Published: July 23, 2024
MONROVIA – A severe cyanide spill from the “Ity Gold Mine” near Zouan-Houien in Ivory Coast has heavily polluted the Cavalla River, a crucial water source shared by Liberia and Ivory Coast. This contamination has led to the death of fish and sparked health concerns among local populations, who have reported symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, and headaches.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of Liberia was alerted to the spill on July 16, 2024. In response, the EPA convened an emergency meeting on July 19, 2024, with key national stakeholders, including the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA), the Ministry of National Defense (MOD), the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL), the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA), the Liberia Maritime Authority (LiMA), and the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME).
During the meeting, a unified strategy was developed to assess the full extent of the spill’s impact on Liberia’s water resources in Grand Gedeh and Maryland counties and to prevent further contamination. A technical team, including media representatives, was established to visit the affected areas, raise public awareness, and report back to the government with their findings.
Additionally, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has initiated contact with the Government of Ivory Coast and the Mano River Union to obtain detailed incident reports and other pertinent information.
Local authorities in Grand Gedeh and Maryland counties have been alerted, and public awareness campaigns are being conducted in communities close to the affected areas to inform and protect the residents.
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