The National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA), in collaboration with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), has distributed critical relief items to families affected by the recent floods in Freetown, including those who have lost loved ones.
The donation ceremony took place at the NDMA Headquarters at 64 Sir Samuel Lewis Road in Aberdeen, where the Church presented a large consignment of food, roofing materials, and bedding to be distributed to verified victims.
The Church donated 150 sacks of rice (50kg each), 150 five-litre containers of vegetable oil, 50 cartons of canned fish, 50 cartons of tin tomatoes, 300 bundles of roofing zinc, and 150 student-sized mattresses. To mark the beginning of distribution, a presentation was given to fifteen recipients, many of whom were bereaved families. Initially, each beneficiary received a 50kg bag of rice, a five-litre container of vegetable oil, a carton of sardines, a carton of tin tomatoes, five bundles of zinc, and a student mattress. NDMA officials stated that the remaining items will be distributed to other verified flood victims in affected communities this week.
Welcoming Church representatives, NDMA’s Director of Relief and Response, Sinneh Mansaray, emphasised that the assistance was intended for families who had lost relatives in the floods and reaffirmed the Agency’s commitment to standing by grieving households during their darkest moments. He emphasised the importance of timely material support in assisting affected families to meet immediate needs and begin the recovery process.
Lieutenant General (Rtd) Brima Sesay, Director General of the NDMA, thanked the LDS Church for its continued partnership. The Church’s contributions have increased the Agency’s ability to respond to emergencies across the country. The faith-based organisation is encouraged to continue its humanitarian work in Sierra Leone.
Elder Lon Larsen, who oversees Welfare, Self-Reliance, and Humanitarian Missionary work for the LDS Church, stated that the donation is part of the Church’s humanitarian efforts for disaster-affected families. Elder Larsen reaffirmed the Church’s commitment to supporting vulnerable communities and assisting in relief and recovery efforts.
Among those who received aid was 13-year-old Haja Sawaneh from Gbendebu, a schoolgirl who tragically lost both parents and siblings in the flooding. In addition to the household relief package, Haja received a schoolbag, books, and other educational materials to help her return to school. Expressing heartfelt gratitude, Haja stated that the school supplies arrived at a critical time as she prepared to resume classes and pledged to make good use of the donations.
NDMA’s Deputy Director General, John Vandy Rogers, thanked the Church for its consistent support of Sierra Leone during crises and stated that the Agency will continue to work with humanitarian partners to mobilise additional assistance for victims. He also urged other organisations to follow the LDS Church’s lead and strengthen collaborative efforts to improve disaster response and resilience throughout the country.
