By State House Communication Unit
The World Bank on Friday 8 September presented a rapid damage and loss assessment of the Sugarloaf landslide and floods in the Western Area which struck on 14 August, 2017 to the Government of Sierra Leone, including President Dr Ernest Bai Koroma, the Hon. Vice President, cabinet ministers and senior government officials as well as UN agencies.
The report which spans the period August 24th – September 8th 2017, was done in a PowerPoint presentation delineating the damage and loss of the disaster and identified recovery needs across identified sectors. The rapid assessment also highlights the macro-economic and human impacts of the disaster and will help determine the magnitude of the impact and the needs to mobilise resources and inform the recovery strategy.
The report also categorized the recovery process into three – short, medium and long term. According to the Bank, physical damage during the landslide and flooding is valued at $30 million, while $82 million is earmarked to finance the recovery process.
Further mentioned in the presentation were the tools used in the assessment including mobile data collection and open street map building layer. The report captured the number of people reported dead or missing in the affected areas including Regent with 808 people, Kamayama 264, Kaningo 33, Juba 21, 10 Dwazark and 5 Culvert.
Regarding the causes of the August 14 landslides and floods, the report linked the causes to climate change and rainfall as well as deforestation and urban sprawl.
Upon completion, the assessment will help determine the magnitude of the impact and the need to mobilize resources for the recovery process.
World Bank Country Manager for Sierra Leone Parmindar Brar said the assessment was jointly done by the World Bank and other agencies and that the report was partly funded by the European Union and the Bank. As the gravity of the damage assessment stands to be more deepened, he urged other agencies to come onboard.
Receiving the report, President Koroma thanked World Bank and other agencies for their immediate response in addressing the issues in a more professional manner, saying that it now behoves government to quickly look at the report and take the necessary measures. He expressed hope that the final report which is expected in November this year would give detail recommendations for proper action.
