By Foday Moriba Conteh
As part of their support towards the fight against the coronavirus in the country, the Indian and Lebanese Communities have on Wednesday 15th April, 2020 donated essential food items to the Government of Sierra Leone through the Covid-19 Response Team which includes: 1,000 Bags of Rice, 1,000 Gallons of Oil, 1,000 Packet of Sugar, 100 Cartons of Sardine, 100 Soap and 70 Cartons of Milk. The donation took place at the Forecourt of the Emergency Operation Centre at Cockerill in Freetown.
Present at the ceremony were Chief of Staff of the COVID-19 Response Team Solomon Caulker, Deputy Minister of Defence, Col. Rtd. Muana Brima Massaguio, President of the Lebanese Community Samir Hassanyeh, the Consul of Indian, Harish Agnani, Pressmen, members of both Communities and Staff of the EOC.
Presenting the items on behalf of Indian & Lebanese Communities, President of the Lebanese Community, Samir Hassanyeh, revealed that they were extremely humbled to donate these essential food items to the Government and People of Sierra Leone to support the strides the Government is taking in order to curtail the spread of the Coronavirus COVID 19 in the country.
He said that COVID-19 is no respecter of race, status, wealth, gender or whether a State is economically developed or under developed. “It is an equal opportunity enemy that is a harbinger of tragedy and chaos wherever it goes and in that regard we decided to come to the aid of the Government,” he underscored.
He assured the Government of their continuous support towards the fight against the coronavirus in the country saying they will continue to respond to the call for assistance to Sierra Leone.
The Indian Consul, Harish Agnani, expressed appreciation to the Government for their tireless efforts in trying to curtail the spread of the coronavirus in the county.
He also noted that on behalf of the two Communities they are humbled to donate the following items which are 1000 Bags of Rice, 1000 Gallons of Oil, 1000 Packet of Sugar, 100 Cartons of Sardine, 100 Soap and 70 Cartons of Milk to the Government of Sierra Leone through the Covid-19 Response Team as their support towards the fight against COVID-19 in the country.
Receiving the items on behalf of the Government, Chief of Staff of the COVID-19 Response Team, Solomon Caulker, expressed gratitude to the Indian and Lebanese Communities for the food items which he said is very timely.
He assured them that the COVID-19 Response Team will make good use of the donated items and ensure they reach the right beneficiaries further adding that food items are really necessary for those who are under quarantine.
He admonished citizens to adhere to all the preventive measures put out by the Government of Sierra Leone and its health partners in order to combat the deadly virus.
