July 27, 2021The Red Cross team makes donation to the United Blind Association of Liberia in Gardnersville
The outbreak of Covid-19 in the country over a year ago has put a strain on the livelihoods of Liberians, especially the less fortunate and including people living with disabilities.
The recent surge in cases has exacerbated the economic constraints of Liberians further—making the observance of the nation’s 174th Independence Day celebration to have come at a wrong time for many families.
Despite this challenging time, the Liberia National Red Cross Society (LNRCS) and another humanitarian organization, Selfless Service to Humanity (HSS) Liberia, have ensured that some less fortunate Liberians have smiles on their faces this festive season.
The groups over the weekend provided food rations to several orphanages and disabled organizations in Montserrado County.
Assorted items distributed include rice, gallons of oil, cartoons of biscuit and cartoons of candy. Six institutions including orphanages, people with physical disabilities and visually impaired benefitted from the food ration.
These include the group of 77, United Association of the Blind, Sis Aye Home, Share cared Children Home, Khantan Children village and Antoinette Tubman Cheshire Home.
A physically challenged woman receives a few bags of rice from the Red Cross team
“This is a moment we can pull together, and now is the time to think and care for others. Now is the time to express social solidarity and demonstrate humanity,” a joint statement from the Red Cross HSS Liberia read.
According to the statement co-signed by the Secretary General of the LNRCS Ambullai Perry and President of HSS Liberia Rohit Suji, “Food is a necessity, as absolutely essential in terms of life-saving and our major concern is to provide food ration to people with special needs this Independence Day to enable you celebrate with your families without any worry about food in the home. Mr. Perry and Mr. Suji in their combined statement mentioned that they are aware that the Day will not be happily observed if essential needs for you are not met.”
The welfares of vulnerable people, especially food aid, is critical and must be treated at all time with urgency, the two humanitarian organization said in the joint statement.
“Today, we are happy to share food ration with you as we celebrate this year Independence Day,” the statement mentioned, adding “this comes from the backdrop that we are aware that as Liberia 174th Independence Day approaches, difficult times become even harder for many People with special need, least able to access food, and most impacted by loss of income.”
And this year it’s only been amplified further by the effects of COVID-19 which is having a deep impact on the community. “COVID is not just a global health crisis; it touches every aspect of our lives, creating socio-economic hardship and further worsening existing humanitarian needs,” the statement said.
While the LNRCS is promoting hand-washing and best hygiene practices, educating the public about this virus, sharing prevention information, helping prevent misinformation, and reducing rumors and panic, it says that it also prioritizing and critically looking at other essential needs including the provision of food.
Mr. Perry said that the Liberian Red Cross is forever grateful to the HSS Liberia for the support that enabled the distribution to take place.
In separate remarks, the beneficiaries lauded the team for thinking about them, noting that the assistance would not have come at a better time.
Meanwhile, LNRCS is a humanitarian Organization that renders impartial humanitarian assistance without any discrimination under its motto: Caring and Sharing”, while HSS Liberia, an Indian community organization established in 2017 as a volunteer-based organization for humanitarian work, aims at developing the spirit of selfless service for humanity. It has the motto of “SEWA PARMO DHARMA” (SERVICE IS THE MIND DUTY AND “VASUDHAIVA KUTUMBAKAM” (THE WORLD IS ONE FAMILY)
