Fiji stops sending peacekeepers to Liberia

SUVA -- Fiji will stop sending peacekeeping police officers to Liberia due to the Ebola crisis in Africa, the South Pacific island country's police chief said Wednesday.

Ben Groenewald, commissioner of the Fiji Police Force said that the first lot of officers is expected back in Fiji at the end of next month with the last batch to return in May next year.

There are 27 Fijian police officers serving with the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), according to the government- owned Fiji Broadcasting Corporation (FBC).

Reports from the UNMIL revealed that the morale of all Fijian police officers "continues to be high and all are in good health", said the FBC.

The Fiji Police Force has been informed that all necessary precautions are in place at the UNMIL, Groenewald said, adding that the Fiji Police Force will stick with the existing phasing out of the 27 officers after the completion of their one-year tour of duty according to the scheduled period.

Meanwhile, Fiji's Ministry of Health has activated its communicable taskforce and has been meeting with other agencies such as the Ministry of Defense, World Health Organization to ensure they are well prepared for the deadly Ebola virus.

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