By Foday Moriba Conteh
The National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) on the 20th September 2021 discharged a joint assessment team that comprised its Directorate of Relief and Response, Risk Reduction and Preparedness, Monitoring and Evaluation and Research Directorates in collaboration with the Sierra Leone Red Cross Society, CARITAS, and VIO-NET to visit the scene and ascertain the actual cause of the fire outbreak and the negative impacts it has had on the victims.
This move came in the wake of a reported fire incident that occurred in Kroo Bay Community on Sunday 19th September 2021 that left hundreds of people homeless and properties worth millions of Leones destroyed,
The collaboration with other partners is in line with NDMA’s core mandate to ensure a coordinated approach in responding to disaster occurrences as a body responsible to manage disaster-related matters in the country.
An initial report stemming from the assessment indicates that the actual cause of the fire was ‘electrical malfunctioning’, in one of the affected rooms which quickly spread to other apartments and completely destroyed a total of 34 makeshift structures.
The assessment further reveals a total of 137 affected households, a population of 488 people including 12 aged victims, 02 with disabilities, 23 lactating mothers and 7 with severe injuries.
Fortunately, there was no loss of life, and no public facility was destroyed. However, a bakery, which is categorized as “other facility” was entirely destroyed and according to the victims, the bakery created job opportunities for them and was so significant to the entire community.
The affected victims now reside with host families, family members and friends within the neighbourhood as was revealed by the assessment. Also, food items (rice, salt, and vegetable oil), non-food items (cooking utensils, buckets, jerry cans, blankets, praying mats, kettles) formed part of the immediate needs of the victims.
The joint assessment team encouraged the victims to be calm and assured them of NDMA’s commitment to timely response in helping out with some food and non-food items in order to cushion the devastating effects of the fire that has ravaged homes, money and personal properties.
Management of NDMA has summoned a coordination meeting scheduled for Tuesday 21st September 2021 to determine and coordinate a suitable date for response.
Since its inception, the NDMA has responded to a population of over 15,000 across the country. Next week, the Agency through its Directorate of Relief and Response, will be crisscrossing the entire country to respond to various forms of reported disaster occurrences.
The NDMA is assuring the public of its resolve to effectively work, to reducing the risk of vulnerable communities and efficiently manage and/or respond to disaster incidences in the country.
