Caritas Sierra Leone Seeking “speedy support to save lives” Following Slum Inferno

“No help is too small to help these helpless victims,” say the officials of Caritas Sierra Leone in the October 3 report. 

According to Ms. Aki-Sawyerr of Freetown Municipality, the September 20 inferno is the latest of over 20 significant disasters that have afflicted Freetown in 2021.

He attributed the disasters to poor planning and overpopulation, among other things, adding that the government is coordinating various efforts to aid the fire victims with food and other necessities. 

In the October 3 report, officials of Caritas Sierra Leone say they have been cooking and delivering meals to the Kroo Bay fire victims.

"On the 25th of September 2021, Caritas Freetown started the cooking and delivery of hot meals (Rice and soup) to over 500 fire victims’ population that benefitted 100% of children of the engulfed section at the Kroo Bay community," they say, adding that they have established two cooking locations in the slum. 

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The meal that will be provided daily for an "uninterrupted 15 days" is part of Caritas' effort to "cushion the hunger of the hungry victims and rebuild the kilocalories of the body," the acting Director, Caritas Freetown, Ishmeal Charles, has been quoted as saying in the report. 

"The daily hot meal is supplementing the cost of their daily food maintenance as heads of families cannot generate income from livelihood activities they claim, especially female headed households," says Mr. Charles. 

To ensure the hot meal is similar to the locally made food, women in the community (the Mammy Queens) are involved in the cooking, assisted by volunteers and Caritas' nutritionist.

Magdalene Kahiu is a Kenyan journalist with passion in Church communication. She holds a Degree in Social Communications from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA). Currently, she works as a journalist for ACI Africa.