By Precious D. Freeman
The Liberia National Red Cross Society (LNRCS), in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) with substantial funding support from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has successfully concluded an eight months project titled “Recovery and Resilience-Building Assistance to Families Affected by Floods in Vulnerable Communities in Liberia.”
The initiative which was jointly officially launched in November 2023, has provided crucial assistance to 1,878 families, surpassing the initial target of 1,841 families.
The Executive Director of NDMA, Ansu Dulleh explained that in 2022, severe flooding during the peak raining season from July to September wreaked havoc in Montserrado and Margibi counties, impacting over 60,000 people.
According to him, the flooding caused extensive damage to homes and infrastructure, displaced residents, contaminated water sources, and destroyed livelihoods.
He added that this prompted the National Disaster Management Agency to assess the impact of the flood and recommend the LNRCS to ECOWAS as an implementing partner for a comprehensive recovery project.
NDMA Boss furthered that with a generous contribution of over US$440,000 from ECOWAS, the LNRCS distributed cash directly to affected families via mobile money, and that the support allowed beneficiaries to rebuild their livelihoods, fortify income-generating activities, and address immediate needs.
“The project positively impacted 9,680 individuals across 30 flood-affected communities, offering a lifeline to many vulnerable groups, including pregnant women, single mothers, people with disabilities, and those with no income. The ECOWAS Post-Disaster Humanitarian Assistance Project in Liberia is a testament to the power of regional cooperation in addressing humanitarian crises,” he said.
The NDMA however expressed satisfaction with the project implantation by the Red Cross, emphasizing that coordination and collaboration were key to the project’s success.
The Agency has further warned of the potential for more flooding in communities due to heavy rainfall predicted in Monrovia and other counties, called for increased support and coordination to ensure a quick response to those who may be affected.
Speaking on behalf of the Resident Representative of the president of the ECOWAS Commission in Liberia, Irene Wallace emphasized that ECOWAS’s focus extends beyond elections and political stability to include social intervention addressing natural disasters and other pressing social issues.
“We are ECOWAS of the people, coming down to the community to understand their needs, identify challenges, and seek help to alleviate some of the suffering,” she stated.
She noted that ECOWAS’s dedication not only to political stability but also to the welfare of its members’ states citizens, showcasing a model of effective humanitarian intervention and Resilience-Building in the wake of natural disasters.
Madam Wallace mentioned that in the initial stage of the establishment of NDMA, ECOWAS local office got involved by assisting the Liberian government to draft the agreement of the establishment.
She continued that they assisted the Liberia Immigration Service (LIS) by constructing homes for them at the border and also constructed homes for Sierra Leone refugees in Liberia.
The head of program at Red Cross Christopher Johnson highlighted the organization’s commitment to the well-being of affected communities.
According to him, while their support couldn’t reach everyone they were committed to prioritizing the most affected individuals, including pregnant women, single mothers, people with disabilities and those with no income.
He at the same time expressed deep gratitude to ECOWAS, stating, “We are forever grateful to ECOWAS for its unwavering support, which enables the Red-Cross to make a meaningful impact on the lives of those affected by these disasters. Together, we are promoting recovery and building resilience and hope for a better tomorrow.”
Some of the beneficiaries who received their mobile money messages described the assistance as a lifeline, and that the aid had eased their financial burden and provided hope for a better future.
As the project concludes, it is evidence that thousands of lives have been positively impacted, reinforcing the idea that ECOWAS regional cooperation can bring much needed relief to those facing dire circumstances.
