The flooding on Friday September 13 this year left many people homeless in Daru Town, Kailahun District in Eastern Sierra Leone.
Victims of the disaster narrated that the incident took place as a result flooding of the Moa River due to heavy downpour last week.
“Most of our properties are destroyed in this flooding include my very kitchen and toilet,” said Aminata Eric, Women’s Leader in the town. She added that the water has also disturbed their traveling to the town and other nearby villages.
“I want to plead to people out there for assistance since we don’t have food to eat. The water is preventing me and most of the others from visiting our farms,” she said.
Since the incident took place, children’s aid agency, N’domakeh Federation visited the disaster communities and did registration of those affected.
Acting Program Manager of the organization, Martha Koroma said that they have provided relief to over 150 people that were affected by the flooding.
“We have provided 25 kg bags of rice to over 150 people that were affected and we also donated Procter and Gamble (P&G) Water Purifiers to households in one of the sections affected by the flooding,” Koroma said.
She added that the purifier will help in sanitising drinking water thereby preventing diseases like dysentry and diarrhea.
Flooding of this magnitude in this part of Sierra Leone is not too rare as this is the third occurrence in more than 20 years. One of the victims said the floods started in 2009 but took a 10-year hiatus when it occured again in 2019.
Although the victims appreciated the organization, they also pleaded with authorities for more assistance as the water is now receding slowly.