Caritas Freetown Uses Community Clean-Up to Reduce Flood Risks

Caritas Freetown has completed a three-day community and main street cleaning exercise aimed at reducing flood risks in selected areas of the Western Area.

The exercise took place from September 17 to 20, 2026, excluding September 18. It focused on community cleaning, the removal of obstructions from clogged drainage and public awareness of the connection between waste management and flood prevention.

Work in flood-prone communities

The activity formed part of Caritas Freetown’s project, titled Strengthening Community Flood Preparedness and Early Humanitarian Response for Vulnerable Communities and Households in Western Area Urban and Rural Districts. The project is funded by CAFOD and is being implemented in eight flood-prone communities.

Those communities are Culvert, Portee, Kroo Bay and Gray Bush in the Western Area Urban District, as well as Goderich-Crab Town, Levuma, Waterloo Bofla and Grafton in the Western Area Rural District.

Main street cleaning targeting clogged drainage was also carried out in Bassa Town, Campbell Town, Jui and Regent in the rural district. In the urban district, the areas covered included Wilberforce Street, Priscilla Street, Gabriel Street and the Salad Ground Market.

Focus on preparedness

Alimatu Turay, Project Officer at Caritas Freetown, said the organisation worked with the National Disaster Management Agency and Freetown City Council to train Community Disaster Management Committees in disaster preparedness and response.

Turay said a needs assessment in disaster-prone communities had identified blocked drainage as one factor contributing to flooding. She described the cleaning exercise as part of an effort to prepare communities before disasters occur rather than waiting to respond afterward.

“We’re doing this as a preparedness mechanism and not always reacting to disaster,” Turay said.

She also identified indiscriminate waste disposal as a major challenge and urged residents to recognise the role of proper waste management in protecting communities.

“Indiscriminate waste disposal poses a risk to our communities. People should understand that a healthy environment is a safe environment,” she said.

Calls for continued support

Gabriel John Hallowel, Deputy Disaster Officer at Freetown City Council, said community involvement was important because residents are often among those most affected by flooding. He described Caritas Freetown’s support as significant to the council’s flood mitigation work, particularly before and during the rainy season.

Hallowel also said Catholic Relief Services had supported the council with tricycles to help some communities remove household waste.

He called for continued cooperation between the council, non-governmental organisations and communities on waste management and flood risks.

“Beyond this exercise, we look forward to more coordination with other NGOs with similar initiatives and expect communities to take responsibility of waste management within their household and the community,” Hallowel said.

In Grafton, Community Disaster Management Committee volunteer Rachael Dumbuya said the exercise had contributed to reducing the community’s flood risk, while stressing that the area remained vulnerable and required further interventions.

Dumbuya said some drainage channels might need machinery to clear and deepen them, noting that water overflow sometimes contributes to flooding. She also raised concerns that structures constructed in waterways were increasing the community’s vulnerability.

She called for additional support, stronger community bylaws against indiscriminate waste disposal and police assistance with enforcement.