By Syl Johnson
Sierra Leone’s National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) has provided emergency relief to Nyapui School in Kenema City following a fire that damaged the school’s boarding facilities and displaced students, officials said on Friday.
The fire, which broke out on Feb. 3, destroyed the top floor of the school’s boarding home, disrupting accommodation for pupils at the all-boarding institution and causing what authorities described as significant distress among students.
NDMA officials said relief items including food supplies, mattresses and educational materials were delivered to the school on Feb. 5 as part of an initial emergency response.
The items were formally handed over to the school’s principal, Magdalene Belmoh, who thanked the agency for its swift intervention. She said the cause of the fire was still under investigation, but praised security personnel on duty at the time for rescuing students from the affected building.
Six female and two male security staff were on duty during the incident, Belmoh said, adding that community members, parents and NDMA’s Eastern Region team played a key role in the rescue efforts.
NDMA said an initial assessment showed that 15 students and one matron were affected by the fire. Four people were reported to have been rendered unconscious, while another four were later stabilised.
Paramount Chief of Nongowa Chiefdom, Chief Sadua Kapuwa, described the incident as a major setback for Kenema City and appealed for continued support to help the school recover, noting Nyapui School’s importance as one of the district’s leading girls’ institutions.
Kenema District Council Chairperson Francess Jambai, who also heads the district disaster management committee, urged residents to remain vigilant, warning that fire incidents often increase during the dry season.
Speaking on behalf of NDMA, Deputy Director General Suleiman B. Sowa said the agency acted quickly due to the seriousness of the incident and would mobilise additional assistance through partners. He said efforts were underway to support the restoration of the school ahead of upcoming examinations.
NDMA officials said follow-up support, including psychosocial services for affected students, would be coordinated through the agency’s regional office.
