UNDP has turned over to Liberia's Mines and Energy Ministry, US$4,000 dollars’ worth of cleaning materials to be used in the borough of New Kru Town.

The materials were turned over to a community group called the Historical Writers Association to engage in a beach waste management and waste dump site clean-up exercise in New Kru Town.

The initiative is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and forms part of activities under UNDP's “Enhancing Resilience of Liberia Montserrado County Vulnerable Coastal Areas to Climate Change Risks” Project.

Currently under this project and in collaboration with the Government of Liberia, a seawall is being built along the shores of New Kru Town to mitigate the threats being posed by the sea in that area.

In addition to this threat, there are also issues of sanitation and waste management. The current New Kru town waste dump site blocks the community’s main drainage to the sea and residents in the area are noted for defecating on the beaches.

The materials are to be used to improve the health and sanitation of the community to reduce the spread of diseases and enhance healthy living.

Assistant Mines and Energy Minister Johnson Willabo received the items from UNDP. He called on the civil society group responsible to execute the clean-up exercise to ensure that the materials are used effectively to improve and promote proper hygiene in the area.

Mr. Willabo stressed that New Kru Town remains what he called “a heartbeat” of the President of Liberia and would do all to make their lives better.

UNDP's Energy and Environment Project Manager Moses Massah emphasized that it was imperative that the Historical Writers Association make efforts to efficiently execute the cleanup exercise, reminding the group that UNDP is keen on proper monitoring of the materials.

“We have seen in the past, civil society groups that have misused donor resources which have not worked well in communities that were expected to benefit residents. We hope that this group will be the change agent” Massah noted.

Receiving the items, the head of the Historical Writers Association, Sam Kaba thanked UNDP and collaborating partners for the gesture, promising that while UNDP and others fast track the coastal add-on project in the borough, his organization remains committed to the waste management sanitation  and public awareness aspects of the project.

The materials include shovels, pick axes, hand gloves, rain boots, safety goggles, cutlasses, knives, disposal nose masks, brooms, etc.