GIGS appeals for humanitarian support for Sierra Leone

The Ghana Institute of Governance and Security (GIGS) is appealing to Ghanaians to help support mudslide victims in neighbouring West Africa nation, Sierra Leone.

Early on Monday, August 14, 2017, Sierra Leone was hard hit with heavy rain where homes in the hilltop community of Regent were covered after part of Sugar Loaf mountain caved in.

According to the BBC, many victims were asleep in bed when the disaster struck.

About 400 people have been reported dead with an estimated 600 people still missing in the disaster that has rendered more than 3,000 people homeless.

The situation in the West African nation has been described as a humanitarian emergency.

The Executive Director of GIGS, David Agbee, who is troubled by mishap in Sierra Leone in a statement released on Thursday, said: “this is the time for African States, especially, those in the ECOWAS region to stand with Sierra Leone in this difficult moment.”

“This is too much for a country to bear,” he added.

He, therefore, wants Ghanaians and the international community to give a helping hand by donating relief items through the government to support “our brothers and sisters in Sierra Leone to reduce their pain.”

“It is our fervent believe that such humanitarian support will go a long way to protect the lives of the survivors of the mudslide and the victims of the flooding. Ghanaians and West Africans in general have a duty to respond to the SOS distress call by Sierra Leonean President Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma, for help from outside to overcome the effect of the devastating national disaster.”