April 27, 2005 - (Allafrica) One of Liberia's leading humanitarian organizations, the Concerned Christian Community (CCC), on Monday distributed 12 bags of rice and several cartons of assorted relief items to war-affected women and female ex-combatants in Tubmanburg, Bomi County.

Though CCC had earlier targeted 41 female ex-combatants undergoing its psycho-social counseling program in Tubmanburg, the massive turnout of other destitute and vulnerable Liberians compelled the executive director of CCC, Madam Mariama Brown to increase the consignment of the relief items to meet the needs of all who turned out to benefit from the gesture.

In a very brief remark to the beneficiaries, Madam Mariama Brown said, Church Aid International, a collaborating partner of the CCC made the relief items available.

She used the occasion to call on the ex-combatants and women undergoing the psycho-social counseling program to remain focused and have faith in God who will provide their training which is intended to rebuild their lives.

At the same time, Mrs. Brown urged citizens of Bomi County to turn out in their numbers at voters' registration centers to register to vote in the ensuing presidential and general elections, stressing "your one vote will determine the destination of our nation, but if you don't vote, you will be harming our dear country".

"Don't vote for rice or money, vote for someone who is willing and ready to help in the rebuilding process of this nation", Madam Brown who did register in Tubmanburg following the distribution, cautioned the citizens.

In a joyous mood, Miss Hawa Teeweh speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, lauded CCC for its continuous assistance to destitute Liberians and admonished the women to take their training serious as it is intended to empower them to be able to compete with their male counterparts in society.

In a related development, CCC on last Saturday completed the payment of transportation fares to several former combatants recently repatriated to Monrovia from various camps in Sierra Leone.

During the exercise that was undertaken at the head offices of the NCDDRR on 9th Street, Sinkor, the returnee ex-combatants received fares to enable them get back to their various county of origin.

For those expected to go back to Lofa County, each received the amount of US$45.00, whilst those going to Nimba and Bong counties respectively received US$15.00 and US$10.00 each.

Others who hail from Montserrado County received US$5.00 to get back to their respective districts in the county.

From: http://allafrica.com/stories/200504270641.html