By Foday Moriba Conteh
As part of giving support to the victims of Susan’s Bay Fire disaster, especially the Aged, the Dorwontony Organization for the Aged (DOFA), a charitable and non-Governmental Organization that advocates for the needs and rights of the aged, on Tuesday 30th March, 2021 donated relief items, which include clothing, bundles of water, slippers and shoes worth millions of Leones, to the Aged affected by the massive blaze of fire. The donation took place at the Susan’s Bay community in Freetown.
Presenting the items, Founder of Dorwontony Organization for the Aged, Dorren Barrie, extended her heartfelt sympathy to all the old people that were affected by the fire incident, adding that disasters are unimaginable challenges which are also inevitable which is why they felt compelled to make an immediate move to comfort the victims of the fire incident especially the Aged.
She stated that the organization was founded in order to serve as the voice for the needs and rights of the aged across the country, adding that old people should not be considered as liability to society, but rather they should be given the care they deserve, because they are the backbone of any peaceful society.
Dorren Barrie said Susan’s Bay is one of the poorest slum communities in the capital of Freetown and that it was overcome by a massive blaze of fire on Wednesday 24th March 2021 evening, destroying properties and leaving thousands of people deprived.
She maintained that as a responsible organization that seeks the welfare of the Aged they thought it fit to make the donation on behalf friends of Dorwontony and they are doing so with the strong belief that such could be helpful especially at this moment when the fire disaster has destroyed properties and left thousands of people deprived.
Dorren Barrie maintained that her organization cares for every old people in the country including old people living in slum communities including Susan’s Bay and that is why they felt the need to visit them to show support for the victims of the disaster and to offer humanitarian help to them.
Receiving the items, Logistic Officer at the Susan’s Bay Disaster Management Team, Major Prince Sesay, expressed appreciation to the Dorwontony Organization for the Aged (DOFA) for the kind gesture which he described as not only important but very timely.
He assured all that the donated items will be used for the intended purpose and called on the Government and other organizations to come to the aid of the victims especially the Aged as they are currently challenged.
Pa Abdul Conteh, one of the beneficiaries, applauded the Dorwontony Organization for the Aged (DOFA) for considering them at this crucial moment in their lives, adding that the fire disaster destroyed all what they had and they are left with nothing.
He called on other organizations to follow their footprint as residents of Susan’s Bay, especially the Aged, are currently in dire need of food and non-food items considering the damages the fire disaster has caused to their lives.
