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A delegation from the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs (MoGCA), led by Deputy Chief Director Mr. Charles Vandi, recently visited Koindu and surrounding communities to assess the impact of the ongoing Yenga border dispute between Sierra Leone and Guinea.
The mission, which included representatives from the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF), the Family Support Unit (FSU), Rainbo Initiative, and the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP), focused on understanding how the conflict is affecting women and children.
In areas like Koindu and Sokoma, communities are facing serious challenges. Women who depend on cross-border markets have been cut off from their sources of income, while children are unable to attend school due to the insecurity.
Many families have been displaced and are living without proper shelter or basic household items. Concerns about safety, including reports of sexual harassment and abuse, were raised during discussions with affected groups.
Chief Tamba Nyuma of Yenga expressed his thanks for food assistance provided by the government but pointed out the difficulties the community is facing. “We have rice, but no pots, no ingredients, and many of us don’t even have a place to sleep,” he said.
Hon. Ing. Fallah Tengbeh, MP for Constituency 002, stressed the urgent need for food, shelter, and medical help. He called for a peaceful resolution to the border dispute and acknowledged the resilience of the communities, as well as the efforts of the national security forces.
The mission made several recommendations, including increasing FSU presence in the region, providing trauma counselling for survivors, ensuring displaced children can return to school, and meeting immediate needs such as clean water, shelter, and medical care.
Mr. Vandi called for a quick and effective response, urging a focus on the needs of the most vulnerable. “Our collective response must address the immediate needs of the affected communities,” he said.
The situation in the region remains difficult, with local communities calling for prompt action to address the crisis caused by the border dispute.
