Monrovia – Sea erosion remains a nightmare for West Point leaving over 6,800 families homeless as the natural disaster continues to threaten Monrovia biggest slum.
Report by Alpha Daffa Senkpeni – [email protected]
“I don’t know if West Pointers are not citizens for Liberia, when the budget passed the politicians are the ones that enjoy it more but they forget that time for election then they will start looking for us,”- Lucy Barbioh, Chair Lady, Relocated West Point victims in VOA Community
Five months ago, just 32 families were relocated to newly constructed zinc sharks in the VOA community, outside Monrovia and there are plans underway for the National Housing Authority (NHA) to build more permanent structures for the relocation of more families.
Five months ago the relocated erosion victims were expressing relief, now life is harsh in VOA almost like the threat they faced from the Atlantic Ocean back in West Point.
Lack of drinking water, poor sanitation and limited means of livelihood are on top of the list of challenges as they struggle to settle in their new surroundings.
Lucy Barbioh is the Chairlady of the relocated West Point victims in VOA; she says it’s been three months since they receive assistance although President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, in August, paid them a solidarity visit.
Oldma Barbioh sold used-clothes before she lost her home to the aggressive sea waves, now she does nothing and unable to cater to her grand children who are out of school due to the lack of a public school in the area.
“I don’t know if we the West Pointers are not citizens for Liberia, when the budget passed the politicians are the ones that enjoyed it more but they forget that time for election then they will start looking for us,” she exclaimed in frustration.
“We are still talking to them but they don’t want to listen – all of them, the representative, the senator, the President and the vice President – they hear us but nobody helping us.”
Morris Kollie, a father of five children, says he’s unable to cater to his family because his 15 years’ experience of tailoring is now useless to the new community since there are no clients. Kollie’s family now faces a ‘difficult problem’ since moving to their new home, and complains that promises made by government are not forthcoming.
“The main challenge that we’re facing here for me is the lack of hospital,” he says.
“When people are sick, there’s nowhere to carry them and we don’t have money because we are out of business. Sometimes I can be thinking what is the main reason for us to come here? ”
Despite complaints, NHA says it made the appropriate decision to relocate the victims to VOA since that locale is in close proximity with the Atlantic Ocean.
“You cannot take West Pointers away from what is perceived to be their livelihood which is access to the sea,” explains Prince Wleh, Deputy Director for Administration at the National Housing Authority.
Back in West Point, there are mix views from sea erosion victims as speculations swell over another government plan to relocate more families to VOA.
Some affected residents are concern about how the process will play out while others want government to embark on a coastal defense project to stop the environmental problem.
Residents of White flower, Kru Beach, Fanti Town, Du-Side Field, New Road and Power Plant communities continue to struggle against one of Liberia’s worst disasters created by sea erosion.
Saah Thomas, 47, has been a resident of Power Plant Community for 45 years, and while lamenting the everyday challenge victims go through, he says relocation is all he craves.
“Some of our women and children are sleeping in churches and on the floor of other people,” he said. “We will be happy and willing to go if the government decides to relocate us but we need to have school there for our children to attend.”
Like Thomas, 32 years old Mariam Kamara is worried about how her two kids will continue school after the relocation. “Right now, I heard that they don’t have school and clinic in VOA for children to go, so how will our children learn when they take us from here,” she asked.
For years, Jesse Gayman and his family have also watched the ocean’s encroachment, destroying the house he knew as a home, and leaving no hope for a place dear to him. He still remembers his childhood days when he and his mates played beach soccer after school hours.
Now he’s devastated, not just by the erosion but the relocation process which he labels partial and without the proper assessment mechanism.
“If the people want to come in they should work in line with the West Point Commission and the DVA (in order) to know those who are actually affected,” he suggested.
The Disaster Victims Association (DVA) is a local group comprising of mostly erosion victims in the coastal community, but struggled to engage victims in 2014 when the erosion heightened.
And Marie Samukai, DVA relief supplier, says back then, they received barbs from many who had negative perception about their work.
She denies Jesse’s assertion saying: “When we started putting names down many people thought we were lying and they use to curse us, so when time came for people to be relocated they started complaining.”
Miss Samuka too is homeless and she has to work all day and sleep in a church nearby. Asked to make a suggestion to solving the problem, she said: “… It’s for the government to listen to our cry because people are all on the street; our children are not in school.”
Nowadays, DVA is giving hope to many victims although they are short on resources and has to rely on government and international partners.
No matter the approach in remedying the problem, or the complaints from affected people, the Atlantic Ocean continues its invasion on the land.
Since 2014, the disaster has attracted news headlines but the widespread publicity highlighting the plight of locals and the environmental degradation has gained minimum outcome.
So far, government’s primary response is relocating victims. On the other hand, victims are weary about multiple problems including the availability of basic social services in VOA while others are concern about making ends meet away from their ‘ancestral’ West Pont.
Nevertheless Tamba Nyumah, who lived along the coast of West Pont since 1975, says leaving his homeland at the brink of destruction is unbearable.
He says government must not only relocate dwellers; it must take action to save the environment. Nyumah says relocation doesn’t excite him because the government has delayed several moves.
“Before we move forward, government needs to focus on protecting this whole area,” said the former employee of Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC). “At least this place must be guarantee not for you and me but for our grandchildren and great grand.”
A coastal defense project in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County has eased threat from the ocean. Like West Point and New Kru Town, Buchanan faced sea erosion in the past five years when homes along Atlantic Street, Korkorwein, Big and Small Fanti Towns crumbled.
The Ministry of Lands, Mines and Energy has complained about limited funds to extend the coastal defense project to other affected communities, and locals in West Point assumed that their community stands no chance.
The problem is compounded and solving any comes with meticulous planning and the availability of funds which appears a challenge for all parties involve including the National Housing Authority. NHA Deputy Director for administration says about US$30 million is needed to achieve a full relocation process. US$1 million has been allotted in the draft 2016/2017 budget and if approved will fund the construction of 100 to 125 concrete homes for the victims.
“We are looking to use the best alternate building method that will cut down cost to enable us build more homes,” Wleh said.
“We are going to work within what we have and I do know that there is some goodwill from UNDP, we’ve had some meetings with them and there are some projects proposals under view.”
But delay is dangerous for these victims; wither for those struggling to coup at VOA or those who are stay in West Point facing the threat from the Atlantic Ocean. With only 125 houses expected to be constructed in the next five months, over 6,000 victims will still remain stranded in West Point.