By: – Alhaji Mohamed Wusha-Conteh
In a bid to assist Muslims of Sierra Leone go through the Month of Ramadan in peace and with the provision of food stuffs, Three (3) Humanitarian Organizations: Khalifa Bin Zayed Foundation, Red Crescent of UAE and Dubai Charity Association based in the United Arab Emirate has distributed 45 tons of food stuffs consisting of Rice, Cooking Oil and Sugar to the Muslim Population of Sierra Leone worth 150 Million Leones.
In his address, the Representative in the Embassy of the United Arab Emirate to Sierra Leone with residence in Senegal, Mohamed Turay expressed his heartfelt sympathy on behalf of the Ambassador and People of the United Arab Emirates, as Sierra Leone is going through one of the worst times in its history with the deadly Ebola Virus. He prayed that the Ebola Virus will soon be eradicated and called on the people to continue to adhere to the messages of the Health Authorities.
Mr. Turay disclosed that the food stuff will be distributed in the Western Area, Kenema, Kailahun and Kono in the Eastern Province in Sierra Leone. He thanked Sheikh Abu Bakarr Conteh, Sheikh Ishmail Koroma and Sheikh Abass Conteh for their support in distributing items sent judiciously to various Mosques, Institutions and the poor and needy people in the Western Area.
In his Address, Sheikh Abu Bakarr Conteh thanked the donors based in the United Arab Emirates for their usual assistance to the people of Sierra Leone as they observe the Month of Ramadan. He maintained that citizens are going through the fasting period in faith, as things are really hard for them as some don’t even have provision to go through the Month of Ramadan.
Sheikh Conteh cited several verses in the Holy Quran which stressed the importance of feeding fasting Muslims and prayed that Allah provide for the donors so that they will continue their humanitarian gesture in Sierra Leone as this is the fourth year they are giving out such generous assistance. He stressed that since the food distributed will not be enough to feed the entire population in the Western Area they usually rotate beneficiaries every year so that they will target the entire Mosques and Institutions in the Country.
In his Vote of thanks, Sheikh Musa Mansaray thanked the donors for their humanitarian assistance and prayed for them to continue their generous activities throughout the country. He maintained that the people of Sierra Leone are very grateful for their intervention as the Ebola Crisis has not only affected several sectors in the country, but has also affected the livelihood of the people.
Sheikh Mansaray also prayed for Allah’s provision for the donors so that they will triple their assistance in the country as it is badly needed. He thanked the representative of the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates, Mohamed Turay, for his sacrifice in coming to deliver the assistance sent by donors, for without his supervisory role, the country would not have benefitted from such a donation.
The ceremony ended with prayers for the donors by various Imams and was climaxed with the distribution of 580 – 25Kg bags of Rice, 580 One gallon oil and 580 – 5Kg Sackets of Sugar.
