Monrovia – Fire disaster is somewhat serious natural phenomenon rendering many people homeless every year in Liberia. But Liberian Journalist Y. Solomon W. Watkins, as a humanitarian and development journalist is helping victims of the disaster to put away the pains by providing their needs to re-begin their lives and regain hope.
Journalist Watkins recently donated some assorted food items to the residents of the Old road Chubor Community of District 10, Montserrado County who were victimized by fire incident that gutted three houses in the area early morning.
The Cause of the fire was not immediately established, but the management of Power Tech Incorporated promised to get back to the press to say what caused the fire. However, some eyewitnesses say they first noticed heavy smoke before the fire became uncontrollable, thus leaving about 63 residents homeless.
Journalist Watkins as resident of Montserrado District10 said he preferred not to only sit behind the microphones and/or write in the newspapers articles to report about the situation rather to help bring relief to the affected community.
Donating the food items to the affected residents, Journalist Watkins stated that it was his own way of identifying with the victims.
He described the situation as pathetic and very unfortunate to see residents of the area being left homeless due to fire disaster.
He further used the occasion to call on the Liberia National Red Cross including other humanitarian organizations to help aid the affected residents.
For their part, the affected residents commended Journalist Watkins for the donation. They described the intervention by the journalist as timely, noting that they never expected that a journalist like Mr. Watkins would have done such given that journalists are always good at asking questions and reporting on issues.
“Knowing that you are a journalist, when we saw you coming this morning, we have thought you were only going to interview us until we saw the car brought the food items for us. I think this is good of you and we are happy to receive these items from you. May God bless you brother,” Said Madam Victoria Yates, owner of one of the houses that was gutted by the fire.
A resident who only identified himself as Ivan also thanked Mr. Watkins for what he termed as bringing relief to them, the fire victims.
Also speaking, Madam Rose P. Smith applauded Journalist Watkins for identifying with them the fire victims.
“For us this is a big step taken. We hope others could follow same. We look forward to other institutions to come to our rescue because we never took anything from these houses. We are lacking everything needed to care for a family but we are grateful for what you have done. Thank you so much,” resident Smith said.