https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/travel-safety/western-africa/liberiaLiberiahttps://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/travel-safety/western-africa/liberia/politics-in-liberiaDespite civil war ending, Liberia is slowly rebuilding itself. But, there are limitations on what is available for travelers, and there is still a threat of violence.2019-10-29T11:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/travel-safety/western-africa/liberia/politics-in-liberiahttps://www.worldnomads.com<p>Liberia has suffered a more or less constant string of civil war and strife since 1989. &nbsp;This came to an end in 2003 when the UN stepped in and largely took control of security in Liberia. As such, there's a large contingent of UN troops and police advisors in Liberia, but this doesn't mean there's any real measure of stability. The potential for violence is very high due to both political and social tensions.</p> <ul> <li><a href="#is-it-safe-to-travel-to-liberia">Is it safe to travel to Liberia?</a></li> <li><a href="#lack-of-facilities-in-liberia">Lack of facilities in Liberia</a></li> <li><a href="#liberia's-history-of-violence">Liberia's history of violence</a></li> <li><a href="#still-take-caution-in-liberia">Still, take caution in Liberia</a></li> </ul> <h2 id="is-it-safe-to-travel-to-liberia">Is it safe to travel to Liberia?</h2> <p>Most foreign governments have advised travelers to Liberia to exercise a&nbsp;high&nbsp;degree of caution. Additionally, many have also issued do not travel advisories for areas on the border between Liberia and Ivory Coast.</p> <p>If you&nbsp;do&nbsp;go to Liberia, make very sure you have heavy security arrangements with a reliable organisation before your arrival.</p> <p>Be certain that your security arrangements include pick up from the airport, delivery to your place of residence while in Liberia, and that your accomodation has adequate protection including armed guards.</p> <p>It's worthwhile to pay attention to the UN Military radio station, UNMIL radio 91.5FM.</p> <h2 id="lack-of-facilities-in-liberia">Lack of facilities in Liberia</h2> <p>Although there's been some level of peace in the last seven years, Liberia is still one of the poorest nations in the world and there is still significant damage to basic infrastructure.</p> <p>Availability of basic services outside of the capital of Monrovia is patchy at best. Electricity, running water, sewage and landlines for telecommunications are generally limited or non-existent outside of the capital.</p> <p>Even things as basic as fuel, transport, and accommodation aren't always available outside of the capital.</p> <p>Within the capital, facilities for foreign visitors are somewhat better, but not by much. Most of the hotels have running water and electricity, but not all of them can guarantee the services twenty-four hours a day.</p> <h2 id="liberia's-history-of-violence">Liberia's history of violence</h2> <p>Although violence is a constant factor in Liberia, there have been incidents of larger scale violence in recent years. Large-scale outbreaks tend to be due to economic, religious, ethnic, or social conflicts that rapidly spiral out of control. Response time of UN troops and security forces is often limited and can take more than a day.</p> <p>February of 2010 saw violence, with multiple fatalities in Voinjama, near the Guinean border. Conflict between Christians and Muslims led to the destruction of many Churches, Mosques, as well as the market being burned down.</p> <p>Rumours that the Muslim Mandingoes were going to seek revenge for this incident led to mass panic in Monrovia where Christians believed Muslims were going to attack. Although this never happened, before authorities could convince people that it was just a rumour, considerable civil disturbance occurred.</p> <p>So be aware the problems in one part of Liberia may lead to mass panic in another era, largely due to people's experiences with the civil war.</p> <p>Corporate and primary resource interest can also be points of conflict. In March of 2010, a large group comprised from the local community invaded a mining camp near Greenville in southeast Liberia, due to a grievance the locals had with the mining operation.</p> <p>International staff were taken hostage, and though the incident was controlled by local authorities, neither the United Nations military, nor the national police, were able to reach the site for more than a day. So do remember that slow response time is a factor in Liberia.</p> <p>Land disputes, illegal mining, occupation of rubber plantations and conflicts regarding all of these can lead to serious violent conflict. Rubber plantations, and interests in particular, seem to attract a great deal of conflict.</p> <p>In 2007, the LAC rubber plantation in Grand Bass County expanded, much to the anger of the locals, who responded by shooting the plantation manager dead. He was a Belgian national; in Liberia, it pays to remember that ex-pats are not safe, regardless of what corporate position they're in.</p> <p>There have also been a number of attacks in the Firestone rubber plantation by illegal rubber tappers. Do not travel away from the major routes in the plantation.</p> <h2 id="still-take-caution-in-liberia">Still, take caution in Liberia</h2> <p>The civil war is over, but that doesn't mean that everyone who was involved in it has thrown away their weapons. Many of them still reside in some of the less accessible areas.</p> <p>Any areas with limited, or no, government or UNMIL presence may have organised and armed groups of former combatants. This includes the Sinoe Rubber plantation and the Sapo National Park.</p> <p>The government is trying to make an effort to stamp out corruption and improve the wellbeing of the country however there is still a lot of work to do.</p>Getty Images/BethanyFank 1514106499 Getty Images The West Point slum is home to about 75,000 in the capital of Monrovia, Liberiahttps://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/travel-safety/western-africa/liberia/daily-problems-in-liberiaFrom deadly waves to insect and water-borne diseases, you don’t want to get injured or sick in Liberia. Here's why.2019-11-01T11:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/travel-safety/western-africa/liberia/daily-problems-in-liberiahttps://www.worldnomads.com<p>Liberia is still a developing nation with its fair share of issues, including inadequate sanitation, poor water quality and multiple diseases.</p> <p>The country also has limited medical facilities and resources, which means if you are seriously ill or injured, it is likely you will need to be medically evacuated to a country with a higher level of medical services.</p> <p>Civil war has plagued Liberia for many years until it ended in 2003. The fighting between rebel groups and government had destroyed 95% of the country's health services and resulted in the loss of many doctors.</p> <p>Being in a tropical location, Liberia also is a haven for many mosquito-borne diseases.</p> <p>However there are things you can do before departure and during your stay in Liberia to reduce the risk of you contracting a trip destroying illness or injury.</p> <ul> <li><a href="#beach-safety-in-liberia">Beach safety in Liberia</a></li> <li><a href="#can-i-drink-the-water-in-liberia">Can I drink the water in Liberia?</a></li> <li><a href="#is-liberia-still-affected-by-ebola">Is Liberia still affected by Ebola?</a></li> <li><a href="#diseases-in-liberia">Diseases in Liberia</a></li> </ul> <h2 id="beach-safety-in-liberia">Beach safety in Liberia</h2> <p>The natural hazards in Liberia are only really a problem if you plan on going swimming or indulging in other aquatic activities.</p> <p>Liberian beaches are beautiful, however they also have some very strong rips and Liberia isn't well known for its lifeguards. Possibly because there aren't any.</p> <p>So if you plan on swimming at the beach in Liberia, be aware that there are no lifeguards, and warnings of inclement weather aren't posted on Liberian beaches, even the popular ones.</p> <p>Fishing boats and canoes that roam along the coast make a little extra profit by offering to take passengers on board as well. However, they're regularly swamped by waves and currents and can sink or tip over more often than you'd believe.</p> <p>In addition to the rip hazards, there is also the sanitation problem. Due to lack of sewerage infrastructure, public toilets and more the beaches and waterways particularly around West Point are polluted with waste both human and other. It is probably a good idea not to go swimming at all.</p> <h2 id="can-i-drink-the-water-in-liberia">Can I drink the water in Liberia?</h2> <p>We strongly advise that you do not consume any of the local water in Liberia unless it is treated or alternatively purchased bottled water. Due to the country's poor sanitation, there is serious risk contracting water borne diseases. To find out more about water treatment and what methods may suit you best, <a href="https://www.worldnomads.com/travel-safety/bottled-vs-filtered-water" target="_blank">read this article</a>.</p> <p>It is also advised that you wash any fruit and vegetables in safe treated water and that any fresh food you may consume is cooked thoroughly.</p> <h2 id="is-liberia-still-affected-by-ebola">Is Liberia still affected by Ebola?</h2> <p>Liberia, like many other countries in West Africa fell under the grip of the Ebola virus in 2014. Borders were closed to Liberia by neighbouring countries to stem the virus spreading. In 2015, Liberia was declared by the World Health Organisation free of Ebola in January 2016 after no new cases were found after 6 weeks.<br />However, Ebola resurfaced in Liberia in April 2016, with several cases and fatalities in Monrovia and other parts of the country. WHO declared Liberia free of Ebola again in May 2016 and the country has entered another 42 day surveillance cycle.&nbsp;</p> <h2 id="diseases-in-liberia">Diseases in Liberia</h2> <h3>Yellow fever</h3> <p>To enter Liberia, you will need a Yellow Fever vaccination certification. Get the vaccination before departure. The great news is that it lasts you 10 years.</p> <p>Like Malaria, Yellow Fever is carried and transmitted by mosquitos and exhibits flu-like symptoms and at worst, liver inflammation. Like any other mosquito borne disease, you can&nbsp;<a href="https://www.worldnomads.com/travel-safety/mosquitoes-and-bite-prevention" target="_blank">take preventative measures</a>&nbsp;to stop yourself from being bitten.&nbsp;</p> <h3>Malaria</h3> <p>Malaria is common in Liberia and the sad news is, if you stay a lengthy period of time in the country, you are most likely to suffer a bout on your stay. <br />Malaria is certainly a killer, but it rarely claims the life of travellers. The existence of anti-malarial drugs in hospitals means you can take a tablet and suffer just a few days of bad health.</p> <p>It is advised to start taking an anti malarial prophylaxis before departure and during your trip. While the anti malarial doesn't prevent malaria parasite infection, it suppresses the associated symptoms by killing the parasite.&nbsp;However anti-malarial drugs have a downside, nausea, fainting, stomach pain and psychological affects are common for those taking the drugs.</p> <p>Most doctors advise taking the medication for only a few months, which doesn&lsquo;t help if you are destined for a year-long stay in Africa.</p> <p>Some good advice with dealing with malaria &ndash; cover up at night, use mosquito nets and during the day wear long, loose-fitting clothing and covering exposed skin in DEET based repellent to avoid being bitten.</p> <h3>Other disease risks</h3> <p>Liberia has a strong prevalence of water-borne diseases such as cholera, typhoid, tuberculosis and lassa fever. Cholera tends to break out seasonally, due to the lack of sewage services and clean drinking water.</p> <p>A non-functioning sewer system and non-existent garbage removal make sanitation amazingly bad in urban areas plus over crowded towns provides the perfect conditions for disease to run rampant.&nbsp;Respiratory diseases and diarrhoea are common as well.</p> <p>Lassa Fever is endemic in Liberia and breaks out in the country annually. It is transmitted human to human or animal to human and is thought that transmission to humans is likely from coming in contact with urine or faeces from rodents which have invaded grain stores. There are also reports of transmission between people via body fluids. Since January 2016, there have been 38 suspected cases of Lassa Fever according to WHO with 15 of those fatalities.</p> <p>Lassa Fever incubates over 2-21 days and exhibits flu like symptoms with a gradual appearance of swelling and bleeding both internally and externally.&nbsp;</p> <p>Given that there are several diseases which manifest flu like symptoms it is strongly advised that you seek medical treatment as soon as possible to determine the cause.</p>Getty Images/Konoplytska 1636705892 Getty Images A river and jungle in the beautiful countryside of Liberiahttps://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/travel-safety/western-africa/liberia/liberian-crime-concernsLiberia has a high crime rate, from petty to serious. Find out how to stay safe and avoid crime while traveling.2019-09-04T10:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/travel-safety/western-africa/liberia/liberian-crime-concernshttps://www.worldnomads.com<p>Most visits to Libera will be without incident, and crimes in Liberia tend to be opportunity-based and&nbsp;usually occur at night.</p> <ul> <li><a href="#potential-liberian-police-problems">Potential Liberian Police Problems</a></li> <li><a href="#where-is-it-not-safe-in-liberia?">No-go Zones in Liberia</a></li> <li><a href="#rape-risk-in-liberia">Rape Risk in Liberia</a></li> <li><a href="#escaped-prisoner-threats-in-liberia">Escaped Prisoner Threats in Liberia</a></li> </ul> <h2 id="potential-liberian-police-problems">Potential Liberian police problems</h2> <p>The Liberian National Police have a strong presence in the capital city of Monrovia, but it has limited resources outside of Monrovia.</p> <p>The police can actually be a bit of a problem. While they're nowhere near as corrupt as they used to be, some members of the police force still stop foreign travelers and not release them until some form of bribe has been delivered, so watch out for that.</p> <p>Make sure you have a copy of your passport on you at all times, so if local authorities do decide to question you, you have readily available proof of identity and nationality.</p> <h2 id="where-is-it-not-safe-in-liberia?">No-go zones in Liberia: places to avoid</h2> <p>Liberia is one of those places where you need to be on your guard almost everywhere. Monrovia gets much worse at night, but it can be dangerous during the day as well.</p> <p>Areas occupied and frequented by foreigners aren't regarded as safe, even though they are (marginally) safer than other areas.</p> <p>Mamba Point and Sinkor in Monrovia, where foreigners tend to stay, have had many reported incidents of mugging, assault and other crimes. Foreign workers aren't safe in their locals either, and burglaries do occur in hotels.</p> <p>West Point, one of the many slum areas in the capital, Monrovia is also one of the most dangerous places in Liberia. In addition to the prevalent crime, diseases like tuberculosis, and gastro and more frequently infect the 80,000 residents who live there, no thanks to the poor sanitation conditions present.</p> <p>Theft and armed extortion has happened in taxis, and it's a good idea to stay away from public transport altogether.&nbsp;Do your research and only s<span>tay in reputable accommodation with security arrangements, and arrange for transport, including travel to and from the airport, in advance.<span>&nbsp;</span></span></p> <p>Don't travel outside of Monrovia at night. The roads are&nbsp;badly maintained and the countryside has more than enough criminals with automatic weapons who won't hesitate to use them.&nbsp;<span>Check the security situation before traveling anywhere in the country.<span>&nbsp;</span></span></p> <h2 id="rape-risk-in-liberia">Rape risk in Liberia</h2> <p>Liberia has one of the highest rates of rape in the world. There have been incidents of rape and attempted rape on expatriate women, many of whom worked for charity organizations of the UN.</p> <p>If you're female, don't believe that because you're there to help, you won't be harmed.&nbsp;</p> <h2 id="escaped-prisoner-threats-in-liberia">Escaped prisoner threats in Liberia</h2> <p>Liberia has many mass escapes from its prisons, and those escapees are rarely recaptured.</p> <p>This means there are a lot of men more desperate than usual, and are highly likely to be armed and looking for a getaway vehicle. If you're approached by strangers while driving, be very careful and make sure your windows are up and the doors locked.</p> <p>This especially applies both in high-population areas, and when driving off the main roads.</p>Getty Images/Nick Fraser - Asali Photography 1136510179 Getty Images Sinkor Beach, Monrovia, Liberiahttps://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/travel-safety/western-africa/liberia/liberia-crimeAttempting to navigate Liberia in a hire car is not recommended for travelers. Here's what you need to know about getting around safely.2019-10-23T11:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/travel-safety/western-africa/liberia/liberia-crimehttps://www.worldnomads.com<p>Liberia is still unstable despite the civil war ending in 2003. Traveling through the country is not that easy, as transport options are limited. <a href="/travel-safety/western-africa/liberia/liberian-crime-concerns" target="_blank" title="Crime in Liberia">There is also a risk of crime</a>.</p> <p>Even if you stay within the town of Monrovia, issues can arise that may make you wish you'd stayed home. Driving in Liberia is exactly what you'd expect from&nbsp;a country that has been torn apart by war.</p> <p>For starters, there is no public transport from the airport and that includes taxis. So if you don't want to walk for forty kilometres, you should really make arrangements for transportation from the airport to the city center.</p> <p>You'll also need to make advance accommodation arrangements as hotel space is limited in Monrovia, and you don't want to be walking the streets at night looking for an available room.</p> <h2>Road safety in Liberia, or lack there of</h2> <p>Traffic laws in Monrovia are effectively non-existent and un-enforceable. Driving in Monrovia presents a very real threat to life, or just limb if you're lucky. Traffic accidents happen frequently and often result in death.</p> <p>It doesn't help that road quality is terrible, with large numbers of potholes present. All forms of motorised transport tend to have far more people in or on them than is safe, and are also incredibly overburdened with luggage of many varieties.</p> <p>Driver and vehicle quality tends to be substandard, with drivers stopping without signalling, driving at high speeds, overtaking on both the left and the right and anything else you can think of, in poorly maintained vehicles with really bad tyres. If you drive through Monrovia without seeing a tyre blowout, I'd be very surprised.</p> <p>Intersections present an interesting problem while driving in Monrovia, since there aren't road signs and essentially no traffic laws. Approach these with caution, and look out for both pedestrians and other vehicles who may not see you or care that you're there.</p> <p>High-speed car convoys of government officials require all other vehicles and pedestrians to pull over until they have passed by. In case you were wondering, yes, they will run you over if you don't get out of the way.</p> <p>Theft and armed extortion has happened in taxis and really, if the dilapidated state of the taxis in Monrovia wasn't enough to make you steer clear, the fact that taxi drivers tend to rob foreigners should be. It's a good idea to stay away from public transportation altogether.</p> <h2>Traveling beyond Monrovia, is it safe?</h2> <p>If you're traveling outside of Monrovia, you can expect delays at all of the UNMIL checkpoints. Also expect lengthy detours due to amount of road infrastructure damaged by either the civil war, or the annual rains which can wash away roads and bridges.</p> <p>The political and civil situation in neighbouring countries can become destabilised quickly. It's generally a good idea not to travel anywhere in Liberia apart from Monrovia. If you do venture outside of Monrovia, be very careful around any of the neighbouring country boarders, particularly the Ivory Coast as there are armed groups which can cause trouble.</p> <p>Border areas are usually highly controlled by authorities from Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Ivory Coast. When situations between the countries become tense, these border crossings can close. Be aware that this may happen at any time.</p>Getty Images/Travis Lupick 1161000047 Getty Images Waterside Market, looking north down Randall Street