Honourable Member of Parliament Hawa Akpajie Kallon has responded to the plight of flood victims in Soliama Town and surrounding communities in Sorogbema Chiefdom, Pujehun District, providing relief items as an immediate intervention following severe flooding that has displaced residents and destroyed homes and other properties.

The flooding has reportedly left more than 126 people homeless, with several houses, schools, places of worship and other structures either severely damaged or affected by rising waters.

Residents say some household belongings have been swept away by floodwaters and carried towards the Atlantic Ocean.

The intervention by Hon. Kallon comes as affected communities continue to grapple with the consequences of the disaster, with residents calling for urgent assistance from government agencies, humanitarian organisations and philanthropists.

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Speaking to this reporter, Pastor Victor Vandi, a native of Soliama, said the community has experienced the flooding for the second time within a relatively short period, describing the situation as unusual for an area that had gone for years without experiencing such a disaster.

He attributed part of the problem to human activities, particularly the construction of houses along waterways and wetlands, which he said restrict the natural flow of water.

According to him, the proximity of Soliama and surrounding communities to the Atlantic Ocean makes proper drainage and responsible settlement planning particularly important.
Communities including Kambawokoh, Kowahun, Massaquoi 1, Massaquoi 2 and Fonue, among others, have also been affected, with floodwaters making some roads inaccessible and disrupting normal movement.

Pastor Vandi appealed to the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA), the Office of National Security (ONS) and other humanitarian partners to follow the example of Hon. Kallon by providing urgent assistance to affected families.

He said the situation has become increasingly difficult as residents continue to lose essential household belongings to the floodwaters.

Upon receiving reports of the disaster, Hon. Hawa Akpajie Kallon moved to provide immediate assistance to the affected communities.
The lawmaker said her intervention was intended as an initial response to the emergency while efforts continue to engage relevant government authorities, development partners and other philanthropists to find additional support for the victims.

Hon. Kallon urged affected residents to remain patient as engagements are ongoing to mobilise further assistance.

She said the disaster requires a collective response and stressed that addressing the immediate humanitarian needs of affected families must go alongside efforts to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Hon. Kallon also used the occasion to caution residents against constructing houses on hills, wetlands, swamps, valley areas and waterways or blocking natural drainage channels in the process of building.

She warned that continued construction in prohibited or environmentally vulnerable areas could worsen flooding and expose communities to greater risks in the future.

The MP encouraged residents to seek safer and suitable locations for construction and to comply with relevant planning and environmental regulations.

While residents have welcomed the immediate intervention, community members say relief assistance alone will not solve the underlying problem.
They are calling for authorities and development partners to assess the drainage situation, identify high-risk areas and develop a sustainable flood-management strategy for Soliama and surrounding communities.

Further engagements are reportedly underway with key stakeholders to explore a lasting solution to the recurring flooding and improve the safety and resilience of affected communities.