With a new peace and the election of President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, life in Liberia is returning to normal. The work of restoring peaceful and productive communities is underway around the country. 

During the 14 year civil war in Liberia (1989-2003), 700,000 people were killed, more than 300,000 fled the country, and another 500,000 fled to safer areas of the country. Most of these people have now returned to their homes, many of which were devastated in the war. Today is a critical time for rebuilding and progress in Liberia, and the needs of Liberians are still great.

Milestones:

Last year, ARC partnered with 273,000 Liberians to help them take back control of their lives. We provided small business training and loan services, helped communities combat gender-based violence, and gave communities the tools and support they needed to rebuild their homes, schools, markets, and other infrastructure.

Current Needs:

With peace in Liberia and the election of a new president, people have been ecouraged to return to their homes. However, in many cases, health care, skills training and other services that were offered in camps are not also available near their homes. Communities are facing the enormous challenges of rebuilding destroyed infrastructure, reviving economies and coping with the social and psychological impacts of the long civil war. ARC is attempting to provide services to smooth the transition home but lacks funding to ensure a successful return for all.