By: Ben TC Brooks| River Gee County Correspondent & Emmanuel Koffa| Grand Kru County Correspondent
Bong County – Tuesday, June 17, 2025 – Following the tragic loss of seven lives to waterborne diseases, a wave of hope has swept through Sarwolor Town as the Liberia National Red Cross Society (LNRCS), with support from the Swedish Red Cross, officially handed over two newly constructed hand pumps and rehabilitated a third—restoring safe drinking water to a community once desperate and forgotten.
Over the weekend, which filled with gratitude and emotion, the Saworlor community came together to officially inaugurate two newly installed hand pumps, a project made possible by the Liberia National Red Cross Society with funding from the Swedish Red Cross.
It represents a renewed sense of hope and vitality for the town’s residents, signaling the end of generations of struggle and health issues linked to water from contaminated open creeks.
In January, Sarwolor made headlines when FrontPage Africa reported that over 3,000 residents, primarily women and children, were drinking from a creek after the town’s only hand pump broke down. The consequences were devastating.
According to a release from the Red Cross, residents had depended solely on a nearby creek for their water supply, a risky choice that led to frequent outbreaks of waterborne diseases, particularly affecting children.
Tragically, at least seven individuals, including children, lost their lives in recent years due to ailments associated with creek water consumption, while others have suffered various health problems, trapping the community in a cycle of hardship, community leaders have revealed.
“I watched my daughter die just two days after being diagnosed with diarrhea,” recalled Norah Gbanjah, a grieving mother who also lost her son and grandson to the same fate. “We were helpless.”
The creek, just a short walk from the town, once appeared to be a gift of nature—cool and shaded—but it was a silent killer. “I was forced to drink from the creek because there was no other choice,” said Rita Dollo, a mother of four. “We were dying slowly.”
The journey toward this important change began when local journalists and online publishers drew attention to the severity of the water crisis in Saworlor.
Their coverage prompted the Liberia National Red Cross to address the pressing needs of the community.
That said, the urgent intervention by the Liberian National Red Cross has since transformed sorrow into celebration.
During the handover ceremony on June 13, 2025, Christopher Olue Johnson, Programs Manager at the Red Cross, expressed his heartfelt understanding of the challenges the community has faced and emphasized that this achievement is a testament to partnership and compassion.
“The initiative goes beyond the simple installation of two hand pumps; it’s about restoring dignity to individuals who have endured hardship in silence for far too long,” stated Mr. Johnson. “We urge the residents of Saworlor to embrace these hand pumps, take care of them, and safeguard this vital resource for future generations.”
Head of Programs Christopher Johnson emphasized that clean water access remains one of the most urgent humanitarian challenges in Liberia’s rural communities.
He added that the Swedish Red Cross has donated two drilling machines to expand clean water access. “These are not for profit,” he emphasized, “they’re for our people—to end suffering like what happened here.”
“What happened in Sarwolor is not an isolated tragedy—it’s one of many untold stories,” he said. “With limited resources, we are doing all we can to stop people from drinking unsafe creek water, but the need far outweighs our current capacity.”
Also speaking at the dedicatory ceremony, Town Chief Lawrence Dolopay expressed deep gratitude to the LNRCS on behalf of his people. “The Red Cross saved our lives. We were crying for help, and they answered. This is what true humanity looks like,” he said.
Chief Dolopay emphasized the town’s commitment to protecting the new water facilities: “We will not let these pumps spoil. We will maintain them so no more lives are lost.”
Women, who bore the brunt of the crisis, voiced overwhelming relief. “We used to feel shame and sadness fetching creek water. Today, I feel proud,” said Noria Cooper, the Women Chair Lady. “We will organize ourselves to care for these pumps like they are our own children.”
For Manda Cooper, a mother of seven said the Red Cross’ intervention brought more than clean water—it brought peace of mind. “Some of my children died from bad water. But today, I can say thank God for the Red Cross. They gave us life.” Sarwolor Town now looks ahead—not to another tragedy, but to a future of dignity, health, and clean water.
Also speaking during the hand pump dedication in Sarwolor Town, Swedish Red Cross Country Representative Armel Komena reaffirmed the organization’s global mission of compassion. “Our objective is to mobilize the power of humanity to create a better world, a better community,” he said. “That is why the Red Cross is present in every country—because humanity knows no borders. It is this same spirit that has brought the Swedish Red Cross to support the Liberian Red Cross.”
The Red Cross has been actively responding to these needs, with the rehabilitation of 15 damaged hand pumps across 13 communities in Bong County, including Gbarnga, Totota, and Bong Mines.
Under the LNRCS GIRL Project, an additional 14 hand pumps have been rehabilitated in hard-to-reach southeastern counties—Sinoe, Grand Kru, and River Gee. “Every pump we repair or build saves lives and restores dignity,” Johnson added.
Despite the progress, both Country Representative Armel Komena and Program head Johnson stressed the urgent need for increased support, partnerships, and collaboration to scale up the LNRCS humanitarian interventions.
“We have the technical expertise and the commitment,” said Johnson, “but we are seriously challenged by extremely limited resources. We call on all partners to help us reach further—to restore access to safe and reliable drinking water and protect lives.”
However, the Liberia National Red Cross Society (LNRCS) is a humanitarian organization dedicated to providing crucial services to vulnerable populations in Liberia, especially during emergencies and crises.
As the largest humanitarian entity in Liberia, the LNRCS maintains a presence in all 15 counties through its various chapters and branches.
The organization aims to alleviate human suffering, safeguard health and lives, and foster peace and resilience in communities.
Officially established by an Act of the Liberian Government in 2008, the LNRCS has cemented its position as a major humanitarian organization in the nation.
Edited: Jesefu Morris Keita| Editor-In-Chief
