Humanitarian Worker Craves Support for Collapsed Gold Mine Survivors, Victims’ Families

Sanniquellie – In the wake of the gold mine collapse in Nimba County, the Executive Director of the Special Emergency Activities to Restore Children’s Hope (SEARCH), Madam Sondah Geepea Wilson has called residents of the area to cooperate with government and aid workers in recovering the miners (dead or survivors) who are trapped under the piles of dirt.

Report by Joseph Solo, Contributor

Over 40 illegal miners at the Gboanipea Gold Mine near Tappita are trapped following the collapse of the mine a about a fortnight ago. Seven body has so far been recovered and the Government of Liberia through a joint disaster management team is exerting frantic effort to bring out victims or survivors, although the possibility of anyone surviving is slim.

However, Madam Geepea-Wilson, speaking on a local radio station in the county indicated that community residents’ willingness to give relevant information about ongoing investigations by state and none state actors will pave the way for rapid repairs and recovery at the Gboanipea Gold Mines.
she noted that the situation poses health, safety, and security threats for people in that part of Nimba County.

She extended sympathy to the victims’ families and stressed that the livelihood of the survivors need rapid recovery, especially those in communities adjacent to the mines; citing infrastructure, Water Sanitation and Hygiene, safety as some of the areas that need immediate attention.
She maintained that uncovered decadent corpses underground may contaminate underground water ways; fearing the infestation of sources of safe drinking water with bacteria and other waterborne diseases.

She further explained that there are local Non-Governmental Organizations working in Nimba that have the capacity of working with community dwellers for the realization of these initiatives; stressing the need for international partners to work with national government in giving the survivors and families of victims a decent life. 

She then called on residents of Tappita District to set up a temporary committee to receive donations from benevolent institutions and individuals who would like to aid in the process of recovery.

She, at the same time pledged the sum of L$20,000 to be picked up by the leadership of that committee when set up. 

Meanwhile, the SEARCH boss has called on the National Disaster Commission to empower the various County Disaster Committees to rapidly respond to events of disaster in Liberia.