As government commences the relocation of flood victims to 6-Mile outside Waterloo in the Western Area Rural District, a faction of them yesterday converged at the Cotton Tree, alleging that they have been discriminated against.
The victims who happened to be inmates of both the Siaka Stevens and the Brima Atouga stadiums respectively were carrying placards with inscriptions ‘Flood Victims, We Need Help!” “Advantage! Advantage!” “We Need our Homes!”
They alleged that those in charge of the relocation process selected their relatives and friends, some of who are not flood victims to relocate to the new site at Six Mile, leaving them behind. In addition, the victims said even though they have been asked to leave the stadium, they have not been provided with any place to stay.
“We have been told to collect a package with a tin of sardine, a bag of rice, a gallon of oil, a torchlight, Magi and onions in addition to four hundred thousand Leones which we should use to look for accommodation. This was not what the President promised us!” they lamented.
Reacting to the allegations, government spokesman, Abdulai Bayraytay said that the relocation on Sunday was not the end of the process. He stated that up to yesterday, more people were being relocated to the new resident at six mile. Regarding the structures, Mr. Bayraytay affirmed that presently, fifty structures have been constructed which, according to him, will accommodate one hundred families.
“We want to see that those vulnerable such as pregnant women and lactating mothers are the first to be relocated, that is why we asked them to register,” he said, adding that the government will see that each of them are accommodated at the said community.
He furthered that the government has improved the capacity of the new community for the flood victims and that water and sanitation facilities are in place.
Referencing the 1949 Geneva Convention on forceful migration, he stated not all of the victims want to relocate to Six Mile and as a result the government will not force them to do so. “We will give them food items and money which they will use to rent an apartment,” he concluded.
By Edna Smalle
Tuesday November 17, 2015
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