Sierra Leone to have week-long mourning for mudslide victims, countries pledge support

FREETOWN, Aug. 16 — Starting on Wednesday, Sierra Leone will
have a week-long national mourning for hundreds of people killed in a
mudslide earlier this week as countries in Africa and elsewhere offer
assistance to the poverty-stricken West African country to cope with the
disaster.

The massive mudslide, which occurred Monday morning following heavy
rains, swept across a large area on the outskirts of Freetown, killing at
least 297 people, over a third of them children, according to the latest
update of casualties by the country’s Emergency Response Center. Some 200
people are still missing from the mudslide, the agency said. Information
from the Red Cross showed that at least 3,000 people became homeless as a
result of the disaster and the number could rise further. Sierra Leones
President Ernest Bai Koroma announced the decision to hold a seven-day
national mourning for the mudslide victims on Tuesday. According to a
statement from the Presidential Office, the national mourning will start on
Aug. 16 and last until Aug. 22, and during the period all flags would be
flown at half mast.

The general public is also requested to observe a minute of silence at
midday on Wednesday, the statement said. “The President has further decided
to invoke MAC-C (Military Aid to Civil Community) and to raise the national
security threat level to level 3 in direct response to the unfolding
emergency situation,” the statement said. The government also requests
bereaved families to continue to identify their fallen loved ones at the
Connaught Hospital Mortuary between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Wednesday at the
mortuary where they will be advised on the burial procedure, according to
the statement. It said that unidentified corpses will be given dignified
burial at Waterloo between Aug. 17 and Aug. 18. It added that the
government will continue to provide the public with regular updates on the
situation.

The total number of deaths reported at the Connaught Hospital is 297,
including 109 children, 83 women and 105 men, Cornnelius Deveaux, the
country’s deputy minister of information and communication, told the press
earlier Tuesday. Some 100 rescuers, including around 30 foreigners as
well as local officers and medical workers, were at the site conducting
rescue work, backed by five excavators, Wang Bo, a staff member of China
Railway Seventh Group who also took part in the rescue effort, told Xinhua
Tuesday. A Chinese medical team based in the country also participated in
the rescue effort.

In the wake of the disaster, one of the deadliest Africa has seen in
recent years, many countries have sent their condolences and promises of
assistance. Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari expressed condolence to
Koroma in a phone call from London, saying the hearts of Nigerians are with
the people of Sierra Leone in this tragic period, according to his
spokesperson. Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta also sent his condolences.
“Kenya and Sierra Leone are allies, partners and friends, so our thoughts
and prayers are with those whose lives were lost, and with all those who
were injured,” Kenyatta said in a statement. Kenyatta said the spirit of
African solidarity remains strong and has assured Koroma that Kenya will
provide any necessary assistance.

Meanwhile, the African Union (AU) has called for support from all
Africans and international partners to Sierra Leone, helping its public
health system respond to this disaster. “My thoughts and prayers go out to
the families who lost loved ones. The entire AU family stands united with
the people and government of Sierra Leone during this difficult time,” said
Moussa Faki Mahamat, chairperson of the AU Commission.China, a long-time
supporter of Africa, said it is ready to provide assistance to mudslide-hit
areas of Sierra Leone.Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying
told a press conference on Tuesday that the Chinese Embassy in Sierra Leone
has launched emergency procedures and is closely monitoring the situation.- XINHUA