On March 30, 2025, Sierra Leone’s Vice President, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, visited Kpetema Village in Bumpe Ngao Chiefdom to assess the impact of a devastating fire and offer support to affected residents.
Dr. Jalloh, who also serves as Chairman of the National Disaster Management Agency’s (NDMA) National Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, led a high-level delegation to the village. Accompanied by government ministers, Members of Parliament, and religious leaders, the Vice President toured the disaster site before meeting with community members and local authorities. Resident Minister South, Chief John Abu, and NDMA officials from the Southern Region facilitated the visit.
Paramount Chief-elect Alfred Sovula Gandoma expressed appreciation for NDMA’s swift response, noting that the agency’s assessment had helped mobilize support from various stakeholders.
He called for further assistance, particularly the provision of corrugated iron sheets for rebuilding homes, to mitigate future fire risks. He also highlighted the loss of agricultural seedlings, school materials, and microcredit funds, underscoring the economic impact of the disaster.
Maada Martin Koroma, NDMA’s Senior Disaster Officer for the South, briefed the Vice President on the agency’s findings. He revealed that the fire had affected 320 people, including pregnant women, lactating mothers, children, and a disabled individual.
A total of 48 structures, housing 94 households, were destroyed. Koroma assured that NDMA had already shared its report with partners, paving the way for relief efforts.
In his address, Vice President Jalloh conveyed President Julius Maada Bio’s sympathies and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting the victims.
He pledged to engage relevant ministries, agencies, and private sector stakeholders to accelerate assistance. Specifically, he assured that NDMA would coordinate urgent relief efforts while the Ministry of Agriculture would assess and replace lost seedlings. Additionally, he personally committed to providing school materials for affected children, which would be delivered through the Minister of Lands and Country Planning.
Dr. Jalloh commended all organizations and individuals who had contributed to relief efforts, emphasizing the government’s dedication to the welfare of all Sierra Leoneans.
The visit concluded with prayers before the delegation departed for Bo.
