Liberia: The road to recovery
An exciting new report from Liberia has highlighted the remarkable impact that Samaritan's Purse has had on communities in this war-torn nation from 2005 to the present day.
Samaritan's Purse has been helping thousands of Liberians get back on their feet, and it’s no wonder they are looking forward to the future with hope and anticipation.
In fourteen years of civil war, Liberia witnessed thousands of deaths and many atrocities and the war left the country in a sorry state. The war also disrupted development and meant that much progress made prior to the conflict was lost, leaving many people in absolute poverty, with a lack of sanitation, and no access to clean water.
However, since 2005, Liberia has been making its way back with the help of charities like Samaritan's Purse, who are bringing hope through community transforming partnerships and life changing projects. This is in no small part down to the support of committed supporters back in the UK.
Samaritan's Purse office in Liberia has implemented a number of projects to support the recovery process and to give people hope that the scars of the war can be removed.
To date, Samaritan’s Purse has supported local partners in installing over 2,000 bio-sand filters, which give families access to clean water in their very own home. Samaritan’s Purse has also provided practical and financial support towards the construction and rehabilitation of sixty-five hand pumps across the country. These hand pumps each provide hundreds of inhabitants in rural villages with access to clean water for drinking, cooking, and washing. 
Samaritan’s Purse has also played a huge part in increasing sanitation levels in Liberia, particularly in Lofa and Gbarpolu counties, where 250 family and community latrines have been constructed. Parallel to these tangible gains, Samaritan’s Purse has been active in providing hygiene education to an incredible 42,000 beneficiaries. This education will ensure a reduction in the spread of deadly disease, and mean that future generations will understand the dangers of poor hygiene.
The results achieved by Samaritan’s Purse in Liberia are not only limited to water and sanitation. Many people were displaced during the war, leaving livestock and employment behind. But now households own livestock and many who have received assistance from Samaritan’s Purse are far better off now than before the war. Also Samaritan’s Purse literacy programmes have enabled thousands to be literate – giving them hope of employment. Other positive outcomes include a rise in HIV and AIDS awareness, and an increase in overall access to healthcare services.
Alongside the above projects and programmes, which have improved the standard of living for many Liberians, Samaritan's Purse has also been supporting the local church to be more effective in its ministry. Many churches Samaritan's Purse has worked with over the past five years have reported an increase in church attendance. For some churches, increase in attendance had been helped by the support given by Samaritan's Purse in constructing or reconstructing church buildings, which have provided a consistent home for worship.
As you can see Samaritan’s Purse presence in Liberia has been a huge success and many people now have higher standards of living - we are seeing a country in transition. This life transforming work has been made possible because of your prayers and support since we began working there in 2005.
We thank you for your committment and we know the thousands of Liberians who have been impacted by what we have done together thank you too.
- Read a story of woman who turned her life around with the help of Samaritan's Purse and some rabbits.
