United Nations personnel in Liberia, including staff of the UN Mission (UNMIL) and UN agencies, held a solemn memorial service on 20 January for UN staff and other victims of the 12 January earthquake in Haiti. Special Representative Ellen Margrethe Løj laid a wreath to their memory and paid special tribute to Hédi Annabi, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, and his principal deputy, Luiz da Costa, who had served in UNMIL. Former UNMIL colleagues Fred Wooldridge, who was among the first to join UNMIL in 2003, and Jerome Yap, were also remembered. A minute of silence was observed in memory of the victims.

Photo: Emmanuel Tobey/UNMIL

The UN Special Representative Ellen Margrethe Løj interacts with locals of Lofa County during an assessment visit to the county which borders with Guinea and Sierra Leone. In addition to patrolling the border, UN peacekeepers continue to support the people of Liberia in working towards reducing poverty and resuscitating economic growth and development. The UN Envoy stressed the importance of peace and security to the development of Liberia, and urged Liberians to work with the UN Mission to protect and preserve the country’s peace.

Photo: Emmanuel Tobey/UNMIL

UN Special Representative Ellen Margrethe Løj and Liberia’s Minister of Public Works Kofi Woods jointly launch a Bailey bridge on the border between Bong and Margibi counties in the town of Salala. The original bridge along the Monrovia – Gbarnga highway connecting the two counties was destroyed in 1992 during the height of Liberia’s civil crisis. It was constructed by Bangladeshi UN peacekeepers in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Works as part of the UN Mission’s continued support to Liberia’s rebuilding efforts.

Photo: Emmanuel Tobey/UNMIL