RED CROSS IDENTIFIES WITH SAFE HOMES

By Mark N. Mengonfia- mmenginfia@gmail.com

MONROVIA-The Liberia National Red Cross (LNRC) has identified three safe homes as a means of helping the institutions meet the needs of Sexual Gender Based Violence (SGBV) survivors.

The three institutions include Touching Humanity in Need of Kindness (THINK- Safe home and Transit Home), Women Aid Inc., and Her Voice Liberia.

Making the donation Tuesday, February 21, 2023, Liberia National Red Cross Secretary General, Gregory T. Blamoh said, “We help everybody except for the degree”.

According to him, there are no specifics in the help provided to the society by the Liberia National Red Cross, but they are into helping as many people based on the needs of the institution or individual.

He said, as part of the SGBV task force, they received information about safe homes being in need of assistance so they decided to reach out to them through the instrumentality of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MGCSP).

The LNRC’s Secretary General said, “We are pleased, Madam Minister to do a small donation to the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection so that you can support those homes, take care of our young children who were victimized in our communities.”

He spoke about the harm sexual and gender-based violence poses to society and he said, “This is rampant. We all should do what we can to stop it.”

Items provided to the three safe homes separately included food and non-food items such as rice, Argo oil, vita, sanitary pads, chloral, washing and bath soap, mattresses, assorted used children’s cloths, and assorted used bed sheets.

The items were turned over to Alice Johnson Howard, Deputy Minister at the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection later turned over the items to the safe home’s operators with thanks on her lips.

Musu Y. Tiawon of Touching Humanity in Need of Kindness (THINK- Safe home and Transit Home) “We want to say thanks to the Red Cross Family and the Gender Ministry for taking this initiative to donate such huge items to the SGBV kids.”

She said the institution needs food and other items for the upkeep of the survivors who have gone for refuge at the safe homes.

She added that when they receive the survivors, they are holistically responsible for their schooling, their shelter, health, and basic needs for their upkeep while in safe homes.

She and Joelyne S. Morris of Women Aid Inc. on behalf of the beneficiaries thanked the Liberia National Red Cross for helping their institutions.