Liberian team to aid Sierra Leone's mudslide victims

By Evelyn Kpadeh Seagbeh

MONROVIA, Liberia

An emergency response team from Liberia arrived Thursday in Sierra Leone to help it recover following massive mudslides in the capital that killed at least 400 people.

The team comprises members of the Liberian Armed Forces, the Liberian Red Cross and other government agencies who will be helping Sierra Leone distribute medical supplies to the victims.

Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who arrived in Sierra Leone ahead of the team, is meeting with President Ernest Bai Kromah to express Liberia’s solidarity with the government and people of Sierra Leone in the aftermath of the mudslides.

Prior to Sirleaf’s departure, she signed a book of condolence in honor of the victims of the disaster and led a delegation of government officials on a visit to Sierra Leone’s embassy in Monrovia.

Liberian Information Minister Eugene Nagbe said Sirleaf’s visit is also aimed at engaging various partners to help Sierra Leone recover from the disaster.

“The president and people of Liberia deeply regret the situation in Sierra Leone, and we stand in solidarity with them.

“President Sirleaf has left to help our sister country get urgent support in the ongoing disaster,” he said.

Hundreds of people were killed and many others were trapped in their homes by mudslides in Sierra Leone’s capital Freetown Monday following heavy rains. The Red Cross estimates that 600 people are still missing.