The Board, Management and Staff of the Sierra Leone National Telecommunications Limited Company, SIERRATEL, headed by the Human Resources Director, Milton Koroma, accompanied by the Board Chairman, Sheka M. Kargbo and staff from various departments on Friday August 23rd 2019, donated multiple bags of 50kg rice and undisclosed cash to the tune of millions of Leones to the bereaved families of the August 15th 2019 flood disaster at Ward 405 in Constituency 115 at the Peacock Farm community, Wellington in the east of Freetown.

Making the donation, the Human Resource Director, Milton Koroma on behalf of the Managing Director said that there are moments in life of grief, sorrow, sympathy and remembrance that touch the hearts and souls of every Sierra Leonean at home and abroad.

He consoled the bereaved families to continue to have faith and pray for godly acceptance in heaven of our respective brothers, sisters and children that were swept away by the torrential rains at a time when we needed them most. He said tears would not stop running from the eyes of everyone told of the unfortunate and bizarre incident of a suckling mother and her baby, a BECE pupil awaiting his results and the souls of promising members of the families all seven who were swept away by the torrential waters.

In a melancholic voice, he said it is only the God of the universe who fixes our days of births and deaths either by flooding, earthquakes, hurricane, fire or just natural illnesses. We were born with hopes, live in a world as tenants and our fates are at the mercy of our creator, he said. He promised that his institution will give the utmost possible assistance to ease the problems of survivors they face in terms of shelter, medication and education. He appealed to all humanitarian organizations to continue to come onboard and lend a hand at a moment when people need it most.

On behalf of Hon. Amadu Bah of Constituency 115 and stakeholders, the Councilor of Ward 405, Mohamed Tholley, thanked the delegation for their clear manifestation of humanity, noting that the flooding posed a lot of challenges which were overcome; thanks to the collaboration of all and sundry from the four regions of the capital and beyond. He highlighted the problems facing the survivors such as inadequate accommodation, education, health checks and income to start life afresh. He promised to engage with Sierratel to strengthen the relations and find solutions to the plight of the victims. Both the chairman of Sierratel, Sheka M. Kargbo and Imam Alusine buttressed Mr Milton’s speech, noting that Sierratel installation which borders the affected area was also affected.

Morlai Turay, a neighbour present at the ceremony told this reporter that the flooding indicates the poor drainage facilities faced by communities especially in the Western Urban district.He informed that normally, when it rains, the volume of torrential water that comes from the hill top descends through the stream adjacent the affected area with another finding its way to the sea through the other side of the Sierratel installation.

For the flooding not to repeat in that community in particular, Mr. Morlai appeals to government to resurvey the area and to relocate its inhabitants.