By Alfred Kollie,alfredkolliejr92@gmail.com
Many houses on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean on 20th Street in the Monrovia suburb of Sinkor have been swept away as sea erosion rages.
Apart from making many homeless in the Liberian capital’s densely populated West Point in recent weeks, many citizens in the People’s United Community in Sinkor have been made homeless in the past few days.
Homeless residents have told the local Fabric FM radio in Monrovia this week that sea erosion has destroyed over hundred houses along with their valuable items.
The People’s United Community is one of the oldest Slum Communities located on 20th street behind the largest government-run referral hospital, John F. Kennedy Medical Center.
This Reporter, who visited the site said several homes including schools and churches stand at risk, if quick intervention is not made by government to address the situation in the area.
The Victims, most of whom are women and children, are currently seeking shelter with friends, relatives and in school buildings in the community.
In an interview with www.newspublictrust.com on Tuesday, the Chairman of this Community, Carlos Joseph expressed frustration over the refusal of government to intervene.
Mr. Joseph at the same time accused government of not taking their issue seriously since the disaster but rather area of government interest like the fire disaster in New Kru Town and other communities, where President George Weah had some time ago personally intervened.
‘’This is an age old problem, I done know why when we are crying over air we can see help for our people, or is it because we are behind JFK, but it is very bad, when it come to New Kru Town and other places, you see government and other donors running there for help but for us no help why,’’ Mr. Joseph ask.
The Community Chairman of the People’s United Community in Sinkor Carlos Joseph is however, appealing to government and International partners to help the community and find better solution that will address the disaster.
‘’We are recommending to government either for relocation of the entire community or build a costal defense that will prevent the sea from entering the community,’’ he said.
He is meanwhile calling on individuals to help victims of the sea erosion, noting that ’’they are displaced and done have any were to go for now, we’re just begging government and other partners to help in whatever means.’’
Another victim, who is a mother of nine children, is crying for help especially for her children, in order to have a better environment that will enable her kids get back to school.
‘’ I am Eva Gbadagou, I live right here on the 20st for more twenty years but this is not the first time for sea to break down my house, I have the houses here one were broke down since two years ago and it has broken down the last one now.
Madam Gbadagou noted as a result of the sea erosion that damaged her houses, her nine children are all what she call scatter and sleeping with friends without proper control.
‘’To even move around no way, where I will carry my children, where I myself will sleep in such condition, my poor lay husband is not even well so I am confuse and crying on government and other people to help me and my family, because we done have anywhere to go now,’’ she said.
For his part, one of the victims believed to be in 30s Clark Kollie expressed frustration over their living condition as head of family noting that he is confused and don’t know where next to take his family.
‘’Three days ago, we were in bed at night when the water undermine the house and the entire house fall down, we lost all of our things, our clothes, our materials tubs everything’s were left in the water’’ Kollie explained.
According to Kollie, the issue of sea erosion is an annual disaster that continues to affect the lives of many residents and the community with government doing nothing to have the matter under control.
‘’Now I want to use this medium to call on national government to do like what they did in New Kru Town to at least curtail the wave not to come with force as usual because when you look at the D Tweh High school it is little bit safe if that can be done here it will be good for us to live a peaceful life because for now we done have the time and capacity to be moving from community to another,’’ Mr. Kollie noted.
Another victim believed to be in his 60s, who has a household of twenty children is calling on the International Community and the government of President Weah to help rescue in whatever way possible.
In recent times, there have been many reports of sea erosion in other parts of Liberia, which has a coastline of 350 miles. Areas affected are in Sinoe and Grand Cape Mount Counties, among other areas where a number of people are left homeless and properties destroyed.