By Nasratu Kargbo
Fire victims at the Susan’s Bay Community have called on the government of Sierra Leone to help them with a proper housing system to protect them from the colds of the heavy rains that have already begun.
Speaking to Politico, a young man who introduced himself as Alhassan Police explained the many challenges they face on a daily basis, and that shelter and food supplies are of utmost importance. He said when the fire incident happened, he was away and on his return found his dwelling completely destroyed. He attempted to register but was denied, he claimed.
Alhassan explained that some people registered but never got the supplies when they arrived and that has caused chaos and frustration amongst the people. He also mentioned that the communication system has been very poor “they do not announce through megaphones to inform us when they want to register”.
He said he had actually started to build a house and pointed to a structure nearby already at wall height but claimed the Councilor Madinatu Kamara stopped him, saying the government will build them houses. He described the tent as of poor quality which absorbs water and quite uncomfortable to live in. He stated that he has to use tarpaulin on the roof of the tent so he can sleep with his family, but that they hardly do.
He claimed most of the people that were tenants have left the community, but still do come to collect supplies, and also accused some house owners of collecting supplies in the absence of their tenants.
Mohamed Kamara a resident of the community who has built a makeshift structure for his family to live in said he hasn’t got even a bed for his children. He questioned the honesty of some of their community leaders whom he accused of being selective of those who should be supplied relief items and advised that the government and NGOs should not hand over any of the supplies to those leaders for distribution.
Kamara explained that the first donation that he was aware of was the one that was done, by Mercury International: “They donated 140 mattresses, 279 bags of rice, and 50 million Leones”, he said. Kamara also claimed the councilor Madina promised to use the 50 million Leones to add more mattresses so they would stop sleeping on the floor. “I have not received any mattress, I lay cards on the floor so I can sleep”, Kamara stated. He explained that the councilor told them that she had paid for the mattresses at the factory, and asked that they go and collect them. “I went there at 7 am and left after 7 pm we did not see anything”, he said.
He explained how genuine displaced persons are denied the relief items and pleaded with the government for assistance in terms of shelter or rent money for a year while the expected building project gets underway. Politico contacted councilor Madina by phone and she responded to the first call but explained she was at a meeting and promised to call later. After waiting for several hours, Politico made several calls again but she never responded.
The Sierra Leone Meteorological Agency had earlier forecasted possible flooding that will affect flood areas in Freetown; Susan’s Bay is one of them.
Copyright © 2021 Politico Online (16/06/21)
