PHOTO: 4-year-old tortured victim being attended to at the JFK Hospital
By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
Monrovia- The original rescued mother and Chief Executive Officer of the Rescue for Abandoned and Children in Hardship (REACH), Mrs. Ne-Siah B. Livingstone has again come to the aid of another suffering child. This time one who was recently allegedly tortured in Liberia’s western Gbarpolu County.
The REACH CEO is underwriting the medical bill of a four-year-old child who was recently burned by her guardian for allegedly stealing food in this County, which is situated over 208 kilometers from Monrovia.
An earlier account said that the alleged perpetrator of the burning of the child was her biological father, but it rather later emerged that the perpetrator was in fact a guardian who she was living with in Gbarpolu County. And the location of her biological father is unknown.
The issue of domestic violence in Liberia remains a major challenge, with majority victims being children and women.
After the incident, the 4-year-old victim was seeking help from a humanitarian when Mrs. Livingstone came to her call.
On Tuesday July 27, 2021, the CEO of REACH took the victim to the John F. Kennedy Medical Center in Monrovia, where the treatment commenced and the Victim is scheduled to revisit the hospital this Friday, July 30, 2021 to continue her treatment.
Mrs. Livingstone, REACH CEO
Mrs. Livingstone, widely referred to as the original rescued mother, continues to make history in Liberia through her unflinching supports toward under privilege children and adults from all background.
Apart from under writing her medical bill, she also provided US$40 and transportation cost from their location to the JFK.
Mrs. Livingstone has also helped save the life of a three-year-old child was allegedly raped and whose private part torn with a razor blade by a boy, aged 15, also in Gbarpolu County in 2020.
In a chat with the victim at the Temple of Justice, she lamented that she was extremely hungry that why she decided taking meat from the food to eat and she didn’t deny when she was asked.
Another person who has also identified with the four-year-old torture victim is Mr. Stephen Elar from United States of America, who sent a fifty United States dollars to buttress the effort of Mrs. Livingstone to see the wellbeing of the child.
Mr. Elar has also promised to provide more support for the victim through other humanitarian from the United States of America.
Wave of domestic violence incidents
Recently, a 40-year-old father identified as Nelson Melba along with his wife and another daughter were arrested, investigated, charged and sent to the Kungbor Magisterial Court in the western Grand Cape Mount County for allegedly burning the right hand of his little 7-year-old old daughter, Fatu Melba for alleged stealing over food.
The incident occurred last Friday, July 16, 2021 in Borborbee town, Kongba District Gbarpolu County.
The individuals were later charged with the crime of Aggravated Assault, which is a felony of the second degree.
Such act violates Chapter 14.20 of the New penal law of Liberia which says:
- 14.20.Aggravated assault.
(a)Causes serious bodily injury to another purposely,knowingly orrecklessly; or
A person is guilty of aggravated assault if he:
(b)Purposely or knowingly causes bodily injury to another with a deadly weapon.
Aggravated assault is a felony of the second degree
Defendant Melba accused his seven years old daughter of stealing a piece of meat from over his food.
After accusing little Fatu, he he placed a burning coal in the right hand of Fatu and instructed her to close her hand on it until it goes off and being under intense pressure from her father she did until the burning coal went off in her hand.
Defendant Nelson Melba, his wife Amelia Melba and her daughter Princess Melba together were charged with Criminal attempt to commit murder and aggravated Assault.
The United Nations Convention on the Right of a Child says.
1.Survival rights: include the child’s right to life and the needs that are most basic to existence, such as nutrition, shelter, an adequate living standard, and access to medical services
2 Protection rights: ensure children are safeguarded against all forms of abuse, neglect and exploitation, including special care for refugee children; safeguards for children in the criminal justice system; protection for children in employment; protection and rehabilitation for children who have suffered exploitation or abuse of any kind.
Meanwhile, the Victim is currently in the custody of the Magisterial Court Clerk, but the burnt she suffered in her hand severe.
The child is also asking for urgent humanitarian assistance from the Liberian government through Gender Ministry, including Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor and President George Manneh Weah.