Sierra Leone faces serious risk of cholera and typhoid outbreak

Campaign for Human Rights and Development International (CHRDI): Sierra Leone Telegraph: 15 August 2017:

Following the disastrous event of the mudslide and floods in Freetown on 14 August 2017 wherein over 300 people have died, with a possibility of the death toll rising and over two thousand (2000) rendered homeless,  and the lives of thousands being disrupted, CHRDI would like to express our deepest condolences to the bereaved families  and pray that the souls of the faithfully departed rest in peace.

The past few years has been extremely bad for the poor and most vulnerable, especially those living in the flood affected areas in Freetown.

Over 1 million inhabitants are presently settled in overcrowded areas of the coastal city of Freetown. Loss of lives and economic devastation are a major development challenge for a country like Sierra Leone battling climate change, corruption and poverty.

One of the most harmful failures of the country’s response to sudden disasters is the delay in aid reaching those most affected. Every hour can mean death or great suffering, especially in poorly-resourced communities in the country.

The authorities in Freetown are yet to put out an official statement on the crisis, however, late this afternoon, the Ministry of Information called an emergency press conference to inform the media about their response to the crisis.

Sierra Leone has been beset by this problem of heavy rains in August and it is worrying that the authorities are again unprepared to deal with this disaster  notwithstanding having been warned of such a disaster by the UN.

However, emergency workers and community volunteers say reaching survivors remains a major challenge. Entire communities remain marooned, living out in the open as their homes have been destroyed, with roads submerged under water or blocked by the mudslide.

Climate change, climate variability and weather events are a threat to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals’ overall target of eliminating poverty and tackling other risk drivers such as unplanned urban development, environmental degradation and gaps in early warnings.

Such disastrous events require a system which ensures that people are risk informed and the strengthening of institutions which manage disaster risk.

Outbreaks of diseases such as dengue fever and cholera, and illnesses like diarrhea and dysentery, are often a threat in the aftermath of floods due to water-logging.

In view of the above, CHRDI believes that it behoves us to bring the following to light and urge the Government of Sierra Leone to take the necessary steps to address them faster and make adequate plans for future occurrences. There are and always will be disasters. The government of Sierra Leone should be prepared and able to act immediately if one occurs. Our hearts go out to the people of Sierra Leone in their time of sorrow. (End)

Please give generously to the Freetown Flood Disaster Emergency Appeal to help the Freetown Flood Victims by clicking on this link:

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/freetownflooddisasteremergencyappeal

 

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