Lost lives and empty chairs: Liberians mark anniversary of Ebola outbreak

Mariama Bah and her children Kadijatu Jalloh, centre, and Binta Jalloh pose for a family portrait at their home in West Point, Monrovia, Liberia. The empty chairs symbolise Mariama’s late husband and son, Alhaji Cellou Jalloh and Alpha Umaru Jalloh, who died of the Ebola virus. Ahmed Jallanzo / EPA

Musu L Kromah poses for a family portrait at her home in West Point, Monrovia, Liberia. The empty chairs are a representation of Musu’s parents and five other family members who died of the Ebola virus during an outbreak of the disease in 2014. Ahmed Jallanzo / EPA

Yata Sesay, centre, with her children Sidikie, Siafa, Haja, Foday and Foday pose for a family portrait at their home in West Point, Monrovia, Liberia. The empty chair is a representation of Yata’s husband, Mohammed Sesay, who died of the Ebola virus disease. Ahmed Jallanzo / EPA

Lorpu Kollie and her brother Anthony pose for a family portrait at their home in the Pipeline community in a suburb of Monrovia, Liberia. The empty chairs are a representation of Lorpu’s and Anthony’s parents and other family members who died of the Ebola virus disease. Ahmed Jallanzo / EPA

Sisters Diamond, right, and Secret Moore pose for a family portrait at their home in the Pipeline Community outside Monrovia, Liberia. The empty chairs represent their mother, father, grandmother and aunt who died of the Ebola virus during an outbreak of the disease in 2014. Ahmed Jallanzo / EPA

Brothers Fatu Hawa, left, Frances, centre and Raymond Risks pose for a family portrait at their home in West Point, Monrovia, Liberia. The empty chairs symbolise of their father, mother and brother who died of the Ebola virus during an outbreak of the disease in 2014. Ahmed Jallanzo / EPA

Mohammed Kromah, an Ebola survivor, poses for a family portrait at his home in West Point, Monrovia, Liberia. The empty chairs symbolise his wife and children, who died of the Ebola virus during an outbreak of the disease in 2014. Ahmed Jallanzo / EPA

Rachael Fayia, centre, and her children Binta Jalloh, left, Fatmata Jalloh, right, Naomi Dee, second right, pose for a family portrait at their home in West Point, Monrovia, Liberia. The empty chair symbolises Rachael’s husband, who died of the Ebola virus during an outbreak of the disease in 2014. Ahmed Jallanzo / EPA

Siblings Comfort, left, Silvia, centre and Melvin Yeah pose for a family portrait at their home in Monrovia, Liberia. The empty chair symbolises their mother, who died of the Ebola virus disease during an outbreak of the disease in 2014. Ahmed Jallanzo / EPA

Victoria Topay and her children pose for a portrait at their home in West Point, Monrovia, Liberia.

The empty chairs represent her husband and family members who died of the Ebola virus during an outbreak in 2014. The past week marked the second anniversary of Liberia’s first two cases of Ebola, in Lofa County, near the border with Guinea. On Friday, health authorities said a woman admitted to a clinic in Paynesville died of the disease. Liberia was declared transmission free in January.

The epidemic claimed the lives of more than 11,300 people and infected 28,500. The disease brought devastation to three most affected countries of Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.