The NEWS (Monrovia)
Alloycious David
26 March 2008
Monrovia — A violent storm has reportedly destroyed 70 houses including a public school in Gbehlay-Geh District, Nimba County.
Nimba County Representative Martin Farngalo said the storm swept away a school and 69 homes in Zorgowee, Zortapa, Younlay and Kehplay towns in Gbehlay-Geh District.
The incident which has resulted into internal displacement of more than 1,000 persons, according to Mr. Farngalo, is due to deforestation in the area.
Expressing fear that the incident would recur if government did not embark on reforestation program in the county, Representative Farngalo disclosed that this incident was the second in less than a year.
He indicated that the first incident took place March 15, 2008 in Zorgowee where the storm uprooted the roofs of several residential buildings.
Representative Farngalo also averred that a total of 15 homes were destroyed in Zortapa, while 60 houses were damaged in Younlay and Kehplay towns during this month alone.
He noted that several students of the Kailay Elementary School might not return to classes due to the massive destruction of their school facility. "It was just fortunate that it occurred during the closure of school for the conduct of the national housing and population census," he said
Rep. Farngalo disclosed that the school administration was searching for a building to conduct classes.
The Nimba County Lawmaker is appealing to the government and humanitarian organizations to assist victims of the storm disaster because, according to him, they are sleeping in the open.
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