Following the
devastation caused by the mudslide that killed hundreds of people on the
outskirts of Sierra Leone's capital, Freetown last week, the Sierra Leonean community
living in Abuja, Nigeria staged a candlelight procession to mourn the victims
of the deadly disaster.
The
mourners, who appeared in black, besieged the Embassy of Sierra Leone to show
their last respect for those who perished in the incident. The event was
attended by the Sierra Leone High Commissioner in Nigeria, Haja Afsatu
Olayinka, who could not control her emotions, called on well meaning Nigerians
and organizations to support the victims who were in dire need of humanitarian
assistance. Ms. Olayinka noted that a center had been opened in Lagos where
people could donate cash and other relief items.
She
commended the efforts of the Nigerian government for responding swiftly towards
the plight of the victims. She noted that the Minister of Foreign Affairs,
Geoffrey Onyeama, personally led the fleet of aircraft that took relief
materials to Sierra Leone.
She
expressed her appreciation on the big brother attitude and gesture exhibited by
the country for coming to their aid despite the economic crisis being facing
the country.
“Sierra
Leone is still weeping. Why I singled out our host country is because they have
their own problems also, but in the midst of the recession and other problems
they are able to give in cash and in kind.
“This thing
has been happening and it has happened to us in a devastating and dramatic
manner. We have never witnessed this type of devastation before. We had floods,
and it was a period. We had Ebola, and it was a period. But this one in less
than six hours, whole communities and families were wiped out. It is really
sad. I have wept and this is the first time emotional tears are coming down my
eyes because you are not crying but are weeping emotionally,” Ms. Olayinka said.
Recall that
over 500 people are feared dead and 600 people are still missing after last
week’s mudslide on the outskirts of Sierra Leone's capital, Freetown. Rescue
officials have warned that the chances of finding survivors are decreasing each
day.
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