Buchanan Threatened With Extinction in Four Months

Buchanan erosion story by Festus Poquie
Culled from Allafrica.com

Photo of the sea front of Buchanan, Grand Bassa County.
(filed photos) Buchanan, a dying city: Very little is being done and Residents of Buchanan are frustrated, disappointed, and angry as the sea continues to advance on the City, destroying business houses, dwellings, and streets.

The sea erosion has damaged the port City of Buchanan. If nothing is done within four months the city will be relocated should the Atlantic Ocean continue to plague the city unmitigated.

Sea encroachment is threatening many coastal cities in the country, with the United Nations Development Fund (UNDP) planning to pump in some US2.9m for solutions, amongst them the planting of mangrove trees as a buffer.

Cities affected include Harper, in Maryland, Greenville in Sinoe, Robertsport in Cape Mount County and Buchanan in Grand Bassa, amongst others. Speaking at a program launching a coastal project held at P.A. Rib House, Grand Bassa County Superintendent Julia Ducan- Cassell has says that the port City of Buchanan would be relocated within four months should the Atlantic Ocean continue to plague the city unmitigated. She said vast portion of the town has already been swept away due to sea erosion thus immediate actions are required to prevent the sea from overrunning the City.

The local Government official said the people of Grand Bassa county are actually feeling the impact of climate change and that national and international interventions are need to avoid a greater disaster. "Time is not on our side. The sea erosion has damaged the Buchanan. If nothing is done within four months the city will be relocated,"

She said Wednesday when a Costal project was launched with the objective to reduce the impact of climate change and to protect the environment. Vice President Joseph Boakai via a proxy confirmed the Superintendent's statement indicating that imminent danger is hanging over several costal towns and villages, most especially West Point, Robertsport and Buchanan. There was however no scientific data provided to support those pronouncements.