Freetown – Chinese Companies operating in Sierra Leone on Friday rendered humanitarian services to aid victims of a deadly flooding and landslide disaster in Free town on Monday.
The Chinese companies have been playing leading role in the rescue efforts in the landslide that killed more than 330 residents and left many more homeless earlier this week.
Their work added to the disaster relief launched by the government, youths, and development partners to cushion the effect of the disaster that took place in the mountainous area of Freetown.
“When the disaster erupted on Monday, we needed machinery to remove bodies from the rubble.
‘’China Railway Seventh Group (CRSG) brought two excavators, shovels, pick axes and manpower to help in the rescue operation,’’ said Joseph Kargbo.
Kargbo is of Sierra Leone Road Authority Engineer in charge of the rescue operation at Mortemeh, Sugar Loaf in Freetown.
“The contribution of the company has been immense. CRSG has assisted not only in this disaster, but also in other areas as well.’’
He said that workers of the company cleared the road to the disaster site after it was blocked by the rumble.
The disaster brought with it a lot of problems ranging from health, housing, clothing to other humanitarian challenges.
Affected family members are provided with temporary housing in schools across Freetown and the people are in need of medical attention.
At one of the Primary Schools in the Regent Community, women and children were seen clustered in a single room, which risked creating room for the spread of diseases.
The situation worried the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) team in Sierra Leone, which planned to construct two tents to provide basic medical care to the victims.
“We are concerned about the post disaster disease, so we are trying to separate the people to prevent them from spreading diseases,’’ said Xiao Ning, head of China CDC team in Sierra Leone.
“As you can see, the environment is not good for the people. We need to do something, including health education and vector control,’’ he said.
Xiao said one of the tents would be used to perform surgery on people who suffered trauma while the other would be used to treat people who suffered from certain disease conditions.
“We are here to help people and prevent the outbreak of diseases,’’ he said.
Sierra Leone President, Ernest Bai Koroma, made a call for humanitarian assistance after the disaster took place.
The presidents’ call made the Chinese community, including Chinese companies operating in Sierra Leone to donate about 100,000 U.S. dollars in cash and other emergency materials toward the victims.
The Vice-Presiden, Victor Bockarie Foh, who is overseeing the committee receiving donations relating to the emergency, received the donation.
Alhaji Ibrahim Sesay, Minister of Works, Housing and Infrastructure, told Xinhua that the support from Chinese companies was good and prompt.
He said the cooperation between Chinese rescue workers and local organisations was also fruitful and beneficial.
Flooding and landslide, sparked by torrential rains and on rush of water from the slopes of Sugar Loaf; have adversely affected communities on the outskirts of Freetown.
Government has set up a response centre to coordinate emergency response efforts under the following pillars: health and burial, social welfare, security and rescue, logistics and communications.
While a dignified burial of over three hundred victims was done at Waterloo in the outskirts of Freetown, rescue operation is still in progress.
As the country tries to regain calm after the disaster, humanitarian needs ranging from health, food, housing and clothing still remain crucial. (Xinhua/NAN)
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