Freetown, 14th September 2023 – Following the massive floods that destroyed houses, businesses, public facilities, and livestock at Delken Village, Sittia Chiefdom, Bonthe District on 1st September 2023, the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) sanctioned a team of assessment officers who visited the village to ascertain the extent of the damage caused by the floods and to collect an exhaustive data of the incident.
It could be recalled that on September 2nd, social media was awash with videos showing massive floods that almost swept the entire Delken Village, houses inundated with uncontrolled water, partially destroying public facilities and completely destroying dwelling houses and livestock.
During this period, the NDMA received multiple calls from some stakeholders in and out of the village, notifying the NDMA about the incident. The NDMA dispatched its assessment officers on September 10th to the scene to conduct a comprehensive assessment to ascertain the impact of the floods on the affected population and other vulnerabilities.
The initial assessment report indicated that the flood incident destroyed a total of sixteen (16) dwelling houses, partially damaged thirty-four (34), affected ninety-six (96) households, and largely affected a total population size of seven hundred and twenty-four (724). Fortunately, no incident of death was reported.
The report also revealed that two (2) public facilities (a mosque and an entertainment center) were destroyed. The livelihood activities/facilities of the affected population (Banders, fish, and other businesses) were equally destroyed. There is no school in the village. Children attend school in the nearby village.
Based on the needs assessment, the report further recommended the following immediate needs: zinc, nails, vegetable oil, blankets, used clothing, buckets, toiletries, and other humanitarian relief support (food and non-food items).
Ibrahim Kanneh, a victim who lost his house and business said: “this is not the first time we are experiencing such floods, but this one hits us very hard. It destroyed our homes and businesses. Our livelihood is threatened, we don’t have anywhere to go, we need urgent help to recover from this disaster.”
The National Disaster Management Agency is currently working on a nationwide response package for victims who have suffered various disasters to cushion the effects and help them rebuild. The Delken victims have been included and are going to benefit from the response that will commence this month.
Delken Village is a small coastal village in Sittia Chiefdom, Bonthe Island with an estimated population of approximately two thousand (2,000) people.
According to the Bonthe District hazard profile, the village has been affected by recurrent flood incidents when the sea level rises.
