At least 195 people from 13 families at Dasilami and Jiramban Villages in Foni Kansala District, Western Region, were rendered homeless after a heavy storm devastated houses in these villages.

No human casualty was reported. But the storm, which struck on Sunday, left buildings and properties in ruins.

Lamin Fatty, the branch officer of Western Region Red Cross Branch, said four of the affected families have been relocated to their neighbouring families, while others were, until the time of going to press, living in the ruins of their storm-hit houses.

Meanwhile, joint-efforts by the Western Region Red Cross Branch, the Disaster Management Committee of the region and  the Brikama Area Council, has paid dividend, as food supplies, mattresses, bed sheets and bed nets have been delivered to the displaced. The victims were also provided with roofing materials such as corrugated iron sheets and nails, to enable them normalise their condition. But it is not clear whether the supplies could adequately restore the condition of the displaced victims.

Buba Darboe, the Western Region Disaster Management coordinator, has expressed sympathy for the affected families and called on individuals, companies and government departments to render prompt assistance to the affected families, as some of them are currently displaced and the rain season is fastly looming.

Sereign Modou Joof, the public relations officer of the Brikama Area Council, who is the secretary-general of Western Region Disaster Management Committee, expressed similar sentiments.  He said the assistance to the victims was an obligation and he jexpressed hope that more help reach their doorsteps.