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Liberia |
Disaster Assistance at a Glance
Recent Disaster Declarations:
Flooding, Storm, Complex emergency
OFDA Response:
Agriculture and food security, emergency relief supplies, health, nutrition, shelter, water, sanitation, and hygiene
OFDA Preparedness:
Protection
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Most Recent Disaster Declaration:
Flooding, 09-13-2007
Between August 24 and 27, heavy rains resulted in flooding along the St. Paul River, affecting 10 communities in and around Monrovia, Liberia. Initial Liberian Red Cross Society (LRCS) and Government of Liberia assessments in the six most-affected communities indicated that the flooding damaged 1,163 houses, leaving 7,000 people homeless. Approximately 60 percent of the affected population, mainly women and children, left the flooded areas to seek shelter with relatives and friends, while mostly men remained to protect household properties. In total, the flooding affected an estimated 17,000 people.
On September 13, 2007, U.S. Ambassador Donald E. Booth declared a disaster due to the effects of the flooding in Monrovia. In response, OFDA provided $35,000 to the LRCS for the purchase and distribution of emergency relief supplies, such as plastic sheeting, blankets, sleeping mats, water containers, and soap, to affected families.
Additional Disaster Declarations:
Storm, 04-12-2007
On March 21, 2007, a severe storm struck Ganta and surrounding towns and villages in Nimba County, Liberia, destroying more than 500 homes and damaging 3,000 others. According to USAID/Liberia, the storm left 3,500 people homeless, and 85 percent of damaged houses belonged to internally displaced persons and refugees who recently returned to their areas of origin. In response to the storm, the Government of Liberia (GOL), the Liberian Red Cross, and international organizations conducted assessments. In addition, the GOL established a temporary disaster relief committee in Ganta to coordinate all assistance to storm-affected populations. On March 30, the GOL provided emergency relief supplies, including tarpaulins, clothing, and rice, to affected communities. However, the storm’s damage strained the GOL’s capacity to respond.
On April 12, 2007, U.S. Ambassador Donald E. Booth declared a disaster due to the impact of the storm in Ganta, Nimba County. In response, OFDA provided $50,000 through USAID/Liberia to the Liberian Red Cross for the procurement and distribution of emergency relief supplies.
Complex Emergency, 10-05-2006
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An OFDA program assistant inspects an OFDA-funded water pump in Liberia. |
Liberia continues to recover from 14 years of intermittent civil war that officially ended in August 2003. National legislative and presidential elections in October 2005 marked the end of a two-year transition period, but Liberia continues to face challenges resulting from the destruction of infrastructure and the health and educations systems. The poor condition of roads and bridges continues to hinder the delivery of humanitarian assistance. Lack of access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation contributes to high levels of morbidity and mortality and the spread of infectious diseases. All internally displaced person (IDP) camps were officially closed in April 2006, and most of the estimated 1 million IDPs have returned to their areas of origin. However, refugee and IDP returnees are coming back to communities largely destroyed by the war with minimal primary health care and water and sanitation infrastructure.
On October 5, 2006, U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Louis Mazel redeclared a disaster in response to ongoing humanitarian challenges remaining in Liberia. Since FY 1989, OFDA has provided more than $100 million in vital emergency assistance to the people of Liberia. The key focus sectors of OFDA’s assistance include emergency relief supplies, health care, nutrition, food security, water and sanitation, and income generation programs.
For information on additional USAID disaster responses in Liberia, please see OFDA Annual Reports.
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