West African countries offer aid to Sierra Leone, China donates $1m

Neighbouring West African countries have come to the aid of Sierra Leone

Neighbouring West African countries have come to the aid of Sierra Leone after a deadly mudslide on Monday swept away homes killing over 300 people, with over 2,000 displaced in the capital Freetown.

Togolese President Faure Gnassingbe and Chairperson of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) donated $500,000 to President Ernest Bai Koroma during his visit to the country on Thursday.

He expressed his country and the region’s sympathies to Sierra Leoneans and wished that the money could help in emergency response efforts.

Gnassingbe’s gesture was complemented by the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Marcel Alain De Souza, who donated $300,000 for food and medical aid on behalf of the regional body.

De Souza accompanied the Chairperson Faure Gnassingbe to Freetown.

Senegal and the Ivory Coast sent delegations to Freetown on Wednesday to express their condolences to President Ernest Bai Koroma.

Senegal donated $100,000 and the Ivory Coast gave a tonne and a half of medical supplies.

The Guinean President and African Union Chairperson Alpha Conde visited the country a day earlier to personally express his sympathies.