned again on May
3, transporting four suspected cholera patients and one patient
with a gunshot wound to Swede Relief Hospital.  Swede Relief
Hospital has set up a ward for suspected cholera patients and a
trauma unit for the wounded. John F. Kennedy Hospital is no
longer functional; most of the staff have left.  The European
Union water specialist in Monrovia delivered a seven day supply
of fuel and chlorine gas to the White Plains water supply
station.  There have been no food deliveries since fighting began
again on April 29.  Most of the displaced persons shelters,
hospitals, orphanages, and other distribution points had just
received deliveries before the most recent round of fighting
began.  The World Food Program (WFP) will resume deliveries as
the security situation permits.  Food warehouses at the port are
still secure.  WFP and the U.S. Embassy have delivered a total of
nearly 2,000 metric tons of food in Monrovia and surrounding
areas since April 10.

U.S. Government (USG) FY 1996 Humanitarian Assistance:  
Total FDA Assistance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$3,789,058
Other USG Assistance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $61,347,425
TOTAL USG FY 1996 Humanitarian Assistance  (to date)$65,136,483