Aid agencies fear for Liberian civilians

International aid agencies warned today of the desperate plight of many civilians in Liberia, including thousands stuck in a football stadium in the capital Monrovia with little food, shelter or medical care.

The World Food Programme said it hoped a lull in fighting between President Charles Taylor’s forces and rebels would enable it to resume distribution of urgently needed supplies.

With most shops and markets closed, hawkers were demanding exorbitant prices for the limited stocks of food being sold, said spokeswoman Christiane Berthiaume.

She said the WFP was worried that Monrovia – normally home to one million people – would be unable to cope with the influx of thousands of refugees.