At long last, the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) says it is ready to commence relief activities in Rivercess County where hundreds of people were last month made homeless due to massive flooding in the area.
NDMA boss, Ansu Dulleh, expressed regret for delays in reaching out to victims of the disaster on time, blaming the problem on the deplorable road condition in the region caused by heavy downpour of rain.
Dulleh pointed out that, as condition on the road leading to Rivercess continues to improve, the agency is making frantic effort to resume relief activities in the affected area.
He disclosed that relief items valued at over US$10,000 are ready to be dispatch to the county to bring relief to hundreds of people affected by the flood disaster.
Speaking to the Hot Pepper, following a tour of the Agency facilities on United Nation Drive in Monrovia, Ansu Dulleh underscored that the items, including iron sheet, rice, buckets and mattresses, were donated by the Liberian government and Non-governmental organizations operating in the country.
The Executive Director maintained that the first batch of consignment of rice and mattresses are already loaded on trucks and already for departure to Rivercess—as soon as the management receives signals that the road is good for the journey.
Dulleh emphasized further that NDMA is also soliciting humanitarian assistance from Liberians and non-governmental organizations operating in the country to assist another flood victims in Nimba County, where a river overflowed it bank recently and caused disaster for hundreds of people.
He noted that government alone is unable to shoulder the responsibility of providing relief assistance to victims of natural disaster due to the nation’s competing priorities.
The Executive Director also used the occasion to touch on the disaster in Bong County, where victims of a deadly explosion one year ago are still crying for help, noting that despite UP government’s immediate interventions more assistance, including medical supplies and good, are needed to buttress the effort of the government.
Dulleh hailed the effort of the county’s lawmakers, politicians and clergy in identifying with victims of the explosion.