Medical supplies reach Monrovia

Poor sanitation theratens the lives of the 200 000 displaced Liberians

A plane carrying 12 tonnes of badly-needed medicine and medical equipment has arrived in the war-torn Liberian capital, Monrovia, aid agencies say.

The supplies will be used to perform urgent surgical operations, which were delayed due to fierce fighting in the capital, International Committee of the Red Cross spokesman Jordi Vivak told BBC News Online.

Monrovia is reported to be calm on Monday and some residents have begun to return to their homes.

A United Nations Security Council emergency meeting on Monday was adjourned after an hour, with members agreeing to reconvene next week to continue the discussion on whether to seek an international force to monitor a ceasefire.

I know things are yet very fragile but I can't continue to stay in conditions which are risky for my personal well-being

Peter Blama

West African leaders and United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan have urged the United States to lead a peackeeping force to Liberia in order to avoid a "major humanitarian tragedy".

Liberia was founded by freed US slaves and the population also looks to the US for help.

The BBC's Paul Welsh in Monrovia says that the US is divided on whether to send troops to Liberia.

They want to prevent civilians dying but they are also keen for President Charles Taylor to go, he says.

"We are looking at an international force, and we are looking at the various ways we can support it," the United States' deputy UN ambassador, Richard Williamson, said in Accra, Ghana.

'Open latrine'

The consignment of medical supplies will benefit about 400 patients who have been waiting for surgery in the JFK hospital, the largest hospital in Liberia.

The hospital has a team of two surgeons, two anaesthetists and some nurses who work round the clock treating about 20-30 operations a day.

Aid worker's diary

Q&A: Liberia's conflict

Pictures from Monrovia

Meanwhile, cholera is threatening the health of the 200 000 displaced residents who have taken refuge in schools, stadium, public buildings and diplomatic compounds in Monrovia.

As the fighting has stopped, some people are starting to leave the Samuel K Doe sports stadium, where up to 25,000 had sought shelter during last week's rebel advance on Monrovia.

"I can't do otherwise. Conditions at SKD are deplorable. I know things are yet very fragile but I can't continue to stay in conditions which are risky for my personal well-being," said Peter Blama.

Mr Vivak said that the situation has been worsened due to poor sanitation, which has turned the capital into "an open latrine".

The ICRC hopes that if a ceasefire declared last Friday holds they expect to send very soon "non-food items, such as cooking utensils, plastic-sheeting, tents and blankets to the displaced people in the outskirts of Monrovia.

The organisation has been working in eight camps sheltering up to 60 000 displaced Liberians located between 15 - 20km from Monrovia and also in Kakaka and Salala camps, a two-hour car drive north-east of the capital.

Rebels declared a truce last week after they were repelled from the Liberian capital, Monrovia, by forces loyal to President Charles Taylor, although previous ceasefires have failed to hold.