By Newman Anthony Levey in Bo
Over five hundred people who are victims of May’s windstorm in Bo district, southern Sierra Leone on Wednesday 17th August 2022 received food and other items from the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) with support from the Latter Day Saints.
President for Latter-Day Saints, Victor K. Hindowa said when the windstorm happened on May 4 this year, the Bo District Council called on partners to do an assessment of the scale of damage.
"I contacted the humanitarian wing of Latter-Day Saints to help and they approved to send in items. Today we are here to distribute what was approved," he said. He noted that the people were worried that they will not get support, especially considering the time of the incident.
He called on the beneficiaries to use the items they received for their intended purpose.
In his statement, a representative from NDMA, Molu Brewah stated that since President Julius Maada Bio established the Agency, they have made many interventions across the country by giving assistance to people affected by the disaster.
"We have responded to 156 disasters since President Bio established the Agency. The number of households that have been responded to totaled 5,599. Notwithstanding, the President has fulfilled his campaign promise to get disaster management separate from National Security", he said.
He said 1,537 houses were affected during the windstorm.
Paramount Chief for Tikonko Chiefdom Bo District, Joe Kangbai Macavory pleaded with his people to stop cutting trees near their houses as their homes could be exposed to strong winds. He encouraged the people of Tikonko Chiefdom to plant more trees.
Joseph M. Bindi, Chairman of the Bo District Council said the news of the windstorm came to them as a shock and had to call for humanitarian assistance.
"The assessment we made was sent to Government and our partners to assist us,” he said.
In his statement, the Resident Minister South, Mohamed E.K. Ali said: “We don't pray for something bad but each time it happens we have to look for a remedy. We have a President that is focused, and who decided to have an Agency solely for Disaster Management”.
.Town Chief of Towama John Bonah who is also one of the affected persons in thanking NDMA for the support also said: "This is first in history for such disaster to occur in Towama Village. We were devastated. This is the first time government has taken support to Towama”.
Towama, Mendewa, and SALWACO communities benefited from the donated items.
Copyright © Politico Online (19/08/22)
