Caritas, Manos Unidas Deliver Hope After Fires

Freetown, August 6, 2025 – In a compassionate response to recent fire disasters in Freetown, Caritas Freetown, with critical support from Spanish Catholic NGO Manos Unidas, has delivered emergency relief to over 100 affected households across Kroo Bay, Congo Town, and Black Hall Road.

The relief distribution, held at the Caritas Freetown headquarters in Kingtom, targeted 106 fire victims, providing each with both essential food and non-food items. Food packages included a 50kg bag of rice, one gallon each of vegetable and palm oil, onions, seasoning cubes, and salt. Non-food relief items included a rubber bucket, laundry and scented soap, a lappa (traditional garment), sanitary pads, batteries, toothpaste, and toothbrushes.

Ishmeal Alfred Charles, Programs Manager at Caritas Freetown, acknowledged the challenges leading to a delayed start of the ceremony, citing logistical issues and international banking hurdles.

We were supposed to begin at 10 a.m. sharp, but due to the rain and some unexpected logistical delays, we started an hour later,” Charles said. “We understand the pain of losing everything, and while this support cannot replace all that was lost, we hope it brings some comfort and dignity.”

Charles went on to explain that the aid was specifically intended for recent fire victims in the three communities and expressed deep appreciation for the long-standing partnership with Manos Unidas.

Manos Unidas is a Catholic organization based in Spain that has been fighting hunger, poverty, and injustice since 1959. They focus on addressing the root causes of suffering through sustainable and dignified development,” he explained.

Councillor Samuel Kamara of the Freetown City Council also praised Caritas for consistently standing with disaster-affected communities:

Even when the council lacks the means to respond, we can always count on Caritas,” Kamara said. “Some people may doubt when data is collected after a disaster, but Caritas has shown they follow through. I’ll be reporting to the Mayor that this was a well-coordinated and timely response.”

Among the recipients was Kadiatu Fofanah, a resident of Kroo Bay, who lost everything in the fire:

I had just stepped out for my small business when I got the news,” she said tearfully. “By the time I returned, my entire home was gone. This package is the first real help I’ve received. God bless Caritas and Manos Unidas for remembering us.”

The event also drew the attention of the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA), whose Director of Relief and Response, Sinneh Mansaray, praised the ongoing partnership with Caritas:

Caritas is one of our key implementing partners in the Western Area. Their consistent and timely support, backed by an international network, is why we collaborate with them on joint needs assessments during disasters.”

Mansaray noted that the 106 supported households represent an estimated 500 to 600 individuals in need of immediate support.

This intervention underscores Caritas Freetown’s vital role in emergency response and highlights the importance of strong local-international collaborations in addressing humanitarian crises across Sierra Leone.