As Gov’t Allegedly Slashes Subsidy
Reported by: Prince Saah
Monrovia, Liberia – The Liberia National Red Cross Society (LNRCS) has sounded the alarm over the country’s worsening humanitarian situation, revealing that a sharp cut in government funding and the absence of local donations are crippling its ability to respond to devastating floods, fires, and windstorms affecting thousands of Liberians.
Speaking Wednesday, July 22, 2026, at the organization’s headquarters in Monrovia, LNRCS Secretary General Gregory T. Blamoh disclosed that the government’s annual subsidy to the Red Cross had been reduced from US$100,000 in 2025 to US$40,000 in 2026, with only US$10,000 disbursed so far.
Blamoh warned that the limited funding has forced the Red Cross to dedicate its only government payment exclusively to emergency flood response, despite mounting requests for assistance from disaster victims across the country. “We have received only US$10,000 of the US$40,000 promised this year, and that is the only money we have available for flood response. We don’t know how many people it can help, but we have committed it because that’s all we have,” he added.
According to the disaster relief organization, it evaluated natural disasters in a number of counties earlier this year. LNRC reported that 61 homes in Grand Cape Mount, Rivercess, Margibi, Nimba, and Montserrado counties were destroyed by fire, affecting 1,643 people, and that 213 homes in Nimba and Lofa counties were damaged by windstorms, affecting 3,704 people.
The Liberia National Red Cross requested US$50,000 from Liberian companies and individuals after assessments were completed in January and February, but no local funding was provided, the organization reported. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) approved US$365,000 for storm victims and US$170,000 for fire victims, according to the Red Cross Secretary General. The Swedish Red Cross also contributed US$11,225, bringing the total funding for fire response to US$181,225.
Blamoh added that all of those foreign funds have already been allocated to the victims identified during the preliminary assessment process. “The money we received has already gone to the 61 houses we assessed. If your house burned after that assessment period, unfortunately there is no funding available to help you unless we receive new support,” he explained.
The LNRC Secretary General emphasized that aid is split into two parts: funds for immediate food and family needs and separate funding to buy building supplies like planks, zinc, and nails to restore damaged homes. Support for storm victims is scheduled to conclude on July 31, according to the Red Cross, while aid for fire victims will last until the end of August, at which point donors will get final accountability reports.
Despite mounting humanitarian needs, Blamoh voiced disappointment that despite repeated requests to local businesses and the Liberian public, no contributions had been received since March. He also disclosed that repeated efforts to secure meetings with officials at the Ministry of Health regarding the reduced subsidy have produced no clear explanation.
“I don’t know what is in their minds,” Blamoh said when asked why government support had been drastically reduced despite the country’s expanding national budget. “We have written several letters requesting appointments, but we have not received answers.”
Beyond financial concerns, Blamoh warned that Liberia’s annual flood disasters will continue until authorities address the root causes. He pointed out that improving drainage infrastructure and relocating vulnerable people are still the only practical solutions, attributing frequent flooding mainly to the rapid growth of informal settlements in low-lying areas during the civil war.
“We don’t have the authority to move people from flood-prone communities. That responsibility belongs to government. Until those communities are improved or people are relocated, we will continue responding to the same emergencies every year,” Blamoh stated.
Stronger fire safety precautions, such as routinely checking electrical wiring, avoiding overloaded extension cables, and turning off electrical breakers before leaving houses, were also recommended by the Liberia National Red Cross. Blamoh stressed that although the Red Cross is still dedicated to responding to crises, more public funding, donor support, and government backing are crucial to its capacity to save lives.
He added that the organization still works with Liberia’s primary disaster coordination body, the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA), to coordinate disaster response activities. The NDMA brings together humanitarian actors to make the most of available resources in responding to emergencies across the country.
