Heavy rainfall in Liberia’s capital, Monrovia has caused flooding in several communities damaging homes and displacing thousands of people.
Torrential rainfall in Monrovia and its environs has caused flash, coastal and river basin flooding affecting over 35 communities in the last 72 hours. According to a joint assessment conducted by the NDMA local community structures and the Liberian Red Cross Community-Based Action Teams (CBATs) during the last five days in Monrovia and adjacent communities, about 35 communities have reported experiencing flooding over the last 72 hours.
Data reported say about 22,060 persons are caught up in the floods leading to temporary displacement, loss of valuable household items, and huge exposure to risks of disease outbreaks, loss of habitat (sheltering opportunities), livelihoods mechanisms, and water source pollution.
About 60% of the affected people are women, children, and other vulnerable groups of people including physically challenged, single mothers, among others seeking shelter with neighbors and relatives in adjacent unflooded communities.
The rain which began on Friday, destroyed several homes across Monrovia and its environs, displacing thousand others. According to our reporters who toured several parts of the city, Johnsonville, a township on the outskirt of the main capital, Monrovia, is one of the worst affected communities as hundreds of residents lost their homes to the torrential rainfall which caused heavy flooding.
Residents were seen making frantic efforts to get the rain water from their houses as the waters covered several houses damaging their belongings. “My bed is floating in my room right now as the water has covered my entire house,” Mary Karnga, a resident of Johnsonville cried.
Like Madam Karnga, several other residents faced similar situation including our Editor whose entire house was overtaken by the flood water. “I’m one of the affected persons. My entire house is swallowed by the rain water and I’m finding my way to find another place in the main time,” Morrison O.G. Sayon said.
As the situation stands, government’s disaster management team must act now to ensure that affected residents are helped out of this situation especially the vulnerable including women and children.
Recent data revealed that flooding and rainstorm will affect over 100,000 residents in Liberia this year.
