[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1991, Book I)]
[January 9, 1991]
[Page 24]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



[[Page 24]]


Statement by Press Secretary Fitzwater on United States Assistance for 
Liberia and Other Refugee Relief Efforts
January 9, 1991

    The President has taken two important steps which underline our
concern for the beleaguered people of Liberia and our desire that there 
should be a peaceful settlement to the problems of that country.
    On January 2, the President approved release of $6.0 million from 
the Emergency Refugee and Migration Assistance Fund (ERMA) to meet 
urgent humanitarian needs of Liberian refugees. This is in addition to 
earlier U.S. contributions of $73 million for humanitarian assistance 
programs for Liberian conflict victims. Of this amount, $63.9 [million] 
was in food assistance and $9.1 million was in cash contributions and 
relief supplies to international and private voluntary organizations for 
their relief efforts in the region.
    On January 7, the President approved a Department of State request 
to provide the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) with 
$2.8 million in economic support funds for its peacekeeping and 
humanitarian relief activities in Liberia. This assistance will be 
limited to nonlethal support for ECOWAS peacekeeping operations and for 
related humanitarian relief activities in Liberia.
    Our contribution to ECOWAS reflects United States support for ECOWAS 
objectives in Liberia--a ceasefire, the formation of an interim 
administration, and the holding of free and democratic elections. These 
objectives offer the best formula for a peaceful solution to the 
conflict. The ECOWAS intervention in Liberia represents an encouraging 
example of African states finding African solutions to African problems. 
We call on the international donor community to continue its support for 
humanitarian relief assistance in Liberia and to demonstrate its 
solidarity with ECOWAS efforts to bring peace to Liberia.
    The President also approved use of Emergency Refugee and Migration 
Assistance Fund money as follows: $3.0 million for refugee and migration 
needs in response to the Persian Gulf crisis; $2.5 million to meet the 
emergency needs of Sudanese refugees; and $600,000 for emergency 
assistance programs in Central Africa for new Chadian and Rwandan 
refugees and those uprooted by the current conflict in Rwanda.

                    Note: Presidential Determination No. 91-12 of 
                        January 2 was printed in the ``Federal 
                        Register'' of January 16. Presidential 
                        Determination No. 91-14 of January 7 was printed 
                        in the ``Federal Register'' of January 28.