By Emmanuel Mafelah, mafelahemmanuel29@gmail.com
GBARNGA, Liberia- The Liberian government through the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMC) has presented food and non-food items to flood victims here, as residents continue to appeal for quick interventions.
Recently, hundreds of people were made homeless due to flooding in some parts of this central Liberian city as a result of torrential rains, with the flooding being attributed to the constant mining of sand in the Jor river, the building of structure in swarm land in and around Gbarnga.
Items presented include, little over 500 bags of 25kg rice, 500 pieces of mattresses, 500 liters of vegetable oil, 700 hundred pieces of mosquitoe nets, 700 pieces of water guide, 1000 comforters or family bedsheets among others.
Presenting the materials to the flood victims Wednesday September 8 at the Gbarnga administration building, Austin Tamba, Deputy Director for Operation at the agency, said the government is concerned about the well-being of it citizens as they go through this difficult period of hardship.
He said the disaster management will always be there to response to the cry of the Liberians people during crisis in any part of the country.
It can be recalled that on Wednesday morning, September 1, residents of Gbarnga wake up and saw their homes being flooded. They experienced a heavy downpour of rain from Tuesday August 31 at about 12 am up to 7:30am on Wednesday which caused the Jor-River to have over flooded its bank and eventually made several individuals homeless including business centers.
Communities that were recently affected by the flood include, Brooklyn, LPMC, Civil Compound, Rubber Factory, Kula Village, Jorkpenmue, among others.
Also speaking, Bong County District #3 Representative, thanks the government of Liberia for the quick intervention.
Upon hearing the news of the flood in his district, he was moved to immediately begin raising funds to purchase rice, mattresses, among other things for the victims, in order restore their hope in the midst of their hopelessness.
Said Representative Cole: “You’re all aware that recently I sent in your communities my team to do a households registration exercise, which went very well. So today we’re here with Disaster Management Agency team so that together we can provide you some assistance no matter the quantity of items you’re going to receive. Please appreciate it because the Bible says, little is much when God is in it.”
The Bong County Lawmaker said that providing and creating the enabling environment for his citizens at all times is something he sees as priority for the Weah-led administration.
The Representative then assured his people that as long as he’s alive and serving at the lower house, he remains supportive to the livelihood improvement of the ordinary people in the county despite politics.
Receiving the materials, beneficiaries extended commendations to the people center leader for what they called, timely intervention in the period of their hopelessness.
They furthered asked the Almighty God’s to continue blessing their son (Representative Cole), in order to continue providing and creating the enabling environment for the commoners across the county.
The citizens also called on other lawmakers, well-meaning Liberians, the Liberia government through the National Disaster Management Agency to urgently come to their aid, especially with the renovation of their damaged homes in order to restore their hope.