By Jamesetta D Williams
Reports coming out of Gbarnga, Bong County, speak of rising concerns amongst residents of the Far-East Community in Gbarnga in light of an invasion of caterpillar worms that has reportedly affected several homes.
The residents who are reportedly terrified over the situation have appealed for urgent government intervention to save them from associated complications.
Online DN-News Live reported that the caterpillars began invading residents’ homes on Thursday morning, creating fear and concern among community members.
Residents say the sudden appearance of the insects has disrupted normal activities and raised concerns about possible health risks and damage to household properties.
The affected residents are calling on relevant government authorities, including the Ministry of Agriculture and other responsible agencies, to quickly assess the situation and provide assistance to address the invasion.
Authorities are yet to officially comment on the situation or confirm the cause of the caterpillar outbreak.
Recall that in 2020, during the administration of former President George Weah, residents of Suakoko in Bong County encountered similar invasion of caterpillar worms that spread across different communities and infected their crops.
During that period, the caterpillar worms spread to central Bong County, to Kayata destroying farms, forcing hundreds of inhabitants to flee their homes and contaminating water in Suakoko District.
It was reported that residents from nearby towns and villages in the area left their homes to escape the caterpillar worms invasion in that region.
Several farms and houses in Fuanmah district in electoral district #7, were also affected as the result of a deadly army worms destroyed crops and contaminated safe drinking water sources with their poisons.
In 2009, a state of emergency was declared by former Liberia’s President Sirleaf, after tens of millions of caterpillars swept through at least 80 towns and villages in district #4, Bong County.
The huge caterpillar epidemic in 2009 caused mass evacuation and crops destruction in the County.
The invasion caused residents sleepless nights, as citizens worried about other potential consequences, including serious food crisis that if nothing was done to ease the situation.
“The caterpillars have damaged our farms and even our water to the extent that they have come into the town. For the past two days, we have not gone on our various farms but just in the town. It’s very bad for us,” one Peter Mulbah was quoted as saying at the time.
The locals then appealed to humanitarian organizations to help them with biochemical and food.
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