In a bid to help victims of the landslide that shocked the country on the 14th August 2017, which killed hundreds of people, several still missing and hundreds displaced, The Life for Relief and Development USA through Life Ghana in collaboration with Smile International Sierra Leone has distributed over 600 bags of rice, assorted cooking items and over 400 schools bags worth millions of Leones to survivors of the Landslide disaster in two camps at the Matormeh Regent and Old Skool Over the weekend.
Addressing beneficiaries from the camps, the Regional coordinator based in Ghana Sheikh Omar Farouk on behalf of the organization extend their deepest sympathy as the tragedy that stroked the country on that faithful day August 14, 2017 is unimaginable, with entire families wiped out of the surface of the earth in just a minute. He encouraged the survivors to mourn with faith in Allah and prayed for the departed souls and wished those in hospital a speedy recovery.
Sheikh Farouk recalled his visit to the sites with team from Smile International Network Sierra Leone to do assessment of the needs of victims of the Landslide now scattered in makeshift camp, saying that what he saw motivated them to carefully choose their relief items to target the children and women of the Landslide. He thanked Community Leaders and members of the Security forces to help them reach the beneficiaries.
In her remarks, the Assistant Country Director for the Life for Relief and Development Sierra Leone, Mrs Mariam Turay conveyed heartfelt sympathy on behalf of the entire Management and Staff of Life for Relief and Development especially its headquarter in the USA. She prayed for all those that lost their lives to this national tragedy, and calmed them to remember their loved ones with faith and belief in Allah.
She thanked Smile International Network Sierra Leone for partnering with them to meet the needs of the victims and encouraged the victims to pray for the donors and its staff so that they will continue to help the poor and needy people of this country and assured them that whatever is sent will be judiciously distributed to the people of this country.
In his remark on behalf of the beneficiaries, the Community Chief of Matormeh, Pa Alimamy Conteh thanked members of Life for Relief and Development and their partners for their tremendous support to the people of Sierra Leone and appealed to the Organization to continue these support to the needs of this country.
Pa. Alimamy Conteh praised Life for Relief and Development as they are exceptional in providing school bags together with books, pens, pencils and other item. He expressed his gratitude and reiterated that the relief items will finish but the knowledge that will be gained by kids in school will remain.
The program ended with solemn prayers led by the Chief Imam of the Martomeh Community Mosque who prayed for both the donors and staff of Life For Relief and Development.
