AYV News, March 14, 2024
The Government of Sierra Leone and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) have planned to save Plantain Island from the imminent threat of climate change.
Plantain Island is one of the communities in Sierra Leone faced with daunting climate change challenges, which have resulted in the loss of substantial means of livelihood for the inhabitants of the Island.
Rising sea levels, heavy rainfall and violent weather storms have made it increasingly difficult for the residents to sustain their sustenance.
Adama Kabia, a 53-year-old resident of Plantain Island, is the chairlady and leader of a women’s development group on the island. She has been eagerly waiting for the arrival of the visitors on the island. This day is significant for Adama and the island’s people, as visitors have recently become increasingly rare.
Their cries for help to save their island from climate disaster haven’t attracted much attention. Adama and her group are happy to have IOM and government officials from Freetown on the island, seeing it as a chance to open up about their challenges and hope for a solution.
Earlier this year, in 2024, a team from IOM, the Deputy Minister of Environment and Climate Change, and government officials visited Plantain Island. The primary purpose of the visit was to conduct a pilot project on Plantain Island to understand the reasons behind the disappearance of Plantain and Yelibuya Islands.
These two islands, according to the findings of IOM, are currently facing an array of daunting challenges as a result of the impact of climate change. The effects of climate change have been far-reaching and devastating for these islands, from rising sea levels and increased frequency of extreme weather events to the erosion of coastlines and the loss of fragile ecosystems.
The project’s objective is to gather empirical evidence on the state of marine parameters around the islands to find practical solutions to address the threats posed by climate change and environmental degradation to coastal and island communities.
The project also aims to identify adaptation measures to cope with these threats. This visit by IOM and government officials aims to engage with the island residents, understand their challenges, and find solutions.
There is a lack of official government records indicating the degree of sea-level increase in this area, but according to locals, the sea has advanced by over 400 meters in the last four decades. This has forced inhabitants to relocate to nearby towns, causing many to establish new communities inland.
Community school teacher Osman Kamara describes Plantain Island as a town with a rich history that used to have a population of around 6,000.
