UNIFICATION CITY, Margibi – After the recent flooding caused by torrential rains in Lower Margibi, many residents remain homeless.

More than 50 homes in Unification City,  Zoekraine, Peter, Dolo and Joe Blow towns were broken down by the flood and many victims are now seeking refuge in nearby school buildings and calling for rescue.

Isaac Kulah, a teacher of the Harbel Multilateral High School and resident of Dolo Town, is among those whose homes were destroyed.

Kulah told The Bush Chicken that the situation has caused him distress. As a father of a family of nine, he said he was confused about how to rebuild his life.

“It is too much trauma for me to see my house down to less than one year after spending three years to have it built,” he said.

A house affected by the flood in Peter Town. Photo: Gbatemah Senah

Currently, he and his family among several other victims are taking refuge at the Mother Artist Foundation School in New Dolo Town.

He complained that the building is now wide open and not only lacks doors and windows to prevent mosquitos but also partition to give his family privacy.

He said more than 25 families were lying in a public hallway with no real sanitary facilities.

“I am afraid that in the case of any [disease] outbreak, many of us would be affected,” he noted.

In addition to the common health risks, Kula said he and his family were using the nearby bushes for latrine because there is no bathroom and latrine facility on the campus.

However, he said he does have access to safe drinking water as there is a hand pump nearby.

“So far, there has been no outbreaks, but children have begun to experience sicknesses, including malaria,” he said.

He explained that there had been no commitment from authorities to help them rebuild their homes. However, Save the Children and a few politicians have donated food and non-food items to victims.

A house affected in Dolo Town. Photo: Gbatemah Senah

Among those severely affected by the flood are a number of widows, including Kpannah Tambah, Fatu Edwards, Korlu Harris, and Lawuo Flomo, who told The Bush Chicken that they had been rendered homeless  by the flood.

Fatu Edwards, one of the affected widows. Photo: Gbatemah Senah

They are currently taking refuge in  school buildings which they said were not conducive for shelter.

The widows said the authorities of the Peter Town Public School and the Mother Artist School in Peter and Dolo Towns have told them to vacate the buildings within one month.

The home of Kpannah Tambah, one of the affected widows in Peter Town, Photo: Gbatemah Senah

The chief of Joeblow Town has disclosed that many of the affected residents in the community are returning home.

Joel Zangar said the water has gradually left the town.

Following the floods on June 27 and 28 that caused massive flooding that affected parts of Margibi, the government of Liberia announced a partial closure of the Monrovia-Robertsfield highway.

The measure, according to the government, was intended to ensure public safety due to the flooding of the road. At least one person was pronounced drowned as a result of the situation.

Margibi authorities earlier called for speedy interventions of central government and aid organizations. At the time, Margibi Superintend John Buway said the situation had overwhelmed the county’s capacity.      

CORRECTION: A previous version of this article indicated that the International Rescue Committee distributed food and non-food items. It has been corrected to show that Save the Children, a partner of the International Rescue Committee, distributed the items.

Featured  photo  by  Gbatemah  Senah