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In August 2003, the brutal Liberian civil war that started in 1989 and cost about 250,000 lives finally ended with the departure of President Charles Taylor to Nigeria . The protracted conflict has had a huge impact on the population. At present, there are approximately 300,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) and 300,000 Liberians are refugees in neighbouring countries. UNHCR started repatriating refugees in 2004, but the majority of IDPs still remain in the camps and are still not able return to their areas of origin due to security concerns and delivery of basic social services like health and education. Today Liberia is one of the world's poorest countries (note the country is not even mentioned in UNDPs 2005 Human Development Index) with high illiteracy rates (63% for women, 30% for men) and an unemployment rate of app. 85%. Fewer than 50% of children of primary school age are enrolled in school. Over 75% of the population live below the poverty line.
Although the situation in Liberia has not yet completely stabilised there are a number of positive signs that peace is becoming a reality for many Liberians. The departure of Taylor and the engagement of the international community have enhanced the delivery of humanitarian assistance and increased humanitarian space in all parts of the country. Also the past years have witnessed the reopening of schools and increases in livelihood capabilities. And finally after years of political instability the national election in November 2005 provided further hope for Liberians that 14 years of brutal conflict are now over.
It is estimated that 50% of the population in Liberia is less than 18 years. Many of the youth have never been to school, they have been fighting most of their lives, and the only skill they have is using a gun. If successful inclusion in the country's development, disarmament and demobilisation, adequate reintegration, and provision of education and jobs is not provided for the ex-combatants, there is a risk that they will resort to crime and other acts of violence for their survival. The ex-fighters have proven to be a group that can be manipulated into committing acts of violence and vandalism and a potential source of social and political unrest in the sub-region, e.g. be engaged in the crisis in the Ivory Coast, which has a potential to spill over into Liberia as young unemployed ex-combatants may once more be engaged in conflict. This makes education programmes even more crucial for sustaining peace and stability in the region as education in emergencies is a tool for protecting children and is vital for the reconstruction for the economic basis of family, local and national life and for sustainable development and peace building.
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