MONROVIA, Montserrado – The National Disaster Management Agency has announced a plan to demolish structures built in waterways and wetlands in the Monrovia metropolitan area to curb flooding.
During a news conference in Monrovia, NDMA Executive Director Ansu V. S. Dulleh said his agency would execute the plan in partnership with the Ministry of Public Works.
Dulleh said flooding has become a severe challenge for residents, as more than 48,000 residents have been affected in just this year alone. He estimates that 100,000 more people are still at risk of floods and other disasters, including windstorms and coastal erosion. He predicted this would lead to a rise in water-borne diseases.
He quoted the U.N. Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2020-2024 for Liberia report, which notes that Liberia has limited resilience and adaptive capacity to combat the effects of climate change.
Dulleh believes the demolitions will help mitigate the flooding situation, putting the country on par with others in the region regarding disaster preparedness and response.
“The National Disaster Management Agency has the statutory mandate to mitigate and to respond to all these things. Areas that did not experience flooding during the last ten years are now experiencing flooding. We will not compromise by helping one or two persons and put the majority at risk,” he said.
However, Dulleh also blamed flooding on community members who use their drainages for garbage disposal and construct in waterways and mangrove swamps. For years, he said these unsafe practices have hindered the NDMA’s progress and must be discouraged.
“This disaster is a human-induced hazard, and I can tell you we will make sure our statutory mandate is fully implemented without fear or favor to protect our people and country,” he added.
He wants people residing in structures situated on wetlands and in waterways to begin relocation, as the agency and Ministry of Public Works will have the full backing and support of the Liberia National Police in demolishing structures in the wrong locations.
However, Glady M. Toe, the owner of one such structure in a wetland community in 72nd Community in Paynesville, wants the agency to reconsider its decision. Toe complained that most owners of such structures are low-income earners who cannot afford to buy property anywhere else.
“This decision will create serious problems and make many of us homeless. I want the government to know that the majority of us on wetlands are low-income earners who can only afford to rent or construct homes on wetlands,” she said.
Some flooded homes in the 72nd community in Paynesville. Photo: George Momo
Another owner of two houses in Pipeline Community also appealed to President Joseph Boakai to intervene to prevent the NDMA from executing its planned action. Morris Konneh told The Bush Chicken that the plan was very harmful and could render hundreds of people homeless.
“The government holds the right to regulate where we live and the protection of our lives and properties. We are only appealing to the NDMA to go back on the drawing board to find other ways to fight flood without making us homeless,” he pleaded.
He also wants the Liberia Land Authority, the Environmental Protection Agency, and other agencies to properly monitor wetlands and prevent further sale and construction activities on wetlands.
Konneh said he used his life savings from working as a Firestone contractor to purchase the wetland on which he has his property. He said demolishing the property would take away all he has worked to earn.
The NDMA has not made any commitments to compensate owners of properties it has earmarked for demolishing.
Featured photo courtesy of George K. Momo
