The United States Assistant Secretary for African Affairs, Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield has committed the US Government's support to Liberia's ongoing Ebola fight and its recovery and reconstruction programs.

"The US Government has always been by Liberia's side in addressing its humanitarian and development challenges. We will continue to work with Liberian Government as it moves into the recovery phase and the reconstruction phase", Ambassador Greenfield said in response to a local journalist's question relating to the US Government's role in Liberia's challenges.

The US diplomat made the remarks when President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf on Wednesday welcomed into the country a United States high-level delegation headed by the former US Ambassador to Liberia. The team is a ten- member delegation including Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations/Low-Intensity Conflict, Mr. Michael Lumpkin.

Ambassador Greenfield, during the media stakeout with President Sirleaf and her colleague Assistant Secretary Lumpkin held in the Foyer of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,  also revealed that her Government will be working alongside other humanitarian partners in addressing Liberia's recovery challenges.

She however acknowledged that it is going to be a huge challenge but was quick to point out that such will require a regional approach: "It's going to be a huge, huge challenge not just for Liberia but the other countries in the region. I think we will have to take a regional approach in dealing with the reconstruction issues. That is something we are looking at very closely at along with other colleagues in the humanitarian and development community".

Commenting on her Government’s take on the holding of the senatorial elections which the Supreme Court has a stay-order on, Ambassador Greenfield hoped that Liberians will make a decision that will avoid constitutional crisis: "That is not a call for the United States Government to make. Your supreme court is addressing that issue. Our view is that the process that is taking place should hopefully lead to free, fair, peaceful and transparent elections and that a decision will be made that will not put Liberia into a position where there's constitutional crisis but not in the end, it is for Liberians to decide in which direction they will like to go."

"I am going to rely on the good advice of medical professionals who can address this issue. I understand medical professionals have indicated that it is not an issue, but again your Supreme Court is making a ruling on this and we all will have to wait for the decision of the Supreme Court", she responded to the holding of big political rallies in the face of the Ebola crisis.

Ambassador Greenfield also dismissed criticisms that the US was too slow in responding to the Ebola crisis in Liberia, saying that it is never too late.

She said, "It is better to not need the beds in the ETU's than to not have enough beds in the ETU's for a number of cases."

For his part, Assistant Secretary Lumpkin said it is better to have a team on the ground to respond to any disaster.

Earlier, President Sirleaf, on behalf of the Government and people of Liberia, thanked them for the great support that the country has received and also extended thanks to  US President Barrack Obama who took some major decisions to support countries worse affected by the Ebola virus disease.

“As a result of their strong support endorsed by a bi-partisan Congress, we have been able to make the progress that we have made,” she said. She noted that the US team's visit provides an opportunity to exchange views on how far Liberia has come in the fight against the virus.

Ambassador Greenfield and delegation have been visiting other places in Liberia to ascertain the situation including a visit to Bong County where they visited the US funded Ebola virus disease laboratory, a safe burial site, as well as the Bong County Ebola treatment unit. They also observed an Ebola survivors’ seminar for healthcare workers at the National Police Training Academy in Paynesville City.

The former U.S. Ambassador to Liberia also held meetings with officials of the United Nations Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER), United Nations Missions in Liberia (UNMIL), World Health Organization (WHO), World Food Program (WFP) and the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of Liberia Brigadier General Daniel Ziankhan, among others.