By Kadijatu Bangura, Reporter, D.S
A delegation from the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs (MoGCA), led by Deputy Chief Director Mr. Charles Vandi, recently visited Koindu and surrounding communities to evaluate the impact of the ongoing Yenga border dispute between Sierra Leone and Guinea.
The mission included representatives from the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF), the Family Support Unit (FSU), Rainbo Initiative, and the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP). The focus was on understanding how the conflict is affecting women and children in the affected areas.
Communities such as Koindu and Sokoma are facing significant challenges. Women, who rely on cross-border markets, have been cut off from their sources of income, while children are unable to attend school due to insecurity. Many families have been displaced, living without proper shelter or basic household items. Concerns about safety, including reports of sexual harassment and abuse, were raised during discussions with affected groups.
Chief Tamba Nyuma of Yenga expressed gratitude for the food assistance provided by the government but highlighted the community’s dire circumstances. “We have rice, but no pots, no ingredients, and many of us don’t even have a place to sleep,” he stated.
Hon. Ing. Fallah Tengbeh, MP for Constituency 002, underscored the urgent need for food, shelter, and medical assistance. He called for a peaceful resolution to the border dispute and acknowledged the resilience of the communities, as well as the efforts of national security forces.
The mission made several recommendations, including increasing FSU presence in the region, providing trauma counseling for survivors, ensuring displaced children can return to school, and addressing immediate needs such as clean water, shelter, and medical care. Mr. Vandi urged a swift and effective response, emphasizing the necessity to focus on the most vulnerable. “Our collective response must address the immediate needs of the affected communities,” he said.
The situation in the region remains critical, with local communities calling for prompt action to alleviate the crisis stemming from the border dispute.
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