Military

DATE=9/6/03

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=U-N / LIBERIA / APPEAL (L-O)

NUMBER=2-306245

BYLINE=JENNY BADNER

DATELINE=NEW YORK

INTERNET=

///EDS: THIS SPOT CAN BE USED AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO SCHLEIN'S PIECE U-N / LIBERIA / AID. ///

VOICED AT:

INTRO: The United Nations launched an emergency appeal today (Wednesday) for 69 million dollars to provide crucial humanitarian aid for one million Liberians. Correspondent Jenny Badner reports from New York.

TEXT: The U-N's Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator Carolyn McAskie says she expects U-N officials to appeal shortly for additional funds for Liberia.

But for now she is urging dozens of prospective donor countries step forward and help provide 69 million dollars for food, clean water, shelter, and health assistance for the Liberian people.

/ / / MCASKIE ACT / / /

If we can raise two billion dollars for Iraq, of which one billion dollars alone came from direct, voluntary contributions from the governments represented here today, can we also raise a modest 69 million dollars for Liberia?

/ / / END ACT / / /

U-N officials say 22 million dollars would be directed towards food, 9 million dollars would go to help Liberia's refugees and homeless population and another 8-point-five million dollars would be used to meet the country's health care needs.

Ms. McAskie launched the appeal at the United Nations headquarters in New York where she was joined by U-N special envoy to Liberia Jacques Klein. He offered a simple message from Secretary General Kofi Annan - "without urgent action, more lives will be lost."

Mr. Klein described a desperate situation in the war-torn West African nation. For months, he says 70 percent of the population has been cut off from aid, water supply stations have been destroyed and deadly diseases such as cholera are on the rise.

The U-N envoy welcomed the beginning of deployment of regional troops from the Economic Community of West African States or ECOWAS. A small team of U-S forces have also arrived in Monrovia to provide logistical aid to ECOWAS.

Mr. Klein says the key to the U-S effort in Liberia is visibility and commitment.

/ / / KLEIN ACT / / /

So I don't think really think it's a question of numbers as much as a commitment that we are there with you and that is the signal we are looking for from the United States.

/ / / END ACT / / /

Mr. Klein says after regional troops help restore security and allow the return of humanitarian aid, U-N officials will send a team to Liberia to lay the groundwork for a U-N peackeeping force. (SIGNED)

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