Liberia: LNRCS Endeavors to Make Vulnerable Communities More Resilient

As Liberia’s premier national humanitarian group, staff and volunteers of the Liberia National Red Cross Society (LNRCS) are working with leaders and members of vulnerable communities to make them more resilient in order to withstand or endure shocks.

The Red Cross has been providing assistance to victims of disasters across the country as well as conducting need assessments in order to respond appropriately to the needs of the vulnerable.

For instance, the Red Cross recently conducted an Enhanced Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment (EVCA) in 12 communities across Sinoe, Grand Kru, and RiverGee, identifying key vulnerabilities and capacities in each community.

It was realized from the assessment that these communities are facing similar challenges, including limited access to basic sanitation, safe drinking water, and food insecurity, as well as exposure to natural disasters.

“Our teams and community members, working together, identified actions and designed strategies to address the needs and build community resilience,” LNRCS Secretary General Gregory Blamoh told a press conference in Monrovia on Thursday. “Everything we do comes from our hearts.”

The humanitarian organization recently sped up recovery and preserved the dignity of disaster victims in Gbarpolu and Grand Bassa Counties after violent storms hit over 14 communities, leaving at least 478 people, including seven disabled and a number of children, affected in February.

“We have repeatedly emphasized the need for actionable steps not only to speed up recovery but to protect and preserve the dignity of affected people and help communities to build back better and withstand future shocks,” Blamoh said. “People in the two affected areas were self-reliant and were unprepared for such disasters. As a result, the violent storms created a devastating impact on the lives of the people and further worsened their existing vulnerabilities.”

“As we deliver services from our heart with compassion and empathy, we are also calling for increased support to disaster response, to enable us to support community recovery and build resilience.”

Thursday’s press conference was meant to officially launch the Red Cross and Red Crescent Month. The official celebrations are planned and organized on May 8 to commemorate the birthday of the Red Cross founder Henry Dunant. This year’s theme for the Day is: Everything we do comes from the heart.

The theme, Blamoh noted, highlights the importance of empathy and compassion in humanitarian work. “By operating with a deep commitment to addressing the needs of the most vulnerable, the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement can make a significant difference in the lives of people affected by emergencies and ongoing challenges worldwide.”

“World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day is a time to celebrate the spirit of humanitarianism and recognize the individuals who make a difference in their communities,” he said. “This year, we want to focus on the people in our communities, the people next door, who often are the first ones to step up and support those in need around them.”

The Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement’s underlying principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality guide its activities worldwide, and at the heart of these principles is the belief that every individual has inherent dignity and worth.

When responding to emergencies or addressing ongoing challenges, Blamoh added, “Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers and staff demonstrate a genuine concern for the well-being of others.”

Whether providing emergency relief, supporting community health initiatives, promoting disaster preparedness, or advocating for the rights of vulnerable populations, staff and volunteers are motivated by a deep sense of empathy and compassion.

“This year’s theme reminds us that compassion is not just a nice-to-have but an essential component of humanitarian work. In such situations, it is critical to understand and respond to people's needs and emotions. By operating from the heart, the Movement's volunteers and staff can provide comfort and support to those who need it most.”

With support from the Swedish Red Cross, LNRCS provided immediate relief assistance to the affected communities.

However, with the changing climate, the Red Cross says it anticipates more climate-related disasters, including flooding and violent storms, in the coming months.

LNRCS recently launched the Saving Lives and Livelihoods project to enhance COVID-19 vaccine demand and increase uptake in four counties, including Grand Gedeh, Bomi, Grand Cape Mount, and Gbarpolu. The Saving Lives and Livelihoods initiative is a partnership with the Government of Liberia, the Africa CDC, MasterCard Foundation, and the IFRC, designed to save the lives and livelihoods of millions of people in Africa and accelerate the economic recovery of the continent in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.