Humanitarian response to assist fire disaster victims – Sierra Leone
The Methodist Church Sierra Leone is giving assistance to those affected by the explosion in Freetown, Sierra Leone and no long able to work. Some of this assistance will be food, medical and sanitary items. This work is being supported by a £10,000 solidarity grant from the World Mission Fund (WMF). Through World Mission Partnership, Irish Methodists contribute to the WMF every year.
On Friday 5 November around 7:30 pm a petrol tanker was travelling out of Freetown on the Bai Bureh highway when a truck full of stones collided with it around the Wellington industrial area. The accident resulted to leakage of petrol from the tanker. The driver of the tanker rushed to the nearest Police Station to report the accident. This led to a traffic build-up on the highway. People around the accident scene rushed to collect petrol from the leaking tanker. Most the petrol collectors were commercial motorbike riders. The tanker exploded.
Over 100 people died and another 100 injured in the explosion, with many more affected through family connection or property damage. The National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) is coordinating the activities of the emergency humanitarian assistance programme. They have started receiving relief food and non-food items from different donors both locally and from overseas. For instance, the Kingbo mining company has donated both food and medical items; the Commodity Trading Company has donated more than 100 bags of 50kg bags of rice and other assorted food items.
Methodist Church Sierra Leone Response Plan
The MCSL will continue to offer prayers for the disaster victims and also wish to make food and non-food items donations (e.g. medication/ rehabilitation equipment) through the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA). The Conference management has therefore launched an appeal for voluntary donations both in cash and in-kind from its members across the Connexion and also from well-wishers and friends within and outside Sierra Leone. Societies/Circuits have been informed through pulpit notices to offer special prayers for the deceased, those hospitalised and families of the disaster victims. The have also been special collections raised for the disaster victims during Sunday services. The beneficiaries of this work are the persons and the families of those affected by this disaster.
Please keep the Methodist Church Sierra Leone in your prayers as they join with others in assisting the survivors of this disaster.