Fire incidents in Masimera Chiefdom, Port Loko District have become increasingly alarming this year, to the point that more than 200 inhabitants of villages within the chiefdom have become homeless.
In less than two months, four villages in Masimera were almost wiped out by a raging inferno.
On February 28 this year, 19 houses in two villages, Bune Line and Mayamana were gutted by an unprecedented fire that left residents in a state of abject poverty, as property worth millions, including farming implements were destroyed.
Also, on March 18, residents of two other villages, PetfuLonko and Mabonkoh, also suffered from fire disaster, the aftermath, they are still grappling with.
As a result of these, the Honourable Member representing constituency 58, where the four villages are situated, Hon. SaiduBabah Kamara, through the help of other well-meaning institutions, provided relief items including food and learning materials to more than 200 victims.
While he had earlier rendered initial support to residents of villages including Bune Line and Mayamana, the MP suggested that such vital humanitarian support should be extended to residents of PetfuLonko and Mabonkoh villages.
The MP provided 130 bags of rice to each victim, and additionally gave each of them seed rice to help them in their farming activities.
School children were also provided learning materials to assist the already impoverished parents to send back their children to school.
The Hon. Kamara was greatly assisted in the venture by African Minerals mining company and Cape Lambert.
The Paramount Chief of Masimera Chiefdom, PC Bai SimeraThonkla IV noted that this kind of gesture from the MP was a “novelty” to them as a people.
He said that it was important for inhabitants to be sensitized on how to avert fire disaster the fire has been rampant in his chiefdom over the years.
Hon. Babah Kamara said that he was touched by the devastation caused by the fire incident and has since been figuring out ways to provide needed support for his people.
With such desire, he said, he wrote letters to several organizations and two mining companies, African Minerals and Cape Lambert responded. He assured the companies of solid co-operation between their managements and his constituents.
Beneficiaries of the MPs expressed appreciation over his intervention, especially in the provision of needed resources that would keep their lives going.
By Poindexter Sama
Thursday May 15, 2014