Residents of Kroo Bay in central Freetown have complained of flooding due to the torrential downpour of rain on Monday, blaming it on the rapid deforestation of the hills overlooking the city.
They plead with government and international agencies to come to their aid.
The poverty-stricken community has now been exposed to waterborne and skin diseases.
The Public Relations Officer of the Kroo Bay Area Development Committee and Chairman of the community health clubs, Saidu Alieu Turay told Awoko that “erosion due to deforestation…is blocking the drainages and that is what is causing the flood”.
He said this year’s flooding was far worse than in previous years when it used to happen much later in the year.
Turay said the unprotected soil and huge amount of debris not only caused flooding, but also posed an alarming threat to the community.
He said the Crocodile River and the ‘Samba Gutter’ outlets to the Atlantic Ocean had been filled with debris making them shallow.
The PRO said that during the rains many of the inhabitants are evacuated, as their so-called “roof-scrappers” beds mounted with sticks and bricks cannot resist the swelling.
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