PHOTO: Partial view of the damage caused by the storm
By J. Peter S. Dennis, dennisrealone@gmail.com
GBARNGA, Liberia: Liberian Returnees from Guinea at Lutheran Global Village in Zota district in the central Bong County have been made homeless as the result of a violent rainstorm in the area.
There has been no death reported.
Speaking to the local media in the area, the chief administrator of Emmanuel Lutheran mission School, Morris Soulkemi said that over thirty-five (35) houses were destroyed on Monday evening due to the heavy rainstorm.
The storm also damaged the only school facility in the area, thus leaving students and teachers in limbo while awaiting philanthropic gesture.
He cited that the current situation has led them to seek shelter to neighbors in the district.
According to Mr. Soulkemi, the situation caused a serious embarrassment for dwellers in the area thus pleading for support from the district lawmaker Robert Flomo Womba and other humanitarian organizations to aid them in this difficult period.
Reporters who visited the area saw mattresses, clothes, de-roofed houses, other valuable items, among others scattered as victims became spectators and onlookers in their own town with tears.
The Emmanuel Lutheran mission School chief administrator narrated that the unfortunate rainstorm completely destroyed the school building- something he termed as total setback for school-going kids in the community and beyond.
He at same time named building materials and food as prompt intervention that will help salvage relief in the area.
Also speaking, some of the victims described the situation as unfortunate with a call for assistance.
They explained that they are in a desperate situation as a result of the disaster.
“We were not even expecting anything that evening as the rain just started pouring. Before we looked, the breeze became very heavy and it started destroying our homes” Jospeh Papaye, a father of three and pastor explained.
“We were in the rain packing some of our belongings. See us- see our clothes, mattresses, nothing we have to pick or save from here,” some of the victims cried.
One mother and widow, Madam Korto Kennedy with her six children couldn’t hold back her frustration and tears as her children watched their only house destroyed.
Although the only managing house got completely destroyed, but she was very concerned about three (3) 25kg bags of rice- as she says, she depends on no one for feeding.
“Nothing for my children and I to eat for this time- not even a piece of cassava. Their school uniforms and others are very far from finding. We don’t even know how to accept this!” she explained in tears.
Up to press time, there has been no official release from the National Disaster Management Agency, the Liberia National Red Cross Society, and the County Authority regarding this unfortunate situation.
This is the second time global village has been heavily hit by violent storm with the most recent in 2019.
This village was constructed by the Lutheran church to help provide housing facility for the Liberian Returnees from Guinea and Ivory Coast to seek shelter.