So the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OHCA) issued an official update (I’ve bolded the key points):
According to government figures, a total of 493 victims have been buried. The bulk of funerals took place during the first four days following the landslide. Reports from various sources indicate that hundreds are still missing but this figure is by no means verified. Substantiated numbers remain scarce since households’ numbers per demolished unit is uncertain. Excavation of bodies to be discontinued and the area will be demarcated for a memorial.
Rain are continuing as expected at this time of the year but no further flooding or damage has been reported in the last 5 days. Further assessments to date have not suggested any specific risk of additional landslides.
ONS [Office of National Security] list 5905 individuals (1247 households) in five communities as being directly affected by flood or landslide affected areas, referring to the following categorization:
Survivors whose homes have been rendered either temporarily or permanently uninhabitable
Households who have lost income generating member(s)
Those injured because of disaster (all categories also include consideration for vulnerable groups)
There are three identified holding centres (IDPs sites) [internally displaced persons] in Regent, Kamayama and in town.
The most vulnerable areas are Regent and Kamayama, directly affected by the landslide, other areas mainly affected by flooding. The Sierra Leone Government has decided to relocate IDPs from Regent to a safer environment at Old School compound in Hill Valley (about 5km away). School start is delayed by one week to second week of September due to the emergency. Registration of people in disaster-prone areas needs to consider long-term planning as well.
There are challenges in coordinated reporting from the five Incident Coordination Centres [ICC] set up close to affected communities, however steps are taken by the Office of National Security [ONS] with support from UNDAC [United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination] and partners to address these. WFP [World Food Program] is supporting the Registration Pillar Lead Ministry of Social Welfare, Women Gender and Children’s Affairs to digitize beneficiary registration and verify registrants with support from local community leaders.
Overall the most urgent lifesaving needs are progressively being covered, in particular those related to essential household items, health and food aid. WASH [Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene] actions to prevent the contamination of water sources and prevention of epidemics are being undertaken.
Efforts should also focus on communities like Culvert who have not yet received some of the essential relief items. Support to the safe and dignified voluntary relocation of some IDPs to safer zones should also be a priority and should include the provision of essential services.
WFP has seconded a staff full-time to ONS [Office of National Security] Situation Room and UNDAC [United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination] has also two teams working hand in hand with them on the spot in field control centres and at the Situation Room.
IOM [International Organization for Migration] has deployed an information management expert to work with ONS on standardising registration and reporting from field Incident Control Centres (ICC). UK has also deployed two DFID [Department for International Development] staff working with the Government.
UNOPS [United Nations Office for Project Services] is doing mapping, surveys, satellite images and drone powered data as well as engineering advice, in close collaboration with the ONS [Office of National Security] and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). UNOPS handed over of 1,000 solar lanterns to the ICC’s and impacted households through ONS [Office of National Security] and WFP [World Food Programme]. WFP is providing trucks and light vehicles, tents and ICT support to the Government’s ICCs
The initial emergency phase of care for the wounded (over 200 so far), body recovery and safe and dignified burials is gradually shifting to a heightened surveillance and infection prevention and control phase. At least seven cholera kits have been made available by partners and the Government to cover potential needs for at least two months.
Public health risks exist from flooding of wells and latrines, proliferation of mosquitoes as well as water borne diseases. WHO [World Health Organization] is supporting MoH [Ministry of Health] for increased surveillance preparedness for malaria. Health pillar working to enhance cholera preparedness, including ongoing surveillance for acute watery diarrhoea. ONS [Office of National Security] briefings states that there have been a few cases of Diarrhoea but that no testing has come out positive for cholera.
WHO [World Health Organization] and Ministry of Health with support from a Spanish Police team are working closely with forensic team to do post mortem identification.
UNICEF [United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund] is continuing to provide infection prevention and control materials and essential medicines to the four main hospitals in Freetown. DFID [Department for International Development] has made available trauma kits to be supplied to emergency health facilities.
The need for psychosocial support has to some degree been addressed. ONS [Office of National Security] figures states that roughly 400 (mainly women and children) have received psychosocial support. UN Women has performed orientation on gender in humanitarian settings as referrals to interim care centres are on-going.
WFP and the Food & Nutrition pillar has completed distributions to about 75 % of identified households in areas affected by both landslides and flooding.
As of 22 August 2017, WFP has reached 1,908 households with food and nutrition support, expanding support to communities in Juba Bridge and Kanike (200 and 31 households, respectively). WFP also provided fortified complementary food to children 6-59 months at a shelter in Regent (200 children) and Kaningo (157 children). Planned food support to morgue and hospital workers is still pending.
WFP is working with NGO [non-governmental organizations] and private sector partners to determine complementarity between wet and dry food distributions at Regent, Kaningo and Kamayama. Welthungerhilfe, World Vision, the Sierra Leone Red Cross Society and other partners are providing cooking spaces and preparing wet food at shelters. WFP will work with these partners to support cooking of WFP rations at shelters, as well as preparation of condiments (e.g. leaf stew that typically accompanies rice).
The Water Resources Unit and partners are currently assessing WASH needs in the affected areas, to be concluded at the end of the week. UNICEF has supported Ministry of Health and Sanitation to set up a technical hub for coordination of WASH services at Juba barracks. Hygiene education is continuing at the two centres as well as in the communities that are within the vicinity of the centres. This will be scaled-up to reach more members of the community who have been directly affected by the flooding in both Kaningo and Regent
UNICEF continues to support the provision and delivery of water to the affected communities. In Kaningo, two 3,000 litre tanks and one 5,000 litre tank were provided. In Pentagon (part of Kamayama), one 6,000 litre bladder was established and 10,000 litres delivered to the existing water tank in Kamayama.
MSF [Doctors Without Borders] has installed 5,000 litres bladder in Regent and Kamayama communities and is currently mapping wels and sources at risk of contamination
In Regent, UNICEF through it implementing partners, has completed the renovation of existing toilets at the Saio temporary displacement centre, construction of two mobile latrines and two shower shelters, with each four rooms (two males and two females). 6,000 litres of water were also delivered.
In Pentagon, 6,000 litres of water were delivered, two mobile latrines, four hand washing stations and two shower rooms were constructed. Regular solid waste collection and disposal at the Pentagon school, including placing handwashing stations has also been completed. Construction of a rainwater harvesting system is now underway
As of 21 August, Street Child of Sierra Leone provided water and emergency Ready-To-Eat packages to 4398 people (1434 women, of which 202 pregnant, 325 lactating; 1922 children). Also 5 water points established (Regent, Kamayama, Kaningo, Calvert, and Dwarzack registrationg centres). Clothing distributed to 1615 people (478 children, 1137 adults).
Requirement to map at-risk wells and water sources along the river would be useful to support planning for chlorination to prevent contamination.
The regular supply of water to the two main temporary displacement centres by the Guma Valley Water Company is continuing.
World Vision SL supported 770 people at Pentagon with WASH intervention.
There is a need to determine number of households needing relocation from both long and short-term perspectives. Additional need to consult with and consider the needs for host families to identify hosting modalities. Shelter pillar currently considering duration of hosting as between 3-6 months for planning purposes.
Shelter pillar called by the National Commission for Social Action (NaCSA), are producing a policy address shelter needs, including the issue of people either still living in or considering returning to identified ‘at risk’ areas.
The UN in Sierra Leone has contacted UN HABITAT and UNEP [United Nations Environment Programme] in Nairobi to mobilise support for shelter and urban planning issues as well as a possible environmental impact assessment.
EDUCATION/CHILD PROTECTION
The Government has announced that the reopening of schools will be pushed back to 11 September 2017. Nevertheless, there is an urgent need to relocate those in temporary shelters in time to ensure the readiness of the schools that are being used as temporary displacement centres and provide supplies to the children that have been affected by the crisis.
The Communication pillar is headed by the Minister of Communication and includes representatives from the UN Country Team. Information Kiosk are to be set up at the ICC areas to assist in community engagement and better access to verified information and support community feedback. There is a distinct need for coordinated messaging addressing risks, diarrhoeal diseases, including cholera and malaria prevention.
ECOWAS [Economic Community of West African States ] (including WAHO [West African Health Organization]): $300,000 USD
Ghana team including Vice-President and NADMO [National Disaster Management Organisation] national coordinator have brought 10MT of relief items
Togo [Togolese Republic]: $500,000 USD
China: US$1million to the Government of Sierra Leone through its embassy in Freetown.
Spain: €60,000 EUR and deployed a technical team to help with body identification
EU: €300,000 EUR for vulnerable families affected by disaster (through local and international partners)
Ireland: €400,000 EUR for START fund (International NGOs)
Mercury International: $55,000 USD
Red Cross appeal 4.8m USD asked
Israel announced it will send medicine, clean water, and blankets via the embassy in Senegal.
Guinea and Nigeria also pledged support.
Morroco has send 66MT (tents, blankets, cholera kits). Transport by Royal Armed Forces
Switzerland has pledged $400 000 CHF [Swiss Franc] to IFCR [ Integrated Freight Corp] Appeal (WASH, primary health)
UK has dispatched a team from the British Geological Survey (BGS) that is assessing the risk of further landslides in the already-affected zone
Liberia has forwarded 20 vehicles, medical and food supplies.
Spanish Police Forensic team will be helping on identification of victims etc.
I know this has been super long but we are talking about trying to save human lives so please bear with the long post.
****Okay here’s the really fucking important part (PLEASE READ), how/where to donate:****
UNICEF USA [United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund ]
Concern Worldwide [international humanitarian organization dedicated to tackling poverty and suffering in the world’s poorest countries]
The International Rescue Committee [global humanitarian aid, relief, and development nongovernmental organization that responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives ]
Save the Children [international non-governmental organization that promotes children’s rights, provides relief and helps support children in developing countries]
Public Good [donations funded to multiple other active nonprofit relief efforts ]
ActionAid [international non-governmental organization whose primary aim is to work against poverty and injustice worldwide]
Global Giving [501©(3) non-profit organization based in the United States that provides a global crowdfunding platform for grassroots charitable projects]
There are of course other places/sources to donate to, but these are the ones that I know are reputable/legit.
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