Monrovia – Nimba County District #6 Representative, Dorwohn Twain Gleekia has commended scores of individuals and organizations for donating relief items and
Report by Gerald C. Koinyeneh, [email protected]
Following the Goldmine mudslide which trapped more than 45 people, Rep. Gleekia made an SOS call to the public and humanitarian organizations, businesses, government officials, corporate entities and non-governmental organizations to render humanitarian support to assist survivors, relatives of victims and host communities.
Since his appeal, Rep. Gleekia revealed that he has received several donations from cross section of the public including colleagues at the Legislature, businesses and organizations including the United Nimba Citizens Council (UNICCO) and the Tappita District Development Association (TADDA) both based in the United States of America.
Meanwhile, presenting the assorted relief items including 60 bags of rice and 16 gallons of cooking oil among others, Rep Gleekia over the weekend, UNICCO Liberia Representative, Phelecia Yeebahn noted that the gesture is the organization’s initial response toward the humanitarian needs of the affected families.
She noted that organization’s President Dahn Dennis, and his corps of officers and members deeply regret the tragic incident that resulted to the lost of ‘precious’ lives and will stand by the authorities in responding to the humanitarian needs of the survivors and affected communities.
“On behalf of UNICCO, we are so sorry to the Liberian people for the loss of our brothers and sister. The gesture is to identify with our brothers and sisters. Even though they are far away from Liberia, they just want to let them know that whatever happens in Liberia, be it good or bad they heart will always look back home,” she lamented.
Aaron Garsiah, Country Representative of the Sonkarlay Nuahn Globa Aid Foundation, on behalf his organization donated L$30,000. Earlier TADDA donated US$500.00.
Rep. Gleekia thanked UNICCO and other diaspora groups including TADDA and the Sonkarlay Nuahn Foundation for their respective donations and noted that he will begin the distribution of material received as soon as possible.
He also thanked Speaker Bhofal Chambers, and members of the Nimba Legislative Caucus including Reps. Jeremiah Koung, Johnson Gwaikolo, Samuel Kogar and Roger Domah for their donation in cash and materials.
He lamented that the incident is affecting over 30,000 inhabitants including natives of the areas and people who have trooped the areas due to the mine.
Currently, he added that the health needs of the people are a serious concern and called on the Ministry of Health to intervene in providing basic health services.
“Before the incident we had over 30, 000 people at the gold mines. They went there because of the gold rush. With the incident the people all scattered in the surroundings towns and villages, causing economic hardship. Because the mines have closed, they are now staying at nearby villages and towns. And this congestion may pose series health hazard to them,’ he averred.