Liberia: ‘Let’s be Kind to the Vulnerable’

The Liberian National Red Cross Society (LNRCS) has promised to continue to offer hope and support to humanity, express solidarity and demonstrate humility and show kindness everywhere in communities—thereby calling on every well-meaning Liberian to do the same as the most vulnerable “among us need our help.”

As the nation’s leading humanitarian organization, the LNRCS, said it will provide humanitarian assistance to vulnerable people as a means of demonstrating kindness toward the less fortunate.

Secretary General Gregory Blamoh told a press conference on Thursday that there is a need for support, coordination and combined efforts and consolidated resources to demonstrate exceptional kindness toward humanity in response to the immense needs of the most vulnerable.

The pledge for continued efforts comes on the heels of the observance of this year’s Red Cross and Red Crescent (RCRC) Day — the 8^th of May each year.

Outlining its activities for this year’s celebration, Mr. Blamoh said, “The LNRCS team will visit homes of the people with disabilities, orphans and people with special needs to present food and essential non-food items.” “Volunteers will also engage in community services by cleaning the homes and rendering domestic services to people in need of our help.”

May of each year is known as World Red Cross and Red Crescent Month and an official celebration is planned and organized on May 8 to commemorate the birthday of the movement’s founder, Henry Dunant. This year’s celebration is held under the theme ‘Believe in the power of kindness.’ 

“More than 150 years after the birth of the Red Cross on a battlefield, we are proud to use this day to celebrate the uniqueness and unity of our Movement, strengthen the belonging and pride of our members, present our Movement as a constant in communities - close to people every day - and strengthen relationships with our partners,” SG Blamoh noted

It is no secret that the past months have been marked by multiple crises that have spared no one and have hit the most vulnerable the hardest — from the COVID-19 pandemic to fire disasters, stampede, and the recent outbreaks of Lassa fever and measles and other humanitarian emergencies in the country.  

The LNRCS noted that in this complex time, “We need more than ever to ground ourselves and return to the root and meaning of our founding humanitarian principle, which is humanity.”

“This is why for this year’s World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day, we would like to celebrate acts of kindness, whether small or big, that can make a huge difference in people’s lives,” Mr. Blamoh said.

Mr. Blamoh disclosed that this year’s celebration aims to connect people through simple acts of kindness. 

Kindness and humanity, he noted, are among the most powerful tools humanity to withstand the harsh impacts of conflict, climate change, COVID-19, stampede, flood, fire and other emergencies including the recent outbreak of measles and Lassa fever—all of which the nation has grappled with recently. “Kindness is also a tool that can spark hope and change.”

“We believe crises and disasters have spared virtually no one in the past year and hit the most vulnerable the hardest. Yet one never has to look far to find and be inspired by acts of kindness. 

“Today we celebrate the dedication, compassion, courage, and impact of millions of volunteers and countless others who offer help, care, and life-saving services to people in their communities,” he said. 

As part of activities, the LNRCS’ youth and volunteer department will hold Youth Career Inspiration Dialogues in six schools in three counties including Grand Bassa, Margibi and Nimba.

“We will work with experts or professionals to inspire senior high students to choose a career option that is best for them. Career choices are life choices and we want to encourage our students to take them seriously and do them rightly,” he said.

“We will also encourage a lot more professional people and corporate institutions as well as public and private institutions to join us through our membership to help us mobilize sufficient  resources to demonstrate a simple act of kindness together and put smiles on the faces of people in distress.”

A Call for More Support toward Local Humanitarian Actions 

Despite the many challenges the national society has faced over the years, with inadequate funding being at the core, the LNRCS says it is optimistic and attentive to the realization of the willingness and support of the private and public sectors as well as the corporate and international communities to work together and express kindness toward humanity.  

“We hope to work towards a refocused LNRCS, at the service of all, strong in its diversity, exemplary and innovative approach to demonstrate exceptional and unconditional kindness at all times and toward everyone everywhere.” 

While Liberia has made significant efforts against Covid-19, there are many compelling needs in the communities that must be addressed. The outbreak of the COVID-19 made existing humanitarian needs in the country more acute and many people are currently in need of support to live a happier and healthier life. 

“As the rainy season also steps in, let me remind you of unprecedented flooding that might hit communities after days of heavy downpour,” Blamoh noted. “Based on the history, we anticipate that communities will be flooded and community people be made homeless and there will be critical and urgent needs for food, health care, water and shelter support in affected communities. The Resources we have at the Red Cross are extremely limited to meet the current and anticipated needs in communities.”

The LNRCS has, therefore, called on government, corporate institutions, private organizations and international and local humanitarian actors for increasing support to be able to sufficiently address local humanitarian needs.

“We are extremely concerned about the local humanitarian needs and as a humanitarian organization, it is our duty to act in time in helping affected people to recover with hope and dignity,” the SG said. “We need funding and other material assistance in the areas of disaster preparedness and response, water and sanitation, Health, Hygiene, and Nutrition as well as Food Security and Livelihoods.” 

Meanwhile, the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement comprises the International Committee of the Red Cross, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and 192 National Societies with 14.9 million volunteers worldwide. It’s estimated that one in every 524 people in the world is a Red Cross or Red Crescent volunteer. 

Together, the Red Cross and Red Crescent reached 688 million people affected by disasters and other emergencies, 306 million with health services, 126 million with clean water and improved sanitation and facilitated 1.5 million phone and video calls between families separated by disaster, violence, conflict or quarantine, a call every minute of the year.