ENVIRONMENT-SIERRA LEONE: Government Threatens to Tear Down Shacks

By Lansana Fofana Reprint | | Print |

Lansana Fofana

FREETOWN, Apr 24 1998 (IPS) - The migration of thousands of Sierra Leoneans to the capital of Freetown during the six-year civil war is beginning to take an environmental toll on the city, environmental experts say.

“Close to a quarter of the country’s rural population migrated to the capital either for fear of rebel advance, or in search of jobs, as the countryside was laid waste by rebels of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF),” said environmentalist John Brima.

Freetown’s normally 500,000 population more than doubled and illegal shacks began springing up in run down suburbs of the city and on hilltops.

“These mirgants had to look for cheap settlements on the city’s fringes and naturally, the hillsides and slum areas were invaded and taken over,” Brima added.

According to environmental groups, the construction of sub- standard structures on hillsides in Freetown is one of the major causes of erosion and flooding in the city.

The civilian government of President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah, which is battling numerous problems since its returned to power in March, has issued a stern warning to residents as it seeks to tackle the capital’s environmental ills.

“The Ministry of Lands, Housing and the Environment is ordering members of the public, who are engaged in the construction of unauthorised structures in vulnerable sites to desist from such practices or face the law,” a broadcast on state radio earlier this week said.

“The clearing of vegetation on the hillsides and widespread felling of trees are posing serious threats to the landscape of Freetown. The public is therefore warned to heed this order,” the broadcast added.

More than a dozen areas in the capital have been identified and the illegal structures threatened with demolition. Some reports estimate that there are more than 500 structures around the city that will be demolished.

According to a city council official, residents who do not allow their shelters to be demolished can be arrested and charged under Section 18, Rule 28 of the Freetown Improvement Act.

A series of floods in parts of east Freetown last year led to at least 10 houses being washed away. Two people were killed and hundreds of others relocated to other parts of the capital city.

“Action must be taken now to avert problems like landslides and soil erosion,” said the Minister of Lands, Housing and Environment, Hafsatu Kabbah. A team from the ministry is moving throughout the city issuing demolition warnings to residents.

However, the government appears to have given little thought to what will happen to the people once their homes are destroyed.

Pa Komrabai Kamara has a four-bedroom shack. He told IPS that if he loses the ‘house’, he and his family of 10 would have no where to go. “We have lived here for over 10 years, scraping and pushing hard for survival. If they force us out of this place, then I would die.”

Environmental activists say that the government also should take strong action against people who cut down trees and set fire to Freetown’s vegetation.

“A huge part of our vegetation is gone and indiscriminate felling of trees for fuelwood purposes adds to the danger. The law of the land should be applied against these environment-unfriendly people,” said Joseph Tommy of the Sierra Leone Friends of the Environment.

Another group, Project Green Scenery, said it would soon embark on an afforestation exercise in the Freetown area. “We are doing this as part of a general community sensitisation programme, because we realise that this city is in great danger,” said Joe Rahall, chairman of the environmental organisation.