Bo City, Southern Sierra Leone, 19th October 2023 – The Directorate of Relief and Response of the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) has continued its nationwide provision of relief support to disaster victims in Moyamba, Bo, Bonthe, Pujehun, Kenema, and Kailahun Districts, where a total population of 8781 victims were affected by heavy wind storm, fire, and flood incidents, displacing 690 households, destroying 318 houses and 47 public structures since the beginning of the year.
Senior Relief and Response Officer, Ronald Turay while addressing victims in Moyamba said the provision of relief items is part of the government’s commitment to cushioning the suffering of disaster victims. He further noted that the NDMA is mandated by law to not only prevent disasters from occurring but also to respond to them when they occur.
“Providing relief after a disaster not only sustains life, but it also maintains hope for the future and the potential for full economic recovery. NDMA’s role in providing disaster relief is becoming even more important as the number of disasters increases due to climate change and illegal human activities in our environments. We must all work collectively to reduce the risks around communities.” He surmised.
In Kenema District, NDMA’s Director of Relief and Response, Sinneh Mansaray stated that before the establishment of the National Disaster Management Agency, the Office of National Security was entrusted with issues relating to disasters and emergencies.
While referring to the NDMA Act of 2020 which gives a mandate to the agency to manage disasters and similar emergencies in Sierra Leone, Director Mansaray disclosed that since its establishment in 2020 to date, the Agency has responded to a total population size of 59,505 victims in 296 response activities within 16 Districts and 53 Chiefdoms in Sierra Leone. Those responses include 10,966 total households; 725 injured cases; 249 death cases; 3,316 destroyed houses; 102 Public facilities; and 235 direct cash transfers to victims who lost their businesses.
Hon. Yusuf Mackery, who is the Parliamentary Committee Chairman on the Environment joyously described President Bio as a true humanist who has a special passion for his people, he assured citizens of President Bio’s commitment to providing a strong leadership to improving the lives of Sierra Leoneans.
The Honourable MP also said that today’s donation coincided with World Food Day and the official launch of President Bio’s flagship project FEED SALONE which is inclined to recruit and create more jobs for Sierra Leoneans and improve infrastructural development.
He went on to inform beneficiaries and pressmen that he has supervised the planting of two million eight hundred trees by MDAs in the environment sector, with more than two million more trees to be planted nationwide.
While receiving the donated items, the victims (Mr Foday Kargbo and Bintu Jalloh) thanked President Bio and the National Disaster Management Agency for providing relief items at a crucial moment when they needed it most.
During the responses, each of the 690 households received a bag of (50 kg) of rice and 2 gallons of vegetable cooking oil. Each of the 318 house owners whose houses were affected also received 5 bundles of zinc and 5 packets of 4″ & and 5″ nails, whilst each of the 47 public structures also received 10 bundles of zinc, and 10 packets of 4″ and 5″ nails respectively.
The NDMA is committed to continuing its response activities immediately before, during, and after a hazard impact, which are aimed at saving lives, reducing economic losses, and alleviating the suffering of disaster victims in Sierra Leone.
NDMA’s regional officers have been engaging in risk management and taking appropriate actions to avert the reoccurrence of disasters within their respective jurisdictions.
