By Emmanuel Mafelah, mafelahemmanuel29@gmail.com
GBARNGA, Liberia- Some relief assistance have begun to reach victims of a violent rainstorm that left hundreds homeless in Gbarnga, Bong County recently.
In an effort to put smile on the faces of recent violent storm victims in Liberia Central Bong County, Representative Josiah Marvin Cole of District #3 in collaborations with the Jewel Cole Foundation, have donated several assorted food and non-food items to Chief-Compound Community,
Materials donated includes 15 bundles of zinc, 50 pcs bedsheets, 30 bags of 25kg rice, and 50 pcs of towel amongst others
In April, a violent storm left behind a serious humanitarian situation affecting more than three hundred and fifty residents of the Chief Compound Community in Gbarnga, Bong County.
The storm disaster was followed by torrential rainfall and thunder strikes that lasted for several hours before a cease was realized.
At least 85 houses reportedly got damaged as a result of the incident, with occupants forced to sleep in the open air after being made homeless. Since the strom occurred locals are still struggling to deal with the damage it left behind.
But presenting the items on April 22, 2020, the Bong County District#3 Lawmaker said the donation was his own way of stretching hands to storm victims amid the Coronavirus pandemic in the country.
Taking delivery of the materials, the storm victims lauded the Bong County District#3 Representative for the donation.
The Bong County storm victims said they were frustrated to see their houses being de-roofed at a time where they are struggling to provide a daily meal for their children.
The citizens are calling on Philanthropists or government to quickly intervene the situation, adding that it will be inappropriate for them victims of the disaster be sleeping together amid the spread of the deadly Coronavirus
Some houses in the Chief compound Community is left without its roof following the angry Strom.
Currently, most of the people affected by the storm disaster are residing in congested family homes as they eagerly await assistance to begin rebuilding their lives shattered created by the storm disaster despite the Ministry of Health protocols that disallow huge gatherings, aimed at combating the further spread of COVID 19 in the country.
‘’I am worried that the only house I have was de-roofed by the violent storm during this humanitarian crisis in our Country (Coronavirus pandemic),’’ Kebbeh Daniel, a single mother with five children expressed in frustration.
Another residents, Isaac Willie of the chief compound Community said that the violent storm incident have brought serious embarrassment 5o their lives.
Since the storm disaster occurred, there has been no large-scale intervention by both government and humanitarian organizations except the office of the Inspector that provided assistance to few severely affected households.
“We are overwhelmed with the current situation here and do not have the capacity to provide the needed assistance to people affected by the Wednesday storm in this city. I am adding my voice to those affected for the central government to immediately come to their aid because we are overburdened right now,’’ Victor Wesseh, Bong County Inspector stressed in an interview with our Correspondent.
This is not the first violent storm incident to occur in Gbarnga, but this seems to be the worst with more negative impact on residents especially during this health crisis.
They are meanwhile appealing to members of the Bong County legislative caucus, well-meaning sons and daughters of the County both in Liberia and in the diaspora to urgently come to their aid.
They also want the National Disaster Management Agency through the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Liberia Red Cross as well as other humanitarian organizations assist them with food and building materials such as zinc, nails, amongst other things in order to survive.