The Country Representative of the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), Anthony Akumu Abogi, has beefed up the humanitarian intervention of the Liberia National Red Cross Society by donating several assorted items.
UNHCR works to ensure that everybody has the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge, having fled violence, persecution or war at home.
The items donated by Abogi include 800 pieces of thermal (fleece) blanket, 1,600 pieces of sleeping mats, 500 pieces of heavy duty plastic bucket, 5,000 pieces of laundry soap, 600 pieces of plastic tarpaulin, 2,400 pairs of hand gloves, 300 pieces of mosquito net, 150 pieces of solar lamp portable-led and 5 pieces of dry erase board.
Presenting the items to the LNRCS on December 29, 2023 at its headquarters in Monrovia, the UNHCR County Representative, Anthony Akumu Abogi, said the gesture is the UN Refugee Agency’s way of helping the institution to respond to the lots of emergencies that have happened across Liberia.
“And I know that the people of Liberia have been very receptive to refuges and to other people that UNHCR works with, and I know it is in that faith that we are giving you this so that we can eventually help in the affected communities, especially at this particular time in the year,” he stated.
He also recalled the unfortunate situation that led to the explosion of a fuel tanker in Totota, Lower Bong County, thus leading to a huge death of over 40 persons, with others hospitalized.
“Some of these things will be able to help them, maybe the buckets or the hand gloves that we can help the hospitals particularly where this population is being taken care of; that is just an example,” Abogi said.
The UNHCR boss further expressed optimism that the authorities of the Liberia National Red Cross Society (LNRCS) will certainly reach out to those identified affected areas and deliver the donated items to serve humanity.
“So for us it was just a way of putting these things in the good hands, the trusted hands of the Liberian Red Cross through you and then eventually to the final recipients,” Anthony Akumu Abogi explained.
Also receiving the donation, the Secretary General of the Liberia National Red Cross Society (LNRCS), Gregory T. Blamo, termed the donation as timely, adding that the gesture in kind has put the institution in a better position to respond to emergencies involving Liberians.
“Believe me the timing I will say is perfect because just a few days ago when the tanker exploded we had to respond. We had to go with bodyguards, to bury those who died, we had to provide surgical gowns and gloves to the hospitals that were taking care of those who were burnt, so this will only enable us to be able to support others to care for some of these victims,” Blamoh said.