The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) plans to repatriate 50,000 Liberian refugees from Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea and other countries by the end of this year,reports from the Liberian capital of Monrovia said on Thursday.

Moses Okello, UNHCR's representative to Liberia, said the organization will start the repatriation program on Oct. 1 and dueto the security situation and lack of infrastructure, the Office of the UNHCR cut from 100,000 to 50,000 the number of refugees to be repatriated.

The UNHCR also plans to send home 100,000 to 300,000 refugees now living around Monrovia.

About 17 million US dollars has been contributed to the programwhich needs a total of 39 million dollars. The UNHCR has set up schools, medical centers and other infrastructures in some security regions, Okello said.

Liberia has been plagued by a 14-year-long civil war with 350,000 Liberians fleeing to neighboring West African countries. Its peace process was initiated in August last year when former President Charles Taylor's government reached an agreement with two major rebel groups.

Source: Xinhua