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The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as part of its humanitarian services has donated food and basic health supplies to victims of the fire disaster that occurred in Freetown, Sierra Leone on 5th Nov. 2021. The donation was made to the National Disaster Agency at the 34 Military Hospital on Tuesday 25th November 2021. The disaster occured when a fuel tanker struck a truck and the resulting spillage ignited.
Present at the ceremony were; the Stake President and head of Humanitarian Services for the Church in Sierra Leone, President Kenneth Pambu, Sis Mariatu Browne, National Communication Director, the Deputy Minister of Defence Col. Muana Massaquio(Rtd.), Director General, Disaster Management Agency, Lieutenant General Brima Sesay(Rtd.) and other Military personnel.
President Kenneth Pambu in his opening remarks said that the humanitarian arm of the Church is there to foster relief to those in need. He remarked -“that is why we have partnered with the RSLAF and the 34 Military Hospital to implement this project on behalf of the disaster pillar and to reach out to those who have suffered from the fire incident.”
The Director General of the Disaster Management Agency Lieutenant General Brima Sesay(Rtd.), expressed sincere gratitude and appreciation to the Church for its response and intervention to the victims at this difficult time. He said, “A friend in need is a friend indeed. The Church of Jesus Christ has come today to sympathize with people that have suffered great loss. We pour our hearts to you. Thank you very much.” He promised that whatever has been provided by the Church will be used for the intended purpose and that “your name will be mentioned whenever we are referring to people that came to the aid of their compatriots during their time of need.”
In concluding the ceremony, the Deputy Minister of Defence gracefully thanked the Humanitarian Department and the Church as a whole for the gesture. “Like the former speakers alluded to, this is not the first gesture. I have witnessed the first one in Gundama where the Church built a Health Centre…and of late also, the construction of a level-2 hospital at fourth Brigade Location, Makeni. Such gestures are laudable.”
The donated items include assorted food and medical items.