Guinea consoles Liberia over death children in fire; dispatches team to Liberia.
Photo Credit: MIA
Monrovia, September 30, 2019: A 3-member high level Guinean Government delegation is in Liberia to sympathize with the Government and people of Liberia for the loss of 28 people who recently died in a fire incidence in Bassa Town Community, Paynesville City.
On Wednesday, September 18th, Liberians woke up to the horrible news of a fire incidence at an Islamic school operated by the United Dawah Umah (UDU), a Muslim organization, in the Paynesville suburb of Bassa Town, where 28 young Muslim male students were being trained to memorize the Quran. Two of the students survived the fire, while 26 students along with two teachers fell to the cold hand of death.
Mr. Alahaji Jamel Bangura, Head of Religious Affairs of the Guinean Government is leading the Delegation.
Alahaji Bangura said President Conde had sent them to Liberia in order for them to express how deeply saddened he (President Conde) is about the unfortunate situation.
He said upon hearing the sad news, President Conde wanted to come to Liberia himself, but the President’s engagements at the UN General Assembly could not afford him the chance.
"Liberia and Guinea are one, with one people and common values, therefore we share your pains". Mr. Bangura told a Muslim gathering Sunday in Monrovia.
Has President Conde had asked them to send a special condolence message to President George Manneh Weah, the Muslim community and Liberia in total.
Also in Liberia are Dr. Jenneh Keita, Minister of cooperation and African Integration and Mouctar Jalloh, Minister of Youth and empowerment.
The team was taken on a guarded tour of the site of the fire incidence in Paynesville, the JFK Hospital where two survivors are undergoing treatment and also at the 17th Mosque where a ceremony was held along with prayer.
Meanwhile, the delegation presented a cash amount of thirty thousand United States Dollars (30,000.00USD).
Team member, Minister Mouctar Jalloh said the amount would be distributed among the families of the deceased, the two survivors and leadership of the Mosque.
Meanwhile, Internal Affairs Minister Honorable Varney A. Sirleaf who received the Guinean delegation expressed thanks on behalf of President Weah.
Minister Sirleaf described President Conde's decision to dispatch a high-powered delegation to Liberia as a reflection of true leadership and the friendship between the two sisterly countries.
The Internal Affairs Minster used the occasion to rally his fellow Muslims not to see the fire incidence to stop the education of the young ones.
The same time, Guinean Ambassador to Liberia, Abdoulaye Dore said the Muslim community is patiently awaiting outcome of the investigation to establish the cause/source of the fire. He called on Muslims to exercise restraint in these time of mourning.
On Monday, the delegation also met with Honorable Nathaniel F. McGill, Minister of State for Presidential Affairs