Gandorhun Town, Gbane Chiefdom, Kono District, Saturday, 26 July 2026 – The National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA), in partnership with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has provided humanitarian relief assistance to hundreds of families affected by windstorm and flood related disasters in Kono and Bo Districts respectively.
In Gandorhun Town, Gbane Chiefdom, where a devastating windstorm destroyed homes and damaged critical public infrastructure, leaving hundreds of residents in urgent need of assistance, the relief distribution benefited 958 affected persons from 179 households, including 118 house owners and eight public facilities comprising one church, one police post, five schools, and one community centre.
Each affected household received one 50kg bag of rice, 10 litres of vegetable oil, and six tins of sardines. House owners whose homes were completely destroyed received four bundles of roofing zinc, while those whose houses sustained partial damage received three bundles of zinc. Each affected public facility also received five bundles of zinc to support their rehabilitation.
Welcoming the delegation, the Paramount Chief of Gbane Chiefdom, Aiah Bindi Fenfa Gongor II, expressed appreciation to the NDMA, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Honourable Member of Parliament, and all stakeholders whose collective efforts made the intervention possible. He observed that the recent windstorm was the second major incident to hit the Chiefdom and called for stronger collaboration to prevent or minimise such disasters in the future.
“This timely intervention has restored hope to our people. We remain grateful to NDMA and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and we look forward to sustained collaboration to strengthen our communities against future disasters,” the Paramount Chief said.
Also addressing the gathering, the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Abu Sahr Arap Moi, conveyed the Church’s heartfelt sympathy to all those affected by the disasters and reaffirmed its commitment to standing with vulnerable communities during difficult times.
He disclosed that immediately after receiving reports of the windstorm and flood incidents from the NDMA, the Church began mobilising relief items to support the affected population.
“Our faith teaches us to care for those in need. As soon as NDMA informed us of the disasters, we were ready to help. The assistance being provided today has been made possible through the tithes and offerings generously contributed by members of our Church. We encourage every beneficiary to make good and responsible use of these items as they rebuild their lives,” Mr. Moi said.
Mr. Moi presented copies of The Book of Mormon to the Paramount Chief of Gbane Chiefdom, Aiah Bindi Fenfa Gongor II, and the Director General of the NDMA, John Vandi Rogers, reaffirming the Church’s commitment to sustaining its partnership with Government in responding to emergencies.
Leading the Kono response, the Director General of the NDMA, John Vandi Rogers pointed out the Agency’s commitment to ensuring that disaster affected communities receive timely humanitarian support while advancing risk reduction initiatives to minimize disaster occurrences.
“Our response is driven by our commitment to protect lives and restore hope. Through partnerships such as this with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we are not only meeting immediate humanitarian needs but also strengthening community resilience against future disasters,” the Director General stated.
Meanwhile, another NDMA team led by the Deputy Director General, Sulaiman B. Sowa, conducted a similar relief distribution exercise in Taninahun Village, Baoma Chiefdom, Bo District, where residents affected by severe flooding also received relief items with support from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The flooding incident affected 919 persons from 178 households, including 49 house owners and one public facility. Each of the 178 affected households received one 25kg bag of rice and one gallon of vegetable oil. In addition, a total of 120 bundles of 8-inch roofing zinc were distributed to support affected house owners in repairing and rebuilding their damaged homes.
Addressing beneficiaries in Taninahun, the Deputy Director General stressed the Agency’s resolve to provide timely support to disaster-affected communities across the country.
“Our mission extends beyond emergency relief. We remain committed to standing with affected communities throughout the recovery process and ensuring that no vulnerable family is left behind,” DDG Sowa said.
The NDMA will continue to explore strategic partnerships with humanitarian organisations to deliver timely relief support, restore hope, and strengthen the resilience of communities affected by disasters nationwide.
For More Enquiries:
Directorate of Communications
Toll-Free Line: 1199 (All Networks)
Email: mohamedlbah@ndma.gov.sl
Website: www.ndma.gov.sl
