Sierra Leone: CAFOD report on catastrophic floods and landslides

Many buildings have been washed away

Source: CAFOD

Kayode Akintola, CAFOD’s Country Representative for Sierra Leone, has just sent this report from Freetown: “Things are really bad on the ground. Just a few minutes’ walk from our office a bridge has been submerged. There are dead bodies in the water and littering some of the streets, and houses are still under water.

“We are working with our local partners to assess what support we can provide. We are carrying out assessments in various areas affected by the flood and working closely with other agencies to coordinate relief response efforts.

“The immediate need of people affected are water and food, meanwhile thousands of families who have lost their homes need shelter, and there are also serious health concerns.

“Our prayers are with those who have been affected by this tragedy.”

Hundreds of people have been killed by mudslides and flooding on the outskirts of Sierra Leone’s capital, Freetown. More than 300 people are estimated to have been killed and over 3,000 have lost their homes. More people are still unaccounted for.

CAFOD has an office in Freetown and the agency's staff and local partners are assessing the situation and are ready to respond.

Efforts are now underway to rescue anyone who may have survived the landslides. However, the heavy rainfall is expected to continue and conditions may deteriorate.

Heavy rains were expected in Sierra Leone, given the time of year, but the devastation caused by the rains and the landslides was not anticipated.