By: G Bennie Bravo Johnson I
The Liberia National Red Cross Society through its secretary general Gregory T. Blamoh, has reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to the well-being of affected communities.
Stating that the Red Cross is committed to prioritizing the most affected individuals, including pregnant women, singlemothers.
“While our support cannot reach everyone, we were committed to prioritizing the most affected individuals, including pregnant women, single mothers, people with disabilities, and those with no income,” Blamoh said.
The Red Cross secretary general made the commitment at the completion of the “Resilience-Building Assistance to Families Affected by Floods in Vulnerable Communities in Liberia,” an eight-month initiative implemented by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in collaboration with the Liberia National Red Cross Society (LNCS) and the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA), aimed at providing assistance to families impacted by flooding in Montserrado and Margibicounties in Liberia.
Blamoh 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,” he said. “Together, we are promoting recovery and building resilience and hope for a better tomorrow.”
For her part, Amb. Josephine Nkrumah, the Resident Representative of the President of the ECOWAS Commission in Liberia, emphasized that ECOWAS’s focus extends beyond elections and political stability to include social interventions 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
Jointly launched in November 2023, the project, during the execution period, provided vital assistance to 1,878 families, exceeding the original target of 1,841 families following severe flooding in 2022 that affected over 60,000 individuals.
Through a generous contribution from ECOWAS, the LNCS distributed direct cash aid to beneficiaries via mobile money, aiding in rebuilding homes, restoring livelihoods, and addressing immediate needs.
Over 9,680 individuals across 30 flood-affected communities benefited from the project, particularly vulnerable groups, such as pregnant women, single mothers, people with disabilities, and those with limited income.
The flooding caused extensive damage to homes and infrastructure, displaced residents, contaminated water sources, and destroyed livelihoods. This prompted the NDMA to assess the impact of the flood and recommend the LNRCS to ECOWAS as an implementing partner for a comprehensive recovery project.
With a generous contribution of over 440,000 United States Dollars from ECOWAS, the LNRCS distributed cash directly to affected families via mobile money. This 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.
The initiative exemplified regional collaboration in addressing humanitarian crises and enhancing community resilience, stakeholders said at the closure ceremony of the project on Monday, July 22.
Beneficiaries received their mobile money with great excitement and appreciation. Teta Joko from the Baptist Seminary described the assistance as a “lifeline,” helping her family meet immediate needs. Similarly, Janeba Diggs from the Doe community shared that the aid had eased their financial burden and provided hope for a future.
Many beneficiaries have reconstructed their homes or established businesses as a means of sustainability through the ECOWAS Red Cross support.
The NDMA expressed satisfaction with the project implementation by the Red Cross, emphasizing that coordination and collaboration were key to the project’s success.
The NDMA also noted that the funding support from the regional body ECOWAS was significant and brought great relief to the affected community.
The Agency has further warned of the potential for more flooding in communities due to heavy rainfall predicted in Monrovia and other counties. They called for increased support and coordination to ensure a quick response to those who may be affected.
