Goto main content

Deadly mudslides in Freetown: Handicap International mobilises its teams

Emergency
Sierra Leone

Floods and landslides killed more than 300 people on Monday 14 August in Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone, following heavy rain across the country. Some 3,000 people have been made homeless. Handicap International is providing support to the most vulnerable individuals.

Deadly mudslides in Freetown | © Handicap International

At least 312 people were killed and hundreds reported missing, including many children, after floods and mudslides devastated 13 areas in and around Freetown last Monday.

Sierra Leone is one of the poorest countries in the world. Handicap International is currently providing assistance to local authorities overwhelmed by this unprecedented disaster. It immediately sent a team of ten people to help identify and record casualties; a separate five-person psychological unit is providing support to survivors and families of casualties.

Handicap International stands ready to strengthen its specific support for the most vulnerable people over the coming weeks by providing them with rehabilitation care and setting up psychosocial support programmes.

Since 1996, Handicap International has been working in Sierra Leone to promote the mainstream schooling of children with disabilities. In 2016, it played an active role in combating the Ebola epidemic, which killed some 4,000 people and infected nearly 15,000 others, by organising transport for patients to health centres.

Where your
support
helps

PRESS CONTACT

CANADA

Fatou Thiam

USA

Mica BEVINGTON

 

Help them
concretely

To go further

International humanitarian conference for the civilian population in Gaza 13 NGOs demand an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and Israel Emergency

International humanitarian conference for the civilian population in Gaza 13 NGOs demand an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and Israel

Today is the International Humanitarian Conference for the civilian population of Gaza, organized by France and 13 humanitarian, development and human rights organizations, reminding us of the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire to save human lives in Gaza, Israel and the West Bank.

HI provides support to affected populations after a new earthquake
© HI
Emergency

HI provides support to affected populations after a new earthquake

HI teams arrived in the worst-affected areas to assess needs and support local health services following the earthquake on November 3rd.

Humanitarian crisis in Gaza: Mitigating the catastrophic impact on persons with disabilities
© HI
Emergency

Humanitarian crisis in Gaza: Mitigating the catastrophic impact on persons with disabilities

HI publishes the report ‘Inclusive Humanitarian Action – Gaza’ on the need to strengthen inclusive humanitarian response in Gaza: Persons with disabilities are particularly affected by the devastating humanitarian crisis and face greater barriers to accessing humanitarian assistance than many others. HI, which specializes in supporting vulnerable people, including persons with disabilities, calls on humanitarian organizations and donors to adapt their activities to ensure that no person with disabilities is left behind in the Gaza Strip.