Tappitta, Nimba County – As part of efforts to uplift lives of victims’ families and host communities of the Kartee Goldmines’ mudslide in Tappita District, Nimba County, the management of MNG Gold Liberia has donated relief items worth more than US$5000 to families of the victims of the disaster in Tapitta and other affected communities.
Report by Selma Lomax, [email protected]
Items donated included 75 bags of 25 kg rice, 10 cartons of soap, cooking oil, sacks of water, among others.
The Government Liaison Officer of the firm Eugene Kollie, on Saturday, said the company was making the donation as part of its “belief and commitment” to the country.
Kollie said: “Our hearts go out to those affected by the mine disaster and also their families. The company wishes them well and pray God will strengthen relatives of the victims.
“These relief materials are meant to complement the efforts of the government and other organizations that are supporting the relief initiative.”
As a “responsive and responsible” company, Kollie said MNG is a committed partner of government and will work to mitigate the impact of the human-induced natural disaster.
“The company was touched by the disaster which claimed the lives of more than 40 persons.” Kollie said, adding that items were supports to the victims’ families.”
Kollie added: “In line with its “Tradition of Care” MNG Gold is committed to being a good corporate institution, focused on building and sustaining productive, collaborative partnerships with local and national stakeholders for social-economic development in Liberia.”
Mr. Kollie said the company’s intervention was based on “the level of vulnerability for families of the victims”.
“We intervened this early because of the vulnerability established from Minister of Internal Affairs through the National Disaster Management Agency and the request by the Liberian Government through Internal Affairs Minister, Hon. Varney Sirleaf,” he said.
The government had earlier sent out emergency calls to the public including businesses to help intervene.
Receiving the items, Augustine Kollie of the National Disaster Management Agency, commended the company’s gesture, urging other corporate outfits to emulate the company in providing needed assistance to the people.
Kollie described MNG as a “good neighbour”; while also thanking the company for identifying with the victims’ families at a time of need.
He said the government has about 60 persons who had been mobilized to offer continuous humanitarian services to families of the victims.
Kollie added that while the government has provided some relief items, it is “heart-warming” that MNG still sees the need to augment the government’s effort in alleviating the suffering of the citizens.
The donation was made on behalf of MNG Gold Liberia by its Government & Community Relations Supervisor Mr Eugene J.M. Kollie and the company Public Relations Officer Mr Lloyd N. Ngwayah.
At the same time, the company has donated construction materials to Kwatekeh, a community radio station in Gbarnga.
The donation was made based on a request by the administration of the radio station, which is seeking to construct its own radio station facility.
The building materials donation was made on behalf of MNG Gold Liberia on Saturday, February 23 by the company’s Community Liaison Officer Mr J. Keith Gboe.
Items donated included 10 bags of cement, 10 pieces of a painting brush, 2 buckets (40 litres) of oil paints and 2 cartons of wire nails. After the presentation, the CEO of the station, Papa Morris, thanked the management of MNG Gold Liberia for their kind gestures and said the donated materials were timely in their quest to construct their own building.
