President Sireaf Sympathizes with Injured Indian Diplomats and Fire Victims

Thursday, 4th February 2010

Monrovia, Liberia - Arriving from Addis Ababa on Thursday, February 4th, from attending the 14th Summit of the African Union, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf faced the sad news of a tragic motor accident that involved a high Indian dignitary visiting Liberia.  The Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs, Honorable Vayalar Ravi, was seriously injured in an accident on the Robertsfield Highway when a taxi hit the car in which he was riding.

India’s Ambassador to Liberia, H.E. Shama Jain, who was accompanying the Minister on his visit to Liberia, was also seriously injured, and both had to be airlifted to Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, for medical treatment.

From RIA, the presidential motorcade drove to Spriggs Payne Airfield where the evacuation was taking place.  Speaking to the injured diplomats, President Sirleaf expressed deep regret and wished them speedy recovery. At the airport, the President also met with the head of the John F. Kennedy Medical Center, Dr. Wvannie McDonald-Scott and the team of doctors who were instrumental in stabilizing the two diplomats.

After greeting young American volunteers currently working in Liberia, President Sirleaf departed Spriggs to meet with residents of Saye Town, who lost their homes in a fire while she was away.

The President was greeted by a large crowd of residents who thanked her for the assistance extended to them by Government through the Liberian National Red Cross. The President urged the displaced citizens to consider relocating into their respective counties where they would be provided with resettlement packages, including land and building materials, rather than live in congested and unsafe dwellings in the city.

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