Sierra Leone News: Caritas Freetown, Couples for Christ Support Flood Victims

In demonstrating care and love for their fellow compatriots, Caritas Freetown in collaboration with Couples for Christ, on Saturday September 21, 2019, distributed relief items to 50 affected flood victims at Culvert Community in the east part of Freetown. The event took place at the Caritas Warehouse, St. Edwards Compound, Kingtom.

Addressing the beneficiaries, Rev. Father Peter Konteh, Executive Director Caritas Freetown, said when they intervened to distribute relief materials to flood affected people in Freetown, they realized that some non-governmental organisation had left some gaps behind. He noted that getting to know that some residents of Culvert Community were struggling with their children to put their lives together again after the flooding, they decided to come to their assistance.

“It is important to know how people are living. We do not want to duplicate with other NGOs. It is a difficult moment for the Culvert community,’’ Rev. Father Konteh said. “When one person suffers, we all suffer. When others are happy we are all happy.’’

Delivering his statement, Dickya Labicane, National Mission Coordinator for Couples for Christ, maintained that the gesture was a sign of solidarity for the victims, adding that the donors of the relief items in the Philippines and Canada felt the sadness for the disaster. ‘’When the disaster happened, I sent a message to Couples for Christ in Canada. In return, they asked me what help can they render, but I told them that they can’t help the flood victims with everything,’’ Labicane recalled.

Dicky Labicane disclosed to the audience that he has been serving the people of Sierra Leone for the past eight years. ‘’We need the faith to make things work. We have to build our faith in the Lord,’’ he encouraged the beneficiaries.

Each of the beneficiary received 50Kg bag of rice, laundry bowl, one gallon of cooking oil, one packet onion, one packet salt, one packet Maggie cubes, one packet Shrimps, one packet set of spoons and cash for perishable cooking condiments.

One of the beneficiaries, Salamatu Sesay thanked Caritas Freetown and Couples for Christ for their gesture. “May God bless those who have sacrificed their money to help us. We are praying that this disaster will not meet us again,” she said.

‘’To every disappointment, God will help you if you believe. Today, we are receiving things from people we don’t know. Let God bless their families and provide more for them, and let God prevent any disaster in their homes, work place and their country,’’ Fatmata Kargbo, a beneficiary said.

Another beneficiary, Alimamy Kargbo said: “We were suffering when the floods struck my house and my family. We lost everything we had, but we believe that God will restore what we have lost. After all, we thank God for saving our lives.’’

The distribution programme was coordinated by Micheal Bami Sam, programme coordinator, Caritas Freetown.