106 victims of recent fire disasters in three Freetown communities—Kroo Bay, Congo Town, and Black Hall Road—received emergency relief on Tuesday from Caritas Freetown, which was supported by the Spanish Catholic NGO Manos Unidas.
A package of necessary food and non-food items was given to beneficiaries during the distribution ceremony, which was held at the Caritas Freetown headquarters in Kingtom. A 50 kg bag of rice, one gallon of palm oil, one gallon of vegetable oil, onions, a Maggi seasoning packet, and salt were distributed to each recipient. A rubber bucket, laundry soap, scented soap, a lappa (a traditional women’s garment), sanitary pads, batteries, toothpaste, and toothbrushes were among the non-food items.
Ishmeal Alfred Charles, Caritas Freetown’s Programs Manager, apologised for the distribution delay and showed sympathy for the victims during his remarks.
Charles clarified, “We started at 11 a.m. because of unanticipated logistical delays and the rain, even though we were supposed to start at 10 a.m. sharp.” “I would like to express my sincere condolences to everyone impacted by this terrible fire and flooding. We hope this relief brings some comfort, but as we often say, no amount of support can make up for what you’ve lost.
He added that the delay in delivering the aid was due to difficulties with international banking.
He went on to say, “We think everything happens in its own time, and maybe this was the right time for you to get this help.”
Charles made it clear that the assistance was intended especially for those affected by the recent fires in the three communities. He thanked Manos Unidas for their steadfast support and ongoing collaboration.
He presented Manos Unidas, a longtime Caritas Freetown partner, to the audience.
In Spain, Manos Unidas is a Catholic Church-based organisation that works to combat poverty and advance development. They concentrate on addressing the underlying causes of poverty, including inequity, restricted access to resources, and inadequate education,” Charles stated.
He also gave a brief overview of the organisation’s history, stating that the Campaign Against Hunger, which was started in 1959 by Catholic Action Women in Spain, served as the model for Manos Unidas. He went on to say, “Their mission is to empower communities through sustainable development rooted in dignity and justice while fighting hunger, poverty, disease, and illiteracy.”
Councillor Samuel Kamara from the Freetown City Council also spoke at the event and thanked the intervention.
He remarked, “Caritas Freetown has always supported our communities during difficult times.” “We depend on groups like Caritas to give our people the much-needed support, even though the FCC may not always have the resources to respond directly.”
Kamara gave beneficiaries assurances about the organisation’s dedication.
People sometimes assume nothing will come of Caritas’s visits to gather data and then depart. However, this is not fraud because we are already witnessing the results with other organisations. I’ll let the mayor know that this was a really good response. “Thank you, Manos Unidas, and thank you, Caritas,” he said in closing.
Kadiatu Fofanah, a Kroo Bay resident who was one of the beneficiaries, spoke movingly about how her life abruptly changed.
She recalled, “I had just left home to take care of my small business when I heard my house was on fire.” “I couldn’t believe it at first. However, everything was gone when I arrived. I was unable to save anything, not even my personal belongings or phone.
After receiving her relief package, Kadiatu conveyed her sincere gratitude.
She sobbed as she remarked, “This is the first genuine assistance I’ve received since the fire.” “Manos Unidas and Caritas have restored my hope.” God bless them.
The emergency response demonstrates Caritas Freetown’s continued dedication to helping communities that are at risk during emergencies. It also illustrates the effectiveness of solid local-international collaborations in handling disasters in Freetown.
The National Disaster Management Agency’s (NDMA) Director of Relief and Response, Sinneh Mansaray, praised Caritas Freetown’s work:
One of our most important partners, Caritas, constantly rallies assistance from its extensive network of kind donors in times of need. They are present today because of the critical support they are giving to a number of our impacted communities, particularly Black Hall Road, Congo Town, and Kroo Bay. With an average of five to six people living in each household, these communities comprise 106 households.
He mentioned the history of Caritas Freetown in the Western Region:
Caritas has demonstrated remarkable performance in disaster response. To determine and rank the most pressing needs, we collaborate with them to perform assessments in impacted communities.
