EC gives Liberia 68 million euros

MONROVIA – The European Commission has given the new Liberian government 68,4 million euros to start pumping water and bring electricity to the war-ravaged West African country.

The money will also go towards education, development of the country’s counties and humanitarian needs, European Union official Serge Christiane told a news conference late Tuesday. Liberians have not known electricity or running water in 14 years after national infrastructure was destroyed during a brutal civil war.The aid should see water flowing into Monrovian homes by the end of December if pipes being imported from the United States arrive soon.The generation of hydro-electricity and supply to consumers will be tendered to a private operator and parts of Monrovia should have electricity within six months, the European Commission said.The EU has been the sole donor so far for electricity generation though China is believed to be interested while the World Bank has sponsored feasibility studies.Europe set the ball rolling after new President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who had been somewhat ambivalent on the controversial international government and economic management assistance programme (GEMAP), stated unambiguously Monday that she will abide by it.”The challenges facing Ms Johnson Sirleaf are immense.We have to rise to them together, by stepping up the cooperation we began after the peace agreement,” Louis Michel, European commissioner for development and humanitarian aid, said in a statement.International donors set up GEMAP as a way to curb inherent theft of public funds in Liberia, but Sirleaf considered it too constricting.Donors are confident Sirleaf will stand by her word to abide by it.”We know her …we trust her and that she will be committed to doing that she says she will,” said Hans Dahlgren, a European Union representative in Liberia.If Liberia defaults on its promises, donors say they might be forced to freeze their aid but that would not affect humanitarian assistance.”Should it happen then we will hold discussions with the Liberian government …suspension of the assistance could be one of the decisions.”But this would be very serious …and I don’t think this will happen,” Dahlgren said.- Nampa-AFPLiberians have not known electricity or running water in 14 years after national infrastructure was destroyed during a brutal civil war.The aid should see water flowing into Monrovian homes by the end of December if pipes being imported from the United States arrive soon.The generation of hydro-electricity and supply to consumers will be tendered to a private operator and parts of Monrovia should have electricity within six months, the European Commission said.The EU has been the sole donor so far for electricity generation though China is believed to be interested while the World Bank has sponsored feasibility studies.Europe set the ball rolling after new President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who had been somewhat ambivalent on the controversial international government and economic management assistance programme (GEMAP), stated unambiguously Monday that she will abide by it.”The challenges facing Ms Johnson Sirleaf are immense.We have to rise to them together, by stepping up the cooperation we began after the peace agreement,” Louis Michel, European commissioner for development and humanitarian aid, said in a statement.International donors set up GEMAP as a way to curb inherent theft of public funds in Liberia, but Sirleaf considered it too constricting.Donors are confident Sirleaf will stand by her word to abide by it.”We know her …we trust her and that she will be committed to doing that she says she will,” said Hans Dahlgren, a European Union representative in Liberia.If Liberia defaults on its promises, donors say they might be forced to freeze their aid but that would not affect humanitarian assistance.”Should it happen then we will hold discussions with the Liberian government …suspension of the assistance could be one of the decisions.”But this would be very serious …and I don’t think this will happen,” Dahlgren said.- Nampa-AFP