The Inquirer (Monrovia)
Joshua Lemuel III
16 August 2007
A major bridge connecting Harbel City in Margibi County and nearby towns with villages across the Gben River has collapsed; leaving thousands of residents living across the Needrum River stranded.
According to residents of Needrum, since the destruction of the bridge, they are unable to get cross to carry out their normal business and social activities. Students who live across the bridge and are attending schools in an area known as Joe Blow in Unification Town and other surrounding communities can no longer go to their various schools due to the damaged bridge.
The bridge got devastated as the result of a flood which covered the area some two weeks ago. According to the residents, the flood washed away the pieces of planks that were placed on the concrete to create the crossover, which was constructed some years ago by the Catholic Relief Service (CRS).
Speaking to The INQUIRER in an exclusive interview, the Paramount Chief of Kaiba Chiefdom, Mr. Reuben S. Duo, narrated that the destruction of the bridge is causing serious hardship for the people in the area. The chief went on to say that the incapacitation caused to the bridge has deprived residents of the Needrum and other areas of having access to hospitals and schools that are located in Unification Town near the Roberts International Airport (RIA), Harbel, Joe Blow Town and other adjacent vicinities.
"Some of the children leave from here and go to school in Charlesville and other areas; but since the bridge collapsed there is no way for them to go to school while pregnant women and sick children in the localities cannot be taken across for medication," Mr. Duo lamented.
"We crawled on our knees before getting across the bridge to buy our food and other necessities but for the little children they are unable to do the same so, this is very serious and needs government's urgent attention," Mr. Duo further averred.
Meanwhile, Paramount Chief Duo is appealing to the Government of Liberia as well as prominent sons of the county, including senators and representatives to assist them rebuild the broken bridge. The residents are also appealing to local and international non-governmental organizations operating in the country to come to their aid by helping to re- construct the damaged bridge.
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