Africa-Press – Sierra-Leone. Caritas Freetown, in collaboration with Spanish Catholic NGO Manos Unidas, has provided urgent humanitarian aid to victims of recent fire incidents affecting three communities in Freetown, such as Kroo Bay, Congo Town, and Black Hall Road.
A total of 106 households received essential relief items during a distribution exercise held at Caritas Freetown’s Kingtom headquarters.
Manos Unidas is a Catholic Church-based organization in Spain dedicated to fighting poverty and promoting development. The organization was originated from the campaign against Hunger, launched in 1959 by Catholic Action Women in Spain.
The aid package included both food and non-food items. Each household received a 50kg bag of rice, palm and vegetable oil, onions, salt, Maggi seasoning, and other basic food commodities. Non-food items distributed included soap, buckets, sanitary products, toothpaste, toothbrushes, batteries, and traditional cloths.
Caritas Freetown’s Programs Manager, Ishmeal Alfred Charles, acknowledged the delays caused by international banking processes but emphasized the timely nature of the support. He thanked Manos Unidas for its continued commitment to addressing the root causes of poverty and supporting sustainable development.
Local leaders, including Councillor Samuel Kamara of Freetown City Council, expressed appreciation for the intervention, describing it as a well-executed response to the needs of fire victims. The National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA), which partnered with Caritas for initial assessments, also commended the organization’s quick mobilization and coordination.
NDMA’s Director of Relief and Response, Sinneh Mansaray, highlighted that the joint assessment focused on identifying urgent needs across the affected communities. The relief assistance is estimated to benefit approximately 530–636 individuals, based on the average household size reported.
Beneficiaries, including fire survivor Kadiatu Fofanah from Kroo Bay, described the assistance as a source of renewed hope, noting that it was their first significant support since the disaster.
The initiative reflects Caritas Freetown’s broader mission to support vulnerable communities during emergencies and underscores the role of international partnerships in enhancing local disaster response capabilities.
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