Just as the warning bells sounded from the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) of Liberia about the impending threat of floods, windstorms, and coastal erosion impacting over 100,000 individuals across the nation this year, the city of Greenville finds itself entangled in this statement, with countless citizens left homeless in its wake.
The executive director of the National Disaster Management Agency, Ansu Dulleh, had forewarned that more than 60 percent of coastal counties were likely to bear the brunt of these natural disasters, with the remaining counties in the eastern, northern, and western interior also vulnerable. This cautionary tale was based on scientific revelations from the World Bank Group Climate Risk Profile-2024 on Liberia.
However, despite these warnings, the response to mitigate climate policies seems inadequate, leaving the populace along the city’s coastline to grapple with dire circumstances.
Presently, many economically challenged citizens in Greenville find themselves in the throes of hardship due to the relentless effects of sea erosion. Over the years, this city has persistently borne the brunt of coastal erosion with scant efforts to stave off the encroaching tides.
Local authorities acknowledge their initial efforts to provide assistance to those affected by sea erosion but lament the insufficiency of measures to combat this situation effectively. The situation in Sinoe County mirrors the dire warning issued by Ansu Dulleh, with extreme increases in rainfall patterns, anticipated windstorms, and a looming one-meter rise in sea levels.
Sea erosion isn’t merely an environmental nuisance; it heralds impending disasters, accentuating the potential health risks such as flood-related impacts, disease outbreaks, and critical infrastructure vulnerabilities in water, sanitation, and hygiene. Moreover, the authorities caution that these phenomena could precipitate human injuries and even loss of lives.
Recent months have seen Liberia grappling with mudslides and devastating windstorms, casting their shadow over five counties and inflicting significant loss of lives and property. Like many communities lining the coast of Liberia, Greenville has been ravaged by sea erosion for years, plunging numerous residents into poverty and leaving them homeless, thus exacerbating their plight.
Recent reports suggest that Greenville, Liberia’s third coastal capital, faces the grim prospect of dwindling in size if decisive action isn’t taken by the central government to curb the relentless march of sea erosion.
With over forty thousand residents in the affected communities, the challenges of relocation and migration loom large over their heads.Since its inception in 2013, the scourge of sea erosion has continued to take away at the livelihoods of Greenville’s residents, rendering some homeless and derailing the beauty of Liberia’s third original capital from the southern hemisphere.
Greenville’s plight demands immediate and robust intervention for the affected communities. Top of Form
