European Union provides €175,000 in emergency aid for Sierra Leone floods

The European Union has announced €175,000 in emergency humanitarian funding to assist victims of severe flooding in Sierra Leone. The grant will be distributed through the Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

The funds will be managed by the Sierra Leone Red Cross Society to provide relief to approximately 5,100 people across 27 affected communities. Planned interventions include multipurpose cash transfers, emergency shelter materials, health support, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services to mitigate the risk of waterborne diseases.

Heavy rainfall in August caused significant destruction in Freetown and the Western Area Urban District, marking the region’s worst flood emergency since 2022. Reported impacts include the loss of life, displacement, and the destruction or damage of over 700 homes. Authorities warned that the ongoing rainy season maintains a high risk of further flash floods, landslides, and erosion.