By Hassan Osman Kargbo
The Director General for the National Disaster Management Agency, retired Lieutenant General Brima Sesay has confirmed to news men that the Agency don’t have the equipment to respond to disaster immediately in the country.
He made this disclosure on Tuesday 24 September 2024, at the Ministry of Information and Civic Education press conference held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Corporation conference room at Tower Hill Freetown.
According to him the NDMA don’t have all the equipment for immediate response when disaster occurred, but NDMA has its partners that always aid them their support to response to disasters as and when its occurs in the country. He said when president Bio was launching the military’s equipment, president said it in his statement that the Army engineers should always ready to support the National Disaster Management Agency for respond to disaster issues in the country when the need arises.
He said it’s very difficult for them as an agency and noted that disaster is an unfortunate incidents or unforeseen incident that people cannot prepare for. So they don’t know as and when disaster could take place and said that it’s difficult to prepare for such circumstances in the country.
“It’s very difficult for us as an agency, besides disaster is an unfortunate incidents or unforeseen incident that people cannot prepare for. So we don’t know as and when disaster could take place and it’s difficult to prepare for such circumstances in the country,” he said.
He said despite all the challenges, the NDMA responded swiftly to the incident, coordinating efforts among various government agencies, NGOs, and private sector partners to expedite recovery efforts and assist those trapped beneath the rubble.
He noted that a total of 24 individuals were recovered, with 16 fatalities, including children under the ages of five and ten, teenagers, and adults. He admitted that fortunately, eight survivors were rescued, including children under five, teenagers, and adults. Of these survivors, five who were hospitalized at Rokupa Hospital have since been discharged, while three remain under treatment at Choithram Hospital. He said the NDMA would continue to monitor their progress and provide updates to the public.
He confirmed that private sector played a pivotal role in the rescue operation. The Gento Group of Companies led the effort by providing machinery, fuel, and personnel throughout the operation. Other companies, such as Marampa Mines Limited, JP Logistics, and Sierra Rutile Limited, also contributed environmental safety experts, machinery, and fuel to support the rescue efforts.
He said that Government institutions, including the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces, the Sierra Leone Police, the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, the Ministry of Social Welfare, the Office of National Security, the Freetown City Council, the National Protected Area Authority, the Sierra Leone Roads Authority, the Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority, the National Public Health Agency, the Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone, and the National Emergency Medical Services, provided critical support through security, medical care, and other assistance during the rescue.
He said on the evening of September 22, while the NDMA reasonably concluded that no individuals remained trapped in the rubble, search efforts continued on September 23rd and 24th, particularly on the third and fourth floors, which were used as storage areas. Excavators were able to access the stores, allowing owners to recover any goods that remained intact, including spare parts and rubber drinks. Adding that to the NLe 55,600 previously recovered from the debris and returned to its rightful owner, another NLe 19,160 was recovered and similarly returned. This transparent process underscores the NDMA’s commitment to protecting property and ensuring that all recovered items are returned to their rightful owners during interventions.
The Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces RSLAF has been assigned the additional responsibility of securing the site for the next two days while cranes and other heavy-duty machinery are dismantled and removed.
He said the NDMA will soon begin registering and identifying victims, a crucial step in providing relief items and support to those affected by the collapse.
