GLANYAH, River Cess – A week of relentless rainfall has plunged the traditional town of Glanyah into chaos, as rising waters swallowed homes and displaced hundreds of residents. This once-thriving community, established in the late 1970s by farmers and hunters, now faces an unprecedented crisis, with 27 houses submerged and critical infrastructure damaged leaving at least one person dead.
By Eric Opa Doue with New Narratives
On Tuesday the rains stopped and sun came out but the water levels have only just begun to subside. The Cestos River Bridge is now accessible for the first time in 14 days. Even if the rains have stopped authorities said the town will likely face a massive clean-up effort and difficult recovery for those who have lost homes and businesses.
The flooding has left more than one hundred people homeless, and many more with limited access to clean water and food. Local authorities are grappling with the escalating crisis. Solomon Nyenetu, representing the office of the county Superintendent, said it was a growing humanitarian emergency.
“It is very terrible for our people. Twenty-seven good structures are under the water, affected by the flood. There is no safe drinking water.”
On Saturday the National Disaster Management Agency and Armed Forces of Liberia, said they initiated response efforts in communities affected by the flooding. Ansu Dulleh, head of National Disaster Management Agency, called on the government to give more resources to the Agency.
“People left their homes with nothing,” said Dulleh. “The situation in River Cess is overwhelming. There is no shelter and there is no food. We need more food items, we need zinc we need more medical care, we need mattresses we need water. We need anything that the human being can have to live.”
A joint response team comprising the Disaster Agency and a Coast Guard Unit of the Army arrived in the county on Saturday to do support rescue efforts and support medical teams.
River Cess County Superintendent Byron Zahnwhea told NN/FPA that the county is collaborating with national partners to effectively address the crisis.
Late on Wednesday Bill Twehway, River Cess senator, told journalists the Disaster Agency and Bea Mountain Mining Company had made available assorted food items including 450 twenty-five kilogram bags of rice, 20 containers of vegetable oil and other items. Sen. Twehway said the items are “on the way to the county.”
When the flooding began two weeks ago it pushed dozens to flee the area to nearby settlements where they found temporary shelter. But many refused to leave expecting the water levels to stay where they had been in previous rainy seasons. They were then trapped as the water rose on three fronts including the Cestos River, the Teekpor River and the creek that was being used as one of the sources of drinking water in Glanyah.
Princess Nana, a local resident, recounted her harrowing experience as the floods took over her house.
“I was laying down. Before I could wake up, the water had taken over everything,” said Madam Nana who was trying to recover what she could beneath the flood waters. “I lose everything. I lose my rice. I lose my money. I don’t have food to eat. I don’t have anything to lie down on. As I am speaking to you, my heart is hurting because of too much stress.”
Emmanuel Johnson, another Glanyah resident, watched as the tide crept into his sister’s home around midnight.
“I woke up from bed and saw the water coming,” said Johnson. “It came closer to my house, and I thought it would go away. Later, we saw it coming with force. It took over my house at about 12 o’clock.”
The Cestos River, which encircles the gold mine, overflowed its banks, creating a perilous situation. Upstream, in the community of ITI, the submerged bridge isolated residents and travelers.
In ITI, Mohammed M. Keita runs one of the biggest businesses, right on the bank of the Cestos River. He also owns a pineapple farm and orange plantation on the banks of the river. His house, farms and livestock were swept away by the flood.
“Right now, I am in tears because everything I ever work for has gone down the river,” Mr. Keita said as held onto his 13-year-old daughter. The family is currently taking shelter in a two-bed room house offered to him by his friend who is an officer of the Liberia National Police assigned in ITI.
In Glanyah authorities say about 200 residents are displaced, taking refuge in nearby communities. Access to clean drinking water has been severely compromised, with two open wells and a creek rendered unusable by the flood.
Elder Paul Beair, a long-time resident, noted that this flooding is unprecedented in Glanyah’s history. “This is the very first time this is happening.”
Glanyah’s plight is a stark reminder of the challenges faced by communities that have already endured years of hardship. Once flourishing with agriculture, the town now grapples with the combined threats of climate change, environmental degradation and economic instability exacerbated by illicit mining activities that have drawn outsiders into the area.
For the past two months Liberia has experienced a prolonged rainfall leading to flooding in various parts of the country. A recent IFRC’s report on Liberia indicates that about 50, 000 persons from 10,000 households are currently displaced because of flooding. According to the report, 68 percent of those impacted by flooding are women and children.
This story was a collaboration with New Narratives. Funding was provided by the American Jewish World Service. The funder had no say in the story’s content.
