addressing issues that caused separation and internal displacement arising from armed conflicts, civil strives or natural disasters. But there is a concern on provision of access to basic social welfare and services for refugee and internally displaced children. The Committee encourages the government of Liberia to take measures with CSO’s to facilitate social welfare services to unaccompanied children. On adoption The Committee commends the State Party for the steps it has taken in regulating adoption by creating a National Commission on Adoption to examine domestic and inter-country adoptions. But the issue of traditional child fostering arrangements and exploitation of children as a consequence of informal adoption is not regulated. Thus Liberia should set a mechanism to ensure that all adoption set ups warrant the best interest of the child and expedite the enactment of Adoption law that has sufficient provisions to discourage or regulate informal type of adoptions or traditional fostering arrangements. F. Health and welfare While acknowledging the Free Health Care Policy for children under 5, there is concern on the high rate of maternal and infant mortality. There is high maternal mortality rate which is 103 death per 1000 live birth; one of the highest in the world. Thus the Committee recommend the State Party to improve access to ante-natal care by recruiting trained caregivers at home or in clinics including care at delivery, and for newborn babies in well-resourced and adequately staffed health clinics in remote areas; ensure access to emergency obstetric care; set programs that encourage pregnant women to seek antenatal care and deliver babies at hospitals wherever possible or in facilities attended by trained professionals. The Committee acknowledges the commencement of implementation of the “Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene” Strategic Plan for 2011-2017 by the State party. However, there is still a concern on the inadequate and substandard provision of drinking water, sanitation, and housing which affect the healthy development of children. Therefore the State Party should make all efforts to ensure provision of clean water, sanitation and housing across the country. The Committee is concerned about the high proportion of poverty among the Liberian population living below the poverty line (80%) and in extreme poverty (48%). It is moreover concerned about the regional and gender disparities whereby children living 8