Government pledges funds for Liberia

The Government is to provide €2m for emergency humanitarian assistance in response to the current crisis in Liberia.

Foreign Minister Tom Kitt said tonight the aid would focus on the estimated 450,000 people who have been displaced by the conflict in the African state.

Funding, he added, was being allocated from the Development Cooperation Ireland organisation to non-governmental organisations and international relief agencies to provide food, health and basic sanitation needs for those worst affected.

He said: “The volatile security situation on the ground is continuing to hamper the work of relief agencies.

"We are working closely with our Irish NGO partners to ensure that our assistance is delivered to the most vulnerable in Liberia as soon as the security situation allows.”