Sierra Leone – Fire destroys “Angola” slum in front of Don Bosco Fambul

07 December 2016

(ANS – Freetown) – On the evening of Thursday 1st December a fire outbreak completely destroyed “Angola Town”, a slum in front of Don Bosco Fambul. The slum served as a residence for 300 families and approximately 1500 people, most of them children and youngsters. Don Bosco Fambul – which stands just a street away from the slum – was saved thanks to the orientation of the wind and to the intervention of Mary Help of Christians.

by Fr Jorge Crisafulli SDB

Firemen attributed the fire to an electrical fault or an unattended fire. Strong winds and lack of access to the slums made it impossible for the firemen to stop the fire which destroyed the slum in just 2 hours. Don Bosco started immediately a humanitarian effort offering shelter, feeding and medical support to those affected by the fire.

At the moment 225 children, boys and girls, aged from 1 week to 17 years old and to 85 mothers, most of them lactating mothers and with toddlers have found a temporary home in Don Bosco Fambul. Five Salesians and 30 staff offer continuous care to the people.

The people of Sierra Leone have suffered already the consequences of a civil war and a terrible Ebola outbreak which killed many people and left hundreds of orphans. This new catastrophe puts a portion of its population to the test once again. This time again, with the help of God and Don Bosco, the people will “stand and walk” towards a future of hope.

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