UN Deputy envoy Moustapha Soumaré and the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany accredited to Liberia, Herbert Staudt, inaugurate a newly constructed police headquarters and barracks in Barclayville in the remotest southeastern part of Liberia. Both facilities were funded by Norway and Germany respectively. “The Liberia National Police continues to need financial and material support in order to extend its presence throughout the country; police coverage in many counties is still inadequate; a lack of trained officers, equipment and barracks, hampers effectiveness, and mobility challenges persist,” said Soumaré. Enhancing the capacity of the security sector is a major priority of the Liberian government.

Photo: Staton Winter/UNMIL

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf recently commissioned a modern prison constructed by the United Nations in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice in Sanniquellie, provincial capital of Nimba. UN Deputy Envoy Henrietta Mensa-Bonsu handed over the facility with a capacity to hold 72 inmates built at a cost of US$350,000 through the UN Peacebuilding Fund to the Liberia President, who applauded the UN for a "job well done."

Photo: Solo Williams/UNMIL

Special Representative Ellen Margrethe Løj in July visited Grand Gedeh County bordering Côte d'Ivoire during which she inspected the 30-km Garley Town and Zaway Border road being rehabilitated by Chinese UN peacekeeping engineers. The UN envoy also visited the Palace of Corrections in Zwedru, the county’s capital, and an agricultural project. She commended the work of UN peacekeepers in the area including the Chinese and Indians.

Photo: Staton Winter/UNMIL

The Nigerian Battalion (NIBATT-22) in July 2010 completed a five-month apprenticeship training in welding and tailoring for 11 Liberians. The United Nations Development Programme provided each tailoring graduate a start-up kit including a sewing machine and accessories while each welding graduate received a welding machine and accessories. The training is part of capacity building efforts by UN peacekeepers.

Photo: Emmaunel D. Tobey/UNMIL

Special Representative Ellen Margrethe Løj, along with colleagues, paid tribute to a fallen UNMIL Indian Police Officer, Constable Dinesh Kumar Pandey. This gallant son of India lost his life by succumbing to the injuries he incurred following a road traffic accident on 30 May in Monrovia. The late Constable Pandey was a member of the technical support team (mechanic) of the all-female Indian Formed Police Unit (FPU).

Photo: Michael Sahr/UNMIL

UN envoy Ellen Margrethe Løj has urged the Liberian women peace leaders to involve young women and men in the process to promote sustainable peace and security in Liberia and to enhance the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325. Addressing the Global Open Day event at the University of Liberia, she called for the encouragement of young women and men, who are the ones to carry the torch forward, and stressed that women’s peace and security is a precondition for sustainable development.

Photo: Staton Winter/UNMIL