By Marilyn Bangura
Since Sierra Leone recorded its first
case of COVID-19 on 31st March 2020, there has been a loss of
livelihoods because of the restrictions instituted by the Government on
movement through lockdowns and curfews. COVID-19 has affected a lot of people
and disabled beggars are not an exception.
“It was better because by then one
will meet someone for assistance and he/she will be willing to help. Now they
will tell you that things are very difficult for them also because of COVID-19.
Since the outbreak of Corona we do not get enough money as we beg on the
streets. I even went to a lawyer friend for him to assist me with a new
wheelchair but he told me to wait because he does not have enough money at the
moment,” Fatmata Kalokoh said.
She further noted that only a few
people with humanitarian feelings would assist them as they beg on the streets.
"I now get only about thirty
thousand Leones (le 30,000) a day, but before the Corona outbreak I use to get
between fifty thousand leones (Le 50,000) to one hundred thousand leones per
day (le 100,000)" said Fatmata.
Fatmata also said that their union is
not doing anything for them during this difficult time.
Hannah Kamara a blind beggar in the
central part of Freetown said that Since the COVID-19 outbreak, she has been
suffering in the street.
"I am a blind woman I cannot see;
I always sleep and stand here rain or shine to beg with my only daughter for our
living. We do not have anywhere to sleep, relating to food God sometimes
blesses us using kind people. We are suffering in the street because where I
was staying before we were not able to pay the rent so we have become
homeless," said Hannah.
She added that her husband is also
blind which makes it difficult for her family to survive. She said she prays
and asks the government to help the blind in the street even if it's to provide
a place for them to sleep, they will be happy.
Hannah confirmed that things were
better before the Corona outbreak but things are very difficult for some
members of the community. She continued
to plead with the government to provide shelter for them especially during this
rainy season.
She added that during the lockdown,
she thanked God because a lot of people came to their aid and supported them
with food and non-food items. She reiterated that their union for disabled
persons has not done anything for them that is why they are on street. She said
she heard that NASCA is giving money to business people and the disabled people
will be the next set of beneficiaries.
Mariama Bah is another disabled beggar
in the central part of Freetown, she stated that life has really not been good
for her since the emergence of COVID-19.
"Although it wasn't easy before
the pandemic, but it was much better compared to now. By then I was able to get
up to Le 20,000 a day but now it is very difficult for me to get even Le
5,000", Mariama said.
She added that it was better during
the lockdown because many people were giving support to them although she
didn't benefit from all of the donations.
She further accused their chairlady of squandering most of the donated
items.
Francis Buya is the Board Chairperson
at Concern for the Development of Disabled Women and Children he doubles as the
finance person at Sierra Leone Union on Disability Issue. In an interview he
stated that since the outbreak of Coronavirus in Sierra Leone there were
challenges with the COVID-19 messages including jingles, and advert that was
put out, because the disabled were left out
“The adverts and messages that were
coming from WHO, Ministry of Health and the Government had no information for
persons with disability as they are the most vulnerable people.” Buya said.
He added that Concern for the
Development for Disabled Women and Children, Sierra Leone Union on Disability
Issue, together with the Handicap Youth for Development Association came
together and developed a project and they submitted it to Handicap
International which they funded with One Hundred and Eighty Million Leones (le
180,000,000).
The amount he said was used for
sensitization and radio talk shows. He further noted that they made short
video's that were shared on social media with messages for Persons with
disability including the visually impaired. He also said that they made a
billboard that shows how blind people wash their hands and walking aids when
they go to public places. For those that are using wheelchairs. They also made
something for them on how they must wash their hands and the hand rim.
He said they also engaged government
through the Ministry of Social Welfare and the National Commission with Persons
with Disability to provide aid. In response NASCA gave support to persons with
disability during the lockdown because it very difficult for persons with
disability to provide food for themselves.
He stated that Concern for the
Development for Disabled Women and Children took a robust approach during the
pandemic because the abuse of disabled persons was on the increase. He added
that they did the sensitization in all the districts to tell people that even
though there was a lockdown that does not permit anyone to abuse the right of
the women or engage in any gender base violence.
He confirmed that those disabled
beggars are suffering because they find it difficult to provide for themselves
and even the ones that use to give them are complaining of hardship.
He concluded that humanitarian
organizations like Handicap International, Rainbow Center, and also some other
organizations came and provided support for them. World Bank through NaSCA also
provided cash transfers to some of the disabled in the street.
He concluded that they engaged NACSA
and WFP during and after the lockdown and even now they are still engaging them
to continue to provide support for the disabled community.
This story was put together with the support from Journalists for Human Rights (JHR) and the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) human rights fellowship.
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