The United States has promised to write off US $391 million of Liberia’s debt to help the country recover from its 14-year civil war, although this is a fraction of the $3.7 billion that the nation owes international lenders.

More than 20 countries, multilateral organisations and nongovernmental groups were meeting in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday and Wednesday for the Liberian Partners' Forum. The conference is aimed assessing the government’s progress in promoting national reconstruction and development and to assess the nation’s financial needs.

Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf was scheduled to meet with US President George Bush on Wednesday. Liberia was settled by freed American slaves and a large Liberian diaspora lives in the United States.

In announcing the debt relief, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said President Bush had asked Congress to provide more than $200 million in additional aid to Liberia over the next year. Johnson-Sirleaf has expressed concern over using development aid to pay off the country’s debt.

Liberia’s civil war claimed tens of thousands of lives and decimated the country’s infrastructure. Donor support is being sought for employment generation, restoration of electricity and water, infrastructure rehabilitation and other needs.

Dee Maxwell S. Kemayah, executive director of the Action for Greater Harvest, a Liberian NGO, said the government should now focus on empowering its people.

"The government should see this as a priority by empowering its citizens, because if this is done the common man will be able to earn something and he will not want to cause problems or disturbances," he said.

Addressing the donor’s conference, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon highlighted positive steps Liberia had taken since the war ended in 2003 and democratic elections were held in 2005.

He said more than 100,000 combatants have been disarmed, more than a half million displaced Liberians have returned to their homes, economic reform is being implemented and a new police force and army are being trained.

“These are welcome developments, but they represent, at best, the end of the beginning,” Ban said. “Much work lies ahead to entrench lasting peace and development in this war-ravaged part of Africa. Liberia’s government and citizens will necessarily take the lead in such efforts. But, to succeed, they must be able to count on the continuing and collective support of the international community.”

Most of Liberia’s estimated $3.7 billion debt is owed to the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the African Development Bank.

Save the Children on Tuesday called on wealthy countries to wipe out the debt to secure Liberia’s post-war future.

“Liberian children are on a humanitarian knife-edge now that the country has emerged from conflict,” said Susan Grant, Liberia country director for Save the Children, in a statement. “This is a litmus test of whether rich country promises made in 2005 amount to anything more than hot air. After all the talk this is the time for action. Children can’t wait.”

The NGO said Liberia has one of the highest child mortality rates in the world and the majority of deaths are from easy-to-treat or preventable diseases. One in five Liberian children dies before their fifth birthday.