AYV News, April 14, 2025
The National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) has launched a nationwide emergency response targeting schools recently devastated by multi-hazard disasters particularly fire outbreaks and windstorms in several southeastern districts.
This response, which marks the first phase of a broader national response, prioritizes educational institutions to ensure the timely resumption of learning activities in affected areas. The response will extend to the northern and northwesternregions in the coming days.
The relief package includes essential roofing materials such as bundles of zinc, 3” and 4” roofing nails, and boxes of wire nails to support the reconstruction of damaged school infrastructure.
In Bo district, five schools benefited from the NDMA’s intervention: Roman Catholic Model Primary School, Saint Peter’s Primary School, Namyah Islamic Secondary School, Craftshare Technical Institute, and Government Secondary School Koyeima in Valunia Chiefdom. Each institution received ten bundles of zinc, ten packets of 4” nails, ten packets of 3” nails, and one box of wire nails.
The eastern region, which recorded the highest number of affected schools across Kenema, Kailahun, and Kono districts, received the most substantial response.
In Kenema district, the following schools benefited: Islamic Welfare Primary School (Kenema City), Pkalu Islamic Primary School (Kpalu Village), ETU Practicing School (Kenema City), National Islamic Primary School (Nikibu), SLMB Primary School (Senehun Gorama Mende), LBSS School (Panguma), Ahmadiyya Secondary School (Ngegbwema), National Islamic Primary School (Bandawor)
In Kailahun district: Saint Peter’s Secondary School (Daru) and KDEC School (Panderu). In Kono District: Assemblies of God Secondary School (Koidu) and UMC Primary School (Foakor).
All listed schools received the standard relief package of ten bundles of zinc, ten packets of 4” nails, ten packets of 3” nails, and one box of wire nails.
Headmaster of the Roman Catholic Model Primary School in Bo, Paul Jengeh, expressed profound gratitude for the intervention. “We are delighted to receive these materials. We sincerely thank the President for establishing the NDMA to respond to and mitigate disasters across the country. These building materials will help us in no small measure to rebuild our schools,” he stated.
Hon. Yusif Makieu, Member of Parliament and Chairman of the Environment Committee in Parliament, was also part of the response team. He personally donated NLe4,000 towards the rehabilitation of the Roman Catholic Model Primary School to support the purchase of 20 bags of cement.
He reaffirmed the government’s unwavering commitment to serve and protect the people, especially during times of crisis.
While handing over relief items in Kenema, Paul Thomas, NDMA’s Director of Regional Affairs, urged school authorities to strengthen coordination with local disaster management structures such as NDMA’s Community Disaster Management Committees (CDMCs) and District Disaster Management Committees (DDMCs).
He continued: We are not only responding to emergencies, we are building a culture of safety. We want to see every school, every teacher, and every student equipped with the knowledge and tools to stay safe before, during, and after a disaster,” he added.
Sinneh Mansaray, NDMA’s Director of Relief and Response, conveyed the Agency’s sympathies to affected schools and highlighted the critical role of disaster education. He noted that NDMA has through the support of the UNDP has developed a school disaster management teaching manual, which will be distributed to teachers across the affected schools and institutions. “We encourage schools to integrate disaster management lessons into their curriculum to ensure that pupils understand how to respond and mitigate risks both in school and within their communities,” he said.
In Moyamba district, two schools, SIC Primary School in Rotifunk and UMC Primary School in Pelawahun village, Kamajei chiefdom are slated to receive similar support. In Bonthe district, Methodist Primary School has also been identified for relief assistance.
The NDMA will continue its nationwide response in the northern and northwestern regions next week. Communities are encouraged to remain vigilant and to actively engage in disaster preparedness initiatives. The Agency remains firmly committed to supporting recovery efforts and strengthening resilience across Sierra Leone.
