December 2, 2023-ECOWAS cautioned Liberia amidst increasing natural disasters
In response to the escalating frequency of natural disasters in Liberia, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has issued a cautionary message, emphasizing the urgent need to build resilient communities. This comes as the country grapples with the aftermath of devastating floods.
The initiative, titled “Recovery and Resilience-Building Assistance to Families Affected by Floods in Vulnerable Communities in Liberia,” was officially launched on Thursday, November 30, 2023, in the Shoe Factory Communities. The project, benefiting over 9,600 people across 30 communities in Montserrado and Margibi, is a lifeline for those affected, including the Shoe Factory Community, which suffered severe flooding in 2022.
The project is being implemented by the Liberia National Red Cross Society with funding support from ECOWAS as the first in a series of humanitarian assistance efforts to 11 ECOWAS member states. Liberia is the pioneer beneficiary, receiving over 4-hundred and forty thousand United States dollars (440,000.00 USD) in flood assistance.
At the launch, ECOWAS Resident Representative Josephine Nkrumah underscored the organization’s commitment to grassroots assistance. “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.
Acknowledging the surge in natural disasters globally, Nkrumah highlighted ECOWAS’s steps to bolster resilience in member states. “We need to build resilient communities to reduce the risk associated with a disaster,” she emphasized, adding that the investment aims to empower affected communities to rebound and withstand future shocks.
The ECOWAS project will directly transfer cash to over 1,800 families in the 30 flood-affected communities. The ECOWAS Resident Representative cautioned family heads to ensure the funds directly benefit their households, addressing their real needs including shelter recovery and losses sustained during the flooding.
Commending Liberia’s proactive measures, Amb. Nkrumah expressed confidence in the nation’s ability to make the project a success, setting an example for other member states to follow.
Liberian Red Cross Secretary General, Gregory T. Blamoh, expressed gratitude for the regional support and stressed the recurring nature of climate-related disasters in the past decade. “While we remain grateful for the support from ECOWAS, let us remember that climate-related disasters have in the past ten years become a yearly occurrence”, Mr. Blamoh emphasized.
He highlighted the ongoing efforts of the Liberian Red Cross in assisting families affected by floods in Grand Cape Mount County, Montserrado, and Bong Counties this year.
Mr. Blamoh concluded by emphasizing the urgent need for humanitarian investment in climate change adaptation programs to enhance the resilience of vulnerable communities. The goal is to provide resources, including financial aid, enabling them to effectively manage the risks posed by the growing humanitarian climate change crisis.
The official launching of the project brought together 30 community leaders representing the affected communities. The National Disaster Management Agency and the Ministry of Internal Affairs also witnessed and participated in the launching of the project.
