By Millicent Senava Mannah
Caritas Freetown, through its Emergency Rapid Response Fund II (ERRFII), has extended vital assistance to 669 individuals from five communities impacted by the 2024 floods in Freetown. With support from Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies (MACP), the symbolic payment ceremony took place on Monday, November 25, 2024, at the Rokel Commercial Bank at Murray Town Junction in Freetown.
Each beneficiary received a one-time payment of 3,250 SLE (approximately $141.30) to help cover one month of essential needs. Furthermore, an additional 2,500 SLE (approximately $108.70) was provided to 100 households whose homes were destroyed, leaving them in vulnerable living conditions.
The project targeted several flood-stricken communities across both Western Rural and Western Area districts. These areas included SS Camp-Regent, Grafton, Devil Hole, Waterloo, Lakka-Hamilton, Levuma, Cockle Bay, Kolleh Town, Kroo Bay, Susans Bay, Culvert, Central, Moyiba, Shell, Portee, Bottom Oku and Calaba Town.
Rev. Fr. Peter A. Konteh, Executive Director of Caritas Freetown, noted that the initiative aims to improve the living conditions of the 669 affected households. He explained that the assistance would enable beneficiaries to meet their basic needs, such as food, drinking water and essential items, while also helping secure temporary accommodation solutions.
Rev. Fr. Peter Konteh emphasized that Caritas Freetown remains steadfast in its commitment to disaster response, highlighting that the organization is always the first to act in times of crisis and the last to leave. This donation, he said, was a clear demonstration of Caritas’s ongoing commitment to supporting vulnerable communities.
John B. Rogers, Deputy Director of the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA), praised Caritas and MACP for their swift and effective humanitarian response. He advised the beneficiaries to use the financial assistance wisely and cautioned against residing in high-risk, flood-prone areas.
Freetown’s Mayor’s representative, Yvonne Aki-Sawyer, also lauded Caritas for its timely and generous support for the flood victims. She echoed the sentiment of safety, urging beneficiaries to avoid disaster-prone zones to safeguard their families.
Abdulai Turay, a beneficiary, expressed heartfelt gratitude on behalf of his fellow recipients, emphasizing how crucial the support had been during such a challenging time.
In addition to the financial aid, Caritas Freetown conducted awareness campaigns focusing on safe shelter standards and the dangers of residing in high-risk areas. These efforts aim to improve the overall well-being of affected communities while promoting safer living conditions.
This initiative highlights Caritas Freetown’s unwavering dedication to disaster relief and its ongoing support for vulnerable populations in the wake of the 2024 floods.
