West Point, Monrovia

West Point is a township of the Liberian capital city of Monrovia, located on a 0.53 km2 peninsula which juts out into the Atlantic Ocean between the Mesurado and Saint Paul rivers. West Point is one of Monrovia's most densely populated slums.

For other uses, see West Point (disambiguation).

West Point
Township
CountryLiberia
CountyMontserrado
DistrictGreater Monrovia
Government
 • CommissionerWilliam C. Wea
Area
 • Total0.53 km2 (0.20 sq mi)
Population
 (2014)[2]
 • Total34,605
 • Density65,000/km2 (170,000/sq mi)

Environmental degradation has gradually caused part of the peninsula to erode into the ocean. Endemic problems include overpopulation and diseases such as tuberculosis.[3]

History

The settlement formed in the 1940s.[4] An experiment in the 1970s to move people from West Point failed.[5] Residents returned despite squalid living conditions.[5] People moved back to fish and make a living as informal shopkeepers and service providers close to the city centre.[5]

During the 2014 Ebola outbreak, the neighborhood was placed under quarantine, such that nobody could enter or leave, a practice known as Cordon sanitaire. This drew criticism from health experts and human rights advocates.[6][7] The quarantine was halted after 10 days, and President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf later acknowledged that this decision had been a mistake.[8]

Government

In 2018 President George Weah appointed William C. Wea as Commissioner for West Point.[9]

West Point is part of the Montserrado-7 electoral district.[10]

Demographics

West Point (or Zone Z400) is divided into six communities;

Community Inhabitants (2014 est.) No. of Households (2014 est.)
Central West Point 7,959 1,941
Fish Town 6,094 1,486
Grandcess Yard 7,341 1,790
Police Station 4,911 1,198
Power Plant 4,651 1,134
West Point 3,649 890
Total: 34,605 8,439

[2]

Social issues

Sanitation

The area lacks proper sanitation and public toilets.[11][12] and a 2009 report by United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimated that there were four public toilets in the area.[13] Pay toilets exist, but residents cannot afford them, and thus public defecation is common.[13] The beach surrounding West Point is often used as a lavatory which creates health hazards as the water is used for drinking and fish from the water are consumed.[11][13]

See also

General:

  • Slums in Africa

References
  1. JICA. THE MASTER PLAN STUDY ON URBAN FACILITIES RESTORATION AND IMPROVEMENT IN MONROVIA IN THE REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA
  2. Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo-Information Services. Population 2008, 2014 by County, District, Clan and Households, Liberia
  3. "West Point, Liberia: An environmental menace". The Liberian Dialogue. February 24, 2007.
  4. "Fearing the Tide in West Point, a Slum Already Swamped With Worry", New York Times, March 15, 2016
  5. "LIBERIA: Disease rife as more people squeeze into fewer toilets", IRIN News, 19 November 2009.
  6. Onishi, Norimitsu (2014-08-28). "As Ebola Grips Liberia's Capital, a Quarantine Sows Social Chaos". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-01-25.
  7. "Liberia's West Point Slum Reels From the Nightmare of Ebola". Time. Retrieved 2020-01-25.
  8. MacDougall, Clair (2015-05-12). "Liberia's Military Tries to Remedy Tension Over Ebola Quarantine". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-01-25.
  9. Executive Mansion. President Weah Makes further Appointments in Government
  10. National Electoral Commission. Montserrado County Electoral District No.7 2017
  11. KIEH, GEORGE KLAY (2008). FIRST LIBERIAN CIVIL WAR : THE CRISES OF UNDERDEVELOPMENT. Peter Lang. p. 118. ISBN 978-0-8204-8839-4. Retrieved 30 March 2013.
  12. Patton, Carl V. (1988). Spontaneous Shelter: International Perspectives and Prospects. Temple University Press. p. 227. ISBN 978-0-87722-507-2. Retrieved 30 March 2013.
  13. Africa water atlas. UNEP/Earthprint. 2010. p. 255. ISBN 978-92-807-3110-1. Retrieved 30 March 2013.

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