今日利国 Today’s Liberia

　　苦难何时终？ When will be the end to the sufferings?

　　利比利亚持续多年的内战，已夺去无数人的生命，亦令三十多万难民逃离家园。

　　利国局势一直动荡不安。从十五世纪开始，葡萄牙人到此贩卖黑奴，随后荷兰、英国、法国及德国的殖民者相继入侵。由一八四七年宣布独立，至一九九七年泰勒上台，期间发生的种族冲突和政变内战多不胜数。

　　Thousands of people were killed and more than 300 thousand refugees left their homes during the civil war that has lasted for years in Liberia.

　　Political situation in Liberia has been unstable for a long time. As early as in the 15th century Portuguese started African slave trade there. The land was then invaded by the colonist from Holland, England, France and Germany. From 1847, the year Liberia declared independence, to 1997 the day Taylor became president, there had been endless tribal stnfes and civil wars

　　政权易手 Handover of Power

　　近年，由于反政府组织「利比利亚人和解与民主联合」(利民联)企图推翻泰勒政府，以致内战持续不断。二零零三年八月十一日，在国际压力下泰勒终于同意流亡尼日利亚，新上任总统布拉亦将于今年十月卸任，现阶段，布拉正与反政府组织商讨组成临时政府的事宜，可惜短期内不可能就权力分配等问题达成共识。

　　利比利亚的贫穷与饥饿，依然如故。

　　In recent years, there have been endless civil wars in Liberia as the rebel Liberian United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD) attempted to topple Taylor’s government. On August 11, 2003, Taylor finally exiled to Nigeria under international pressure. New president Blah will, however, demit in October, 2003. He is now in progress with the rebels on forming an interim government. Yet it is still difficult to reach consensus over power distribution shortly.

　　Poverty and hunger still remain.

　　活在无望之中 Living in Hopelessness

　　死亡固然可怕，但是活在无望当中令人觉得更可怕和可悲。多年的内战已令利国非常贫穷，失业率达70%，可以说人民的日常生活只有战争和逃难，当地人互相残杀，社会亦陷入一片混乱，毫无秩序可言。

　　Of course human is afraid of death, but it is more horrible and sad to live in hopelessness. The civil war has been continuing so many years and it turns Liberia into a poor nation. Unemployment rate reached 70%. There are only two things among Liberians: wars and refuge. People are killing each other, and all the rules and orders are broken in society.

　　活在饥荒中 Living in Hunger

　　有报告指出，从利国首都蒙罗维亚被赶出来后，住在难民营的小孩当中，近40%出现营养不良。这不但直接危害他们的身体健康，还会导致脑部发育不良，影响孩子的一生。

　　A survey indicates that nearly 40% of young children living in camps for displaced people in the Liberian capital Monrovia suffer from malnutrition. They are not only suffering from bad health, but hypoplasia of brain, which will destroy their whole life.

　　活在伤痛中 Living in Pain

　　医疗用品在多个地区都非常短缺，根据当地记者所见，医院只是改建自弃置的楼宇，受伤的士兵更要在没有麻醉剂的情况下进行手术治疗。

　　内战令到利国人民缺粮缺药物，情况令人痛心。国际间亦希望利国的情况可尽早改善，让人民尽快走出困苦。

　　Medical materials are very inadequate in several regions. According to local journalists, hospitals were rebuilt from abandoned buildings. Wounded soldiers were under operation without drugs.

　　It’s a pity the Liberians are having to face a shortage of food and medicines due to civil war. It’s a common wish of international community that there is prompt improvement for them to live a better life.