Guided by love and compassion, the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation has provided emergency relief items to over 500 individuals affected by recent fire disasters in three communities in Freetwon: Kroo Bay, Blackhall Road, and Congo Town.
The beneficiaries received essential food supplies including rice, multigrain, onions, seasoning cubes, palm oil, and vegetable oil. These donations are meant to ease the burden brought by the fire disaster.
Ishmeal Alfred Charles, Programs Manager of Caritas Freetown, empathized with the affected families and expressed his gratitude to them for coming. He said, “Fire disasters are sorrowful because when it occurs, no matter how much we give, it can never replenish what has been lost.” He added, “We want to convey the love and greetings from Dharma Master Cheng Yen, Founder of the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation. This humanitarian support was made possible through Tzu Chi, and that is why we are extending love, compassion, and gratitude especially to those who are in need so that they know that in the midst of the difficulty, loss, and pain, there are people who care about them and share in their sadness.”
Margaret Bassie, Tzu Chi Foundation’s representative in Sierra Leone, explained that the three communities benefitting from the donation had suffered fire incidents three weeks ago. “That is why we have decided to show them love and compassion by donating relief items to them,” she said. Bassie emphasized that the Tzu Chi Foundation has been consistent in responding to emergencies in Sierra Leone. “These supplies are impactful in the lives of the beneficiaries, especially during the rainy season,” she noted.
Gerald King, Regional Coordinator for the Western Region at the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA), sympathized with the affected residents for the ordeal they experienced.
He encouraged them to share the items received with their family members. “We thank Tzu Chi Foundation for their continuous support. They always complement the efforts of the government, which may not have a readily available budget to respond immediately to disasters,” he stated.
Mariam Kamara, a beneficiary and resident of Kroo Bay, fought back tears as she expressed her appreciation. “I want to thank Dharma Master. Had it not been for her, we would have lost face in society,” she said. She added, “We don’t have anywhere to sleep at the moment, so we squat at a mosque.” Kamara expressed relief after receiving the food support. “This has eliminated hunger for my children and me for the following weeks,” she said, concluding with a heartfelt thank you to Tzu Chi Foundation and its volunteers.
The act of kindness once again underscores the power of compassion and the impact of humanitarian gestures in helping disaster victims rebuild their lives amidst loss and uncertainty.
