Maryland County: LNRC Donates To Shipwreck Victims

The Liberia National Red Cross Society or LNRCS says it has provided assorted relief items to the Ministry of Internal Affairs for survivors of the Harper shipwreck Incident.

The relief items including rice, blankets and mats valued over US$2,000.00, the LNRC said were presented to the National Disaster Relief Commission (NDRC) through the Ministry of Internal Affairs by the Assistant Secretary General of the LNRCS, H. Boweh Barduae.

A LNRC statement quoted Mr. Barduae as saying the donation was an addition to initial assistance provided the survivors by the Maryland Chapter of the Liberian Red Cross. Already, he said the chapter has mobilized Red Cross volunteers and they were making initial intervention on behalf of the LNRCS.

Deputy Internal Affairs Minister Soko Sackor praised the partnership between the LNRCS and the Ministry, saying, the effort is in furtherance of the valuable partnership between both institutions.

He said the shipwreck in Harper was a regrettable occurrence, but expressed delight that there are organizations like the Red Cross that always assist to mitigate the sufferings of victims.

According to reports, on Monday, May 31, a marine vessel, MV Hevea, was reportedly hit by heavy storm near the Port of Harper causing the boat to overturn throwing all its passengers overboard. The boat, which sailed from the Freeport of Monrovia reportedly had 28 persons (10 crew and 18 passengers) on board.

Reports say following frantic search by local government authorities, aid agencies and residents, 21 persons were rescued from the ocean by fishermen from the Ivory Coast leaving seven persons, including three children unaccounted for.

Upon hearing news of the wreck, a team of Liberian Red Cross First Aid Volunteers was immediately assembled at the port to provide assistance to survivors coming ashore, but this was not the case until the next day when there was information that some of the victims had been rescued in Soublake, Ivory Coast.