Post a comment
The Vice President of Sierra Leone, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh visited Kpetema Village in the Bumpe Ngao Chiefdom to assess the aftermath of the destructive fire that badly affected the local community, and to support and coordinate relief efforts for the residents affected by the disaster.
Dr. Jalloh, who also chairs the National Disaster Management Agency’s (NDMA) National Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, led a high-ranking delegation that included government ministers, Members of Parliament, and religious leaders. Together, they toured the site of the fire before meeting with community members and local authorities.
During the visit, Paramount Chief-elect Alfred Sovula Gandoma expressed gratitude for the NDMA’s prompt response to the crisis. He highlighted how the agency’s assessment facilitated the mobilization of support from various stakeholders.
Chief Gandoma emphasized the need for continued assistance, particularly in providing corrugated iron sheets for rebuilding homes and mitigating future fire risks. He also pointed out the significant economic repercussions of the fire, including the destruction of agricultural seedlings, school materials, and microcredit funds.
NDMA’s Senior Disaster Officer for the South, Maada Martin Koroma, briefed the Vice President on the scale of the disaster. Koroma reported that the fire affected 320 individuals, including pregnant women, lactating mothers, children, and a person with disabilities. Reportedly, a total of 48 structures were destroyed, displacing 94 households. He assured that the NDMA had already shared its findings with partners to initiate relief efforts.
In his address to the community, Vice President Jalloh conveyed President Julius Maada Bio’s sympathies to the affected families. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting the victims and pledged to engage with relevant ministries, agencies, and private sector partners to expedite assistance.
Specifically, he stated that the NDMA would coordinate urgent relief efforts, while the Ministry of Agriculture would assess and replace lost seedlings. Additionally, he personally vowed to provide school materials for affected children, which he said would be delivered through the Minister of Lands and Country Planning.
Dr. Jalloh acknowledged and praised the contributions of various organizations and individuals involved in the relief efforts, reinforcing the government’s dedication to the well-being of all Sierra Leoneans during the challenging time.
The visit concluded with prayers for the affected families before the delegation departed for Bo, a symbol of solidarity and hope for the recovery of Kpetema Village.
