By Boima J.V.Boima

Photo on Flickr by afcone

As flooding and other forms of disaster continue to pose a threat to the environmental stability of post-war Liberia the United Nations Development Fund (UNDP) disclosed on Oct. 28 that it would give US$98,000 to the Liberia National Red Cross Society (LNRCS) and train women to respond to disasters in the country.

According to the UNDP Deputy Resident Representative, Madam Maria-Therease Keating, the fund is intended to build the capacity of the national society in responding to natural disasters such as flash floods in the country. In Monrovia, flooding particularly affects areas like the West Point, Hotel Africa, and King Gray communities. Recently a fire disaster also claimed the lives of five residents and destroyed hundreds of properties in one of Monrovia ’s slums, the Doe community.

Flash floods are among the many types of disasters that pose a threat to most of the communities in the country whenever it rains.

The deputy resident representative, who addressed a cross section of stakeholders at this week’s UNDP/ LNRCS contract-signing ceremony, that took place at the headquarters of the UNDP in the Mamba Point section of Monrovia, said that the funding is consistent with the fact that the Red Cross societies all around the world do not only assist during war or conflict, but also during natural disasters. Keating also noted that over the past two years the UNDP worked in close collaboration with LNRCS and the Ministry of Internal Affairs in response to flooding that occurred in greater Monrovia and other parts of the country, adding that the UNDP has also been providing technical support to the Ministry of Internal Affairs in building staff capacity and expertise to effectively respond to natural disasters in the country.

Keating said that the newly-drafted policy will target the capacity-building of women in responding to disaster in the country. Adding their roles to the National Red Cross is vital in the new agreement signed.

“The empowerment of women networks across the country through trainings in disaster risk reduction is very critical at this moment especially as stressed by Goal 3 of the Millennium Development Goals (promoting gender equity and empowering women),” Keating noted. She also stressed that by including women, the security of women in natural disaster situations will be strengthened as they will now feel part of the national society’s response mechanism when crisis erupts.

Liberia’s Acting Internal Affairs Minister, Peter Z.N.Kamei, who spoke on behalf of the government, said that the new agreement will complement the effort of the government in responding to disasters around the country adding that its gender adherence is also timely.