Millions of people leave their homes

Do you like travelling to other countries? It can be fun to arrive somewhere new where everything is different. But what if you have to leave your town or city, because armed men are bombing, robbing and shooting at people?

It doesn't sound much fun now, does it? This is what has been happening in the West African country of Liberia. There's been a civil war – when different groups from the same country are fighting against each other – in Liberia for many years. Groups of rebel fighters were at war with government soldiers because they wanted to get rid of the President, Charles Taylor. He is in Nigeria now. There may be a new government in October, but only if all the different groups can agree.

There are now lots of special soldiers called peacekeepers, who work to stop wars, in Monrovia, the capital city. Although the rebels have agreed to peace, there is still some fighting in the country and daily life for thousands of Liberians is terrible. Diseases like cholera and diarrhoea, which are caused by drinking dirty water, have killed many people, and thousands of others are hungry and sick.

Food and medicine are being sent to Liberia. Christian Aid is also helping in Sierra Leone, the country next to Liberia, where there are thousands of Liberian refugees living in villages. Many of the villages don't have enough food. People will be given seeds and tools and the things they need to build toilets, so that they can avoid getting ill and can grow their own food to eat and sell. Next year wells will be built so that people can have clean water.

Brendan Paddy/Save the Children

These boys are living in a shelter with around 5,000 other people