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DISASTER AND CRISIS RESPONSE

The Liberia National Red Cross Society (LNRCS) plays a pivotal role in protecting lives and livelihoods through a comprehensive Disaster and Crisis Response Program. Grounded in the principles of neutrality, impartiality, and humanity, LNRCS delivers life-saving assistance during emergencies and builds community resilience before, during, and after crises.
Whether faced with natural, man-made, or technological hazards, LNRCS works tirelessly to reduce vulnerabilities and strengthen community capacities across Liberia’s 15 counties. Through strategic partnerships with donors, government entities, and international Red Cross Movement partners, LNRCS is building a responsive, inclusive, and sustainable disaster management system that protects the most vulnerable, especially those affected by poverty, displacement, and social exclusion. At the core of its disaster response is a network of over 2,000 trained volunteers, regional warehouses pre-stocked with essential supplies, and a growing infrastructure that includes the planned Emergency Preparedness and Response Operating Centre (NEWEPROC). LNRCS focuses on a multi-layered approach encompassing emergency relief, preparedness and recovery, early warning and early action, disaster risk reduction, first aid, and livelihood support.

The Society operates under Liberia’s national disaster management framework and uses global Movement tools like Preparedness for Effective Response (PER) and the Safer Access Framework to enhance operational readiness. Through community-based models such as Community-Based Action Teams (CBATs) and localized early warning systems, LNRCS ensures that risk information reaches those most affected, empowering communities to act swiftly and effectively when disasters strike. The LNRCS Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) strategy is anchored in community participation and ownership, with interventions ranging from hazard mapping and contingency planning to simulation drills, environmental clean-ups, and school-based DRR projects. These efforts are reinforced by a dedicated climate change adaptation project supported by the Swedish Red Cross, targeting vulnerable regions in the southeast. On the humanitarian front, LNRCS provides first-line emergency services, supports Restoring Family Links (RFL) for separated families, and strengthens collaboration with neighboring National Societies to address cross-border emergencies and migration challenges. Furthermore, the Society is scaling up its food security and livelihoods interventions through cash transfers, business recovery, and climate-smart agriculture to help communities recover and thrive post-crisis. With a forward-looking vision, the LNRCS is enhancing its digital tools for disaster data collection, coordination, and management, improving legal recognition of its auxiliary role, and scaling up preparedness through training, equipment procurement, and nationwide outreach. These collective efforts ensure that Liberia’s Red Cross is not only ready to respond to a wide spectrum of evolving crises—be they sudden-onset disasters, epidemics, or protracted emergencies—but is also helping communities build lasting resilience and reclaim hope amid adversity.

LOOKING BACK ON PREVIOUS RESPONSES

The Liberia National Red Cross Society (LNRCS) has established a strong and credible track record in emergency response, particularly during some of Liberia’s most challenging crises. Notably, during the Ebola outbreak, the LNRCS emerged as a frontline responder, playing a vital role in safe and dignified burials, especially in hard-hit areas such as Monrovia and Montserrado. Red Cross volunteers risked their lives to retrieve bodies from streets and homes, helping to prevent further spread of the virus. Beyond burial services, the LNRCS was instrumental in contact tracing, community engagement, and awareness-raising, which were key to controlling the epidemic. The Society’s outstanding service during this crisis earned it national and international recognition, including an award of honor and a medal presented by then-President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf during a ceremony organized by the Crusaders for Peace.

Following the Ebola crisis, the LNRCS continued to demonstrate its readiness and reliability during the COVID-19 pandemic, providing critical support to communities at risk. The Society conducted widespread risk communication, distributed hygiene materials, and delivered life-saving health messages to vulnerable populations across the country. LNRCS also supported infection prevention and control activities, reinforcing public health systems during a time of global uncertainty. Its deep roots in communities, paired with a strong network of trained volunteers, enabled it to reach remote areas and counter misinformation with trusted, science-based information. In addition to epidemics, the LNRCS has consistently responded to a variety of natural disasters, including flash floods, violent storms, and urban fire outbreaks. These responses often include immediate relief services such as emergency shelter, non-food item distribution, first aid, and psychosocial support. The Red Cross has remained a dependable source of aid and hope during times of unexpected hardship, using its experience, volunteer base, and logistical capacity to respond swiftly and effectively. This history of action solidifies LNRCS’s position as a key player in Liberia’s disaster response landscape, deeply trusted by communities and partners alike.

Moving Forward: The LNRCS Emergency Response Vision

As the nature of crises continues to evolve, the Liberia National Red Cross Society (LNRCS) is strategically shifting its focus toward building stronger, more resilient communities through enhanced Emergency Preparedness and Response, Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), and Disaster Risk Management. Moving forward, LNRCS will intensify efforts to equip communities with the knowledge, tools, and early warning systems necessary to anticipate, withstand, and recover from multiple and overlapping hazards. By establishing Community-Based Early Warning Systems (CEWS) and conducting early action campaigns, LNRCS will empower at-risk communities to take proactive steps in reducing their vulnerability and exposure to climate-induced disasters, health emergencies, and other shocks.

LNRCS also aims to strengthen its institutional capacity to respond more efficiently and effectively to all types of crises—whether sudden-onset, slow-developing, or protracted. The organization will reinforce its auxiliary role in national emergency management by investing in improved response mechanisms, digital tools, and localized preparedness strategies. Central to this forward-looking approach is the engagement of communities as active partners in risk management and resilience-building. Through this integrated and community-driven model, LNRCS will not only continue delivering critical humanitarian relief but also contribute to long-term recovery and development across Liberia.

Key Strategic Objectives the coming years

At Liberia National Red Cross our culture comes to life through three core values:

Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR): LNRCS works with communities through Community-Based Action Teams (CBATs) to enhance community resilience by implementing disaster preparedness and mitigation measures across the country. LNRCS has adopted a community-based disaster risk management approach, which includes capacity-building initiatives that encourage community participation. This approach ensures access, acceptability, ownership, and sustainability of disaster risk reduction (DRR) efforts. The National Society (NS) conducts DRR training for volunteers and communities, as well as clean-up campaigns, tree planting, water source management, simulation exercises, and early warning system implementations. LNRCS also conducts disaster risk knowledge assessments and community consultations in hazard-prone areas to evaluate levels of exposure, vulnerability, awareness, and preparedness. These assessments cover Community hazard mapping, Participatory risk analysis and Development of community contingency and preparedness plans. The participatory development of contingency plans ensures that communities own and implement these plans effectively. Additionally, anticipatory actions and early warning preparedness will be conducted using the Early Action Protocols (EAPs) under the framework of Early Warning, Early Action (EWEA).
Food Security & Livelihoods: LNRCS is committed to enhancing community well-being and resilience through integrated food security and livelihood interventions. Despite Liberia’s conducive climate and fertile soil, food insecurity remains a significant challenge due to extreme poverty and inefficiencies in the agricultural and food systems. In Liberia’s last comprehensive food security assessment (2018), approximately 18% of households were identified as moderately to severely food insecure. The Ukraine-Russia conflict, COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and high post-harvest losses have further exacerbated food security conditions. In the 2022 Global Hunger Index (GHI), Liberia ranked 113th out of 121 countries with a score of 32.4, indicating a serious level of hunger. The GHI is a peer- reviewed annual publication that measures hunger levels at global, regional, and national scales. To address these challenges, LNRCS is prepared and ready to implement activities such as Food assistance for vulnerable households, Cash assistance to help meet basic needs, Support for livelihood protection and restoration of disrupted livelihoods and Assistance for small business recovery. LNRCS also promotes climate-smart food security and livelihoods programming in both rural and urban settings. A key component of this strategy is livelihood and food security diversification, which Builds community resilience, Spreads economic risks, Improves food and economic security, Enhances ecosystem services as well as Protects and restores natural resources.
Environment, Climate Change Adaptation, and Mitigation: Liberia faces severe environmental challenges, including deforestation, coastal erosion, flooding, and pollution, which threaten biodiversity, infrastructure, and livelihoods. Unsustainable logging and agricultural expansion have led to significant forest loss, reducing carbon sequestration. Rising sea levels and intensified storms endanger coastal communities in Monrovia and Buchanan, while erratic rainfall and prolonged dry spells impact agriculture, exacerbating food insecurity and rural poverty. To address these challenges, Liberia has adopted climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies, including reforestation programs, sustainable land management, and renewable energy initiatives. The government, in collaboration with partners, is implementing the National Climate Change Policy and the Liberia Forest Sector Project to promote resilience. Early warning systems and community-based adaptation programs aim to protect vulnerable populations. Climate change disproportionately affects women and children, increasing vulnerabilities in health, WASH, nutrition, and livelihoods due to gender inequalities in resource access, economic opportunities, and decision-making. LNRCS integrates Nature-based Solutions to strengthen sustainable livelihoods, protect assets, and develop early warning systems. LNRCS mobilizes volunteers and CBATs to promote climate resilience, sustainable practices, and green response integration into all programs. By training communities and supporting climate mitigation efforts, LNRCS fosters local action against climate and environmental crises. Through environmentally sustainable practices, LNRCS aims to reduce disaster risks, enhance ecosystem protection, and build long term community resilience.
Emergency Preparedness and Response: By 2027, the LNRCS aims to strengthen emergency preparedness and response across all 15 counties, providing relief, shelter, WASH, migration support, and humanitarian assistance. LNRCS is enhancing disaster management through training, risk assessments, and prepositioning of supplies, ensuring rapid relief, response, and recovery for disasters, crises, and conflicts. Key focus areas include first aid, the Safer Access Framework, and Movement tools like Preparedness for Effective Response. LNRCS is committed to improving shelter, livelihoods, cash assistance, and voucher programs while conducting training, simulations, and drills to strengthen emergency response systems. The LNRCS also enhance its Tracing and Restoring Family Links capacities at the HQ and Chapter levels to support affected families. Recognizing migration trends, LNRCS will collaborate with Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Ivory Coast to address cross-border emergencies and population movements. It will also build networks for migrant protection and assistance. To improve disaster response, LNRCS also strengthens its Disaster Management System, focusing on policy reviews, capacity-building, and digital transformation. The use of digital tools for data collection and program management will enhance efficiency, coordination, and informed decision-making. Through these efforts, LNRCS will enhance resilience, preparedness, and response capacity to better support communities in times of crisis. Your contributions help us turn preparedness into protection, and vulnerability into resilience. Together, we can empower communities to face disasters with courage and recover with renewed hope.
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About Us

The Liberia National Red Cross Society is the single largest national humanitarian organization in Liberia. It is a Voluntary Humanitarian Organization and an auxiliary to the public authorities and the Government, delivering services to the most vulnerable in emergency, including disasters, conflict, civil strife, ill-health and contextual social issues. The Liberian Red Cross is represented in each of the fifteen counties by a chapter and in the districts by a branch, from which we are able to reach regional and remote communities.

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