Community News

Several of Monrovia's deprived and isolated communities, risk health hazards owing to poor sanitation facilities and lack of safe-drinking water, health officials said.

The situation has rendered residents of the communities hopeless and destitute in the midst of stench and squalor.

Some sanitation and health forecasters told the Daily Observer early this week, it was the perennial flood water that had engulfed some of the slum settlements in Monrovia and its environs that causes more hardship for the residents.

“Some of the sanitation and health related problems,” they pointed out, “are due to resultant neglect.

In a two-day tour of the hard-hit areas of West Point, Slipway, Buzzy Quarter, Soniwein and Red-light, it was observed by this paper's environmental reporter, that garbage stenches had engulfed those communities.

In separate interviews with this reporter, dwellers of the affected slum communities expressed frustration, anger and disenchantments as a result of the appalling conditions.

Philip Bowen, 48, a West Point dweller, noted: “Every year our miseries continue to intensify as a result of stench being brought in by the perennial flooding and stockpiles of garbage.”

Liberia's forestry sector that was ruined by years of civil war is gradually being revived. After a democratically elected government assumed power in 2006, the Government and its forestry sector partners began putting in place relevant measures to reform the sector.

In response to calls to international partners to help restore the integrity of the forestry sector, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funded the Land Rights and Community Forestry Program (LRCFP) in 2008, which began piloting the community forestry in Nimba and Sinoe Counties.

Two of Liberia's 15 subdivisions are notably endowed with large portions of the country's remaining moist forest ecosystem and protected areas. Over the last two years, the project's contributions to the government's reform process have come about through several forms.

They range from support to the Forestry Development Authority (FDA) to the development of legal and policy framework for institution and capacity building in sustainable forest management as well as sustainable livelihood opportunities.

However, a release issued over the weekend highlighted recent accomplishment of the USAID funded program in community forestry in Nimba and Sinoe Counties where the project is piloting in four communities.

As part of the July ‘26’ Independent Day clebrated in Nimba County, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and her entourage visited the campus of the African Bible College-University (ABCU).

The ABCU is located in the old mining town of Yekepa, a present day concession area for the world’s steel giant: Arcelor Mitaal. No doubt, the ABC-U suffered the effects of the 14-year civil crisis.

Just upon entering the newly restored ABCU Chapel on July 27, 2010, the President, according to ABCU president, Dr. Del Chinchen, remarked: “The beauty of the campus is a testimony to me and to the whole nation of what God has done.”

Quoting the President, Dr. Chinchen said: “The campus proves to us how restoration can lead to better transform of a whole nation that had suffered the blunt of war.”

According to him: “Anyone who has experienced God’s power of transformation, knows the ripple effect it can have, and as such, ABCU was truly honored to be visisted by a leader of such international acclaim.”

For the ABCU family, the fact that the President chose to visit the campus indicated her appreciation for higher education including that of higher Christian education. The added: “We plant oaks of righteousness by training men and women of integrity.”