BY: Shallon S. Gonlor
Annie Quiyea, an elderly woman in her 70s is among about 85 residents of Beatuo Town, Nimba County who are currently homeless following the destruction of their homes by a powerful rainstorm that wreaked havoc on their homes over the weekend. Not just being homeless, Ma. Annie is also engulfed in a heart-wrenching state at the moment as she endured a broken leg as a result of the incident.
The storm, a common occurrence during Liberia’s rainy season, battered the walls of the woman’s house, causing severe damage. The disaster which occurred over the weekend, left a trail of destruction, with at least 47 homes and public buildings destroyed, displacing around 85 residents in Beatuo Town.
Storms and flooding are very common during the rainy/wet season in Liberia. In most cases, people are made hopeless especially when their roofs are whipped away by the storm.
The elderly woman suffered a serious leg injury when a building collapsed on her and her adult son during the fierce storm. The mother and son were trapped under the damaged roof, calling out for help as the disaster unfolded.
Harris Z. Quiyea, the lady’s son, shared with journalists that he fell ill in 2008, leading to a debilitating condition that left him disabled. Recounting the harrowing experience, Harris explained that he and his mother were inside their home when the building crumbled under the force of the storm.
He stated, “As I laid down after the walls had fallen over us, I tried punching part of the walls with my one hand in order to create a space for my voice to be heard out for community people’s help”. Harris stressed that community people who came to their rescue thought they were dead, but were rescued from under the roof of the house, noting that he received severe worms on his head and entire body, while his mother’s leg was broken.
Giving an account of the disaster, the local authority of Beatuo Town confirmed that 280 children, 207 women, and 247 men were now homeless because of the disaster as many currently staying with friends and relatives.
The storm also affected the Beatuo Public School, which has an enrollment of 410 students. It may be recalled in 2020, the National Disaster Management Agency said it had developed plans to decentralize its activities in Nimba, a county that has been hit by numerous disasters over the past couple of years.
Recently, the National Disaster Management Agency of Liberia confirmed that more than 100,000 Liberians will be affected by disaster this year’s rainy season, which will have the worst rainfall experience this season.
During a recent news conference in Monrovia, the Executive Director of the Agency Ansu Dulleh named wind, inland flooding, and sea erosion among others as disasters that will occur this year stressing that many people will be affected.
The National Disaster Management Agency however warned citizens about the danger during this year’s rainy season and urged Liberians to stay on the alert for the natural disaster. He noted that the agency is making preparations and working with other partners to help intervene when the crisis occurs.
