ReliefWeb

Disaster Declared: 4/12/2007

Brief Description: On March 21, 2007, a severe storm struck Ganta and surrounding towns and villages in Nimba County, Liberia, destroying more than 500 homes and damaging 3,000 others. According to USAID/Liberia, the storm left 3,500 people homeless, and 85 percent of damaged houses belonged to internally displaced persons and refugees who recently returned to their areas of origin. In response to the storm, the Government of Liberia (GOL), the Liberian Red Cross, and international organizations conducted assessments. In addition, the GOL established a temporary disaster relief committee in Ganta to coordinate all assistance to storm-affected populations. On March 30, the GOL provided emergency relief supplies, including tarpaulins, clothing, and rice, to affected communities. However, the storm's damage strained the GOL's capacity to respond.

On April 12, 2007, U.S. Ambassador Donald E. Booth declared a disaster due to the impact of the storm in Ganta, Nimba County. In response, USAID/OFDA provided $50,000 through USAID/Liberia to the Liberian Red Cross for the procurement and distribution of emergency relief supplies.