Team Europe Solidarity in Action in Sierra Leone
Team Europe Solidarity in Action in Sierra Leone
A tragic fire incident took place in Freetown on 5 November 2021, due to an accident involving a fuel tanker and subsequent explosion, sadly resulting in 151 persons deceased and 35 persons injured and admitted in hospital, some of them in critical condition, as reported by the Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MoHS) of Sierra Leone.
Team Europe mobilised resources in response to Sierra Leone’s request for medical assistance, providing medical personnel and equipment in support of victims.
On 6 November, the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM) was activated following a request by the World Health Organization (WHO) for specialized teams on burn care treatments. On 7 November, an additional list of needs for medical equipment was received by the Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC) in Brussels from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sierra Leone via the EU Delegation in Freetown. The lists of needs were updated based on information provided by the MoHS and immediately shared with the 27 EU Member States and 6 Participating States at the UCPM through the ERCC. The EU Delegation supported communication between the ERCC and the 5/11 Coordination Centre activated by the MoHS, including coordination for the reception of donations.
Italy deployed a medical team of burn specialists between 12 November and 4 December, in 3 shifts, including 6 plastic surgeons, 5 anaesthesiologists and 5 civil protection officers. The Italian team was assigned to the Goderich Emergency hospital and also supported Choitram hospital in Freetown. The EU Delegation assisted the team to organise the first meetings and some logistics. Norway delivered kits for surgery on 16 November. Belgium delivered Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and medical material (gloves, masks, medicines) on 18 November. Austria delivered PPE (masks, gloves, aprons, and disinfectant) between 28 and 30 November.
The ERCC deployed a Liaison Officer to the field, who supported the national authorities, coordinated with WHO, the EU Delegation and other stakeholders, and facilitated the deployment of the Italian medical teams and the arrival of the EU assistance between 12 and 26 November.
The Head of the EU Delegation, Ambassador Manuel Müller, together with Sierra Leonean authorities, received at the airport the Italian medical team, as well as medical equipment delivered under the UCPM.
In addition, as Team Europe assistance channelled bilaterally, France provided emergency funds of € 150,000 to support victims through the NGO Humanity & Inclusion, including rehabilitation care for burn victims, psychosocial activities and training of health staff. Ireland provided € 100,000 through the Irish NGO Concern to support health needs of the injured, including nutrition support to inpatients and outpatients, health care for patients with lower category burns to mitigate risk of worsening conditions, support to families of the deceased, and a workshop with stakeholders in the disaster response. Germany is strongly supporting the Health Sector in Sierra Leone, and implementing the bilateral project “Health Systems Strengthening and Epidemic Prevention in Sierra Leone”.
On 3 December, the Minister of Health and Sanitation Dr. Austin Hinga Demby, the Chargé d’Affaires a. i. of the EU Delegation Juan Antonio Frutos and the Care Manager of the Connaught Hospital Dr. Mustapha Kabba expressed their recognition and gratitude to the efforts of Sierra Leonean and foreign health workers (from Italy, Senegal, Liberia and USA) in support of the victims, and to all countries that responded to Sierra Leone’s request for medical assistance.
