On Monday, 1st September 2025, Caritas Freetown’s Justice and Peace Commission, through the Resilience Building and Disaster Mitigation for Vulnerable Communities in Western Area Urban and Rural Project funded by Trócaire, provided Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance (MPCA) to 80 vulnerable households across six communities: Kroo Bay, Culvert, Levuma Beach, Wellington, Moyiba, and New England. Each household received Le 3,460 to strengthen their preparedness against future flooding.
This pilot initiative specifically targets flood-prone areas in the Western Urban and Rural districts, serving as a preventive measure. The cash support is intended to enable beneficiaries to repair or reinforce damaged homes, or, where necessary, relocate to safer ground, actions that can significantly reduce risks when flooding occurs.
Speaking on behalf of Caritas Freetown, Project Manager Sheriff L. Bah explained that the assistance was grounded in a thorough needs assessment. “The beneficiaries were registered, and those most at risk were selected through a vulnerability-based focus group discussion held with community stakeholders and household heads,” he noted. He further emphasized that a post-distribution monitoring survey will soon be conducted to assess how the cash was used and to gather feedback on beneficiaries’ satisfaction with the support provided.
One recipient, Kelvin Andrew Kebbie, a resident of Levuma Beach living with a disability, shared his experience. “I lost all my belongings, and part of my house was washed away by the floodwaters. It was very difficult for my family; we even had to sleep in a church because we had nowhere else to stay,” he recalled.
Expressing gratitude, he added, “I am very happy to receive this support. I will use the money to repair my home. I thank Trócaire and Caritas Freetown JPC for their intervention and promise to use it for its intended purpose.”
This intervention marks an important step in strengthening resilience among vulnerable households in disaster-prone areas. It underscores Caritas Freetown and Trócaire’s ongoing commitment to helping communities withstand the devastating impact of recurrent floods and fires in Sierra Leone.
