NDMA Tours Flood-Affected Areas, Pledges Support To Victims

By Rolinda J. Kantan

MONROVIA, Aug. 29 (LINA) –The Executive Director of the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA), Ansu Dulleh, has completed an assessment flood-stricken neighborhoods of Monrovia.

After witnessing the distressing scenes firsthand, Mr. Dulleh during the assessment tour, vowed to take resolute actions and mobilize robust support for the affected population. He described the situation as pathetic, citing, “We will see how we can adequately and effectively respond to this.”

The tour which took him to the St. Paul Bridge and Red Hill Field Community amongst others, took place on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024.

Mr. Dulleh pinpointed the improper construction in waterways as a key factor exacerbating the crisis, as he urged residents to cooperate by refraining from dumping garbage in drainage systems and building in water passages.

Mr. Dulleh referred to the continuous flood affecting these communities as a “human hazard”, reiterating the agency's unwavering commitment to providing essential food and nonfood items as vital sustenance and resources to safeguard the well-being of the flood victims.

"Today, we took the initiative to come to the field and witness the challenging conditions first-hand and we're overwhelmed by what we're seeing here,” he said.

He further stated, "While we're working with our partners, we can't continue to do this, so we are finding a permanent solution for this situation to end”.

Representing the Weah Town Community in the St. Paul Bridge area, a resident Philip Boye Merchant, the General Chairperson of Electoral District #16 in Montserrado County, expressed frustration over the prolonged issue of flooding in communities, emphasizing the lack of a lasting resolution despite years of struggle.

He highlighted the obstruction of waterways by structures, leading to tragic consequences, including the loss of eight lives in 2023.

For his part, Henry Kollie, a resident of the St. Paul Bridge Crab Hole Community, shared the community's efforts to address the recurring floods but acknowledged the limitations faced, urging government’s intervention to effectively tackle the persistent flooding crisis.

"This water is giving us hell,” Safiatu Rogers, a resident of the Red Hill Field Community emphasized, urging the government to take decisive actions by removing houses built along the waterways.

"Even if it will cause us to leave this environment, no problem because this is a punishment to our lives that comes with sickness, right now, my children can't go to school because of the situation," she explained.