Disaster Relief Program
The yearly flooding in Sierra Leone destroys all aspects of a communities well-being; their property, their health, their businesses, and their food sources. Rebuilding after each flood takes children from school as they are needed to help their families.
Each year floods upend thousands of lives in Sierra Leone.
The floods in 2015 left over 10 people dead and over 10,000 people homeless.
The floods in 2017 left over 1,000 people dead or missing in the rubble of mud and rocks.
Over 15,000 people were left homeless, with an estimated economic loss of over US $30 million in 2017 alone.
The UN SDGs identify Zero Poverty and Climate Action as key areas for ensuring long-term sustainable development.
However, at SHARP we believe that in order to achieve Zero Poverty we must first address the ongoing climate crisis that keeps communities trapped in a cycle of poverty.
This is the foundational guideline that drives SHARP’s mission; to prevent floods in Freetown from upending people’s lives.
The need for dry clothing, dry bedding, toiletries and food is overwhelming during the floods, and the impact usually lasts for many weeks. Floods sometimes occur multiple times during a week, which means that families are living in a constantly damp environment, increasing the risk of illness by 80%. If those immediate needs aren’t addressed, poverty is compounded through spreading of disease. Disaster relief is necessary, but is not a long-term solution.
