By Alieu Brima
Bo City, 8th April 2025 — The National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) has commenced a nationwide disaster relief operation targeting schools across Sierra Leone that have been damaged by recent fire outbreaks and windstorms, with a focus on restoring education services in the most affected regions.
This nationwide initiative, starting in the southeastern region and set to expand to the north and northwest in the coming days, marks the first phase of NDMA’s broader emergency response. The relief support prioritizes schools, aiming to ensure that students resume classes without prolonged disruption.
The NDMA is distributing building materials such as bundles of zinc, boxes of wire nails, and 3” and 4” roofing nails to assist in the reconstruction of damaged school infrastructure.
In Bo District, five schools received support: Roman Catholic Model Primary School, Saint Peter’s Primary School, Namyah Islamic Secondary School, Craftshare Technical Institute, and Government Secondary School Koyeima in Valunia Chiefdom. Each school was provided with ten bundles of zinc, ten packets each of 4” and 3” nails, and one box of wire nails.
The eastern region—comprising Kenema, Kailahun, and Kono Districts—was identified as the hardest hit and therefore received the largest share of relief materials. In Kenema, beneficiaries included Islamic Welfare Primary School, Pkalu Islamic Primary School, ETU Practicing School, National Islamic Primary School (Nikibu), SLMB Primary School, LBSS School (Panguma), Ahmadiyya Secondary School (Ngegbwema), and National Islamic Primary School (Bandawor).
Kailahun District saw aid delivered to Saint Peter’s Secondary School (Daru) and KDEC School (Panderu), while in Kono District, Assemblies of God Secondary School (Koidu) and UMC Primary School (Foakor) were also supported.
Paul Jengeh, Headmaster of Roman Catholic Model Primary School, expressed gratitude on behalf of the beneficiaries. “These materials will go a long way in helping us rebuild our school. We thank the government for this timely intervention and the establishment of NDMA to address such crises,” he said.
Member of Parliament Hon. Yusif Makieu, who also chairs the Parliamentary Committee on Environment, joined the NDMA team during the handover and personally contributed NLe 4,000 towards cement purchases for the Roman Catholic Model Primary School. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting citizens in times of need.
Paul Thomas, NDMA’s Director of Regional Affairs, encouraged stronger collaboration between schools and the Agency’s local disaster management structures, stating, “We’re not just delivering relief—we’re building resilience. We want schools to be safer and better prepared for future emergencies.”
Sinneh Mansaray, NDMA’s Director of Relief and Response, emphasized the Agency’s focus on long-term preparedness. He announced the upcoming distribution of a new disaster management teaching manual—developed with support from UNDP—which will be introduced across affected schools to improve students’ awareness of disaster response strategies.
In Moyamba District, SIC Primary School in Rotifunk and UMC Primary School in Pelawahun Village are scheduled to receive similar support. Methodist Primary School in Bonthe District is also on the list for assistance.
The NDMA reaffirmed its commitment to completing the ongoing relief operations in other regions next week and urged school authorities and communities to actively engage in preparedness efforts to mitigate future risks.
