Many slum areas like Kroobay, Congo town, Moa Wharf and many other communities in the western area were badly affected. It is still unclear about the total number of deaths, but official figures released from the Office of National Security (ONS) recorded 4 deaths, although unofficial sources rated the death toll to 11
Meanwhile Sierra Leone is among three countries that are prone to disaster. Measured in the world risk index the country is ranked 138 out of 172 countries prone to natural disasters and recent forecast shows that the country will be badly hit by rains.
Amidst these warning signs little or nothing has been done to addressing the problem. People are still living in disaster prone areas, drainage facilities are very poor etc.
According to the current climate change projections Sierra Leone could lose between US 600 million and USD 1.1 billion annually in crop revenues by the end of the century.
To stop this from happening the government should equip the meteorological department and find a way to relocate people who are dwelling in disaster prone areas. The debate of whether the people should be removed from the slum or the slum be removed from the people is naïve.
Already sings are waving all around of a possible disaster; do we wish to experience another catastrophic?
