Freetown, 28th July 2024 — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has generously donated a substantial quantity of relief items to the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA). This initiative aims to bolster the Agency’s efforts in assisting disaster victims across the country, especially during the challenging rainy season.
The donation ceremony was held at the NDMA headquarters, where the Church provided an impressive array of supplies, including 60 cartons of Red Anny Sardines, 120 cartons of 10-liter cooking oil, 60 cartons of canned fish, 500 mattresses, 120 bags of 50 kg parboiled rice, and 120 cartons of tomato paste.
At the event, Reverend Kenneth Pambu, Welfare Self-Reliance Manager of the Church, expressed gratitude on behalf of his leadership and partners for the NDMA’s commendable work in disaster management. He acknowledged the Agency’s achievements in a short time, emphasizing its strides in mitigation and promptness in responding to particularly vulnerable populations.
Reverend Pambu noted, “We believe it is our duty to help those who are suffering. Our faith teaches us to care for one another, and we hope these donations will bring comfort to those in need. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is dedicated to aiding disaster-affected individuals, and this donation exemplifies our commitment to service and compassion.”
NDMA’s Director General, Lt. Gen. (Rtd) Brima Sesay, expressed profound gratitude for the Church’s timely assistance. He recalled the significant contributions made by the Church in supporting the NDMA, particularly during the 2022 response to victims in Bo who were severely impacted by floods and fire incidents. The DG further noted that despite the ongoing challenges faced by NDMA’s field officers, the agency has been able to respond to many reported incidents across the country.
“The support from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is invaluable. It will enable us to respond more effectively to the needs of disaster victims and ensure that we can provide support to cushion the effect of their unfortunate incidents,” the DG stated.
Following the ceremony, representatives from both the Church and the NDMA visited the site of the collapsed four-story building at SSC Camp IMATT, where they donated some of the relief items, including rice, vegetable cooking oil, mattresses, tomato paste, and sardines to the survivors.
As the rainy season progresses, the NDMA is actively collecting data on reported incidents nationwide. The Agency urges its partners, philanthropists, and well-wishers to channel their goodwill through the NDMA to ensure that donations reach the intended beneficiaries.
