Journalists for Human Rights

Sierra Leoneans don’t have the same love affair with weather stories that Canadians do. Locals don’t gab about the extreme heat, torrential rains or heavy winds. Radio stations don’t report on it either. In Makeni, there’s no source for weather reports or forecasts.

But that doesn’t mean the weather isn’t newsworthy. As the rainy season heightens, downpours are almost daily occurrences. Just last week, Makeni was hit by the worst storm it has seen this year. Rain pounded homes, businesses and streets throughout the night. Winds whipped through the city, tearing up shoddy structures that pass as dwellings.

In the morning, the destruction was most apparent on Rogbaneh Road. Shops along the main business strip were severely damaged and millions of Leones in merchandise were destroyed. Business owners and city workers spent the better part of the day sifting through rubble and searching for anything that might be salvageable.

At 9 am, we received a call from a local reporter. “I have a big story,” said Amara Bangura. Thirty minutes later, we were on Rogbaneh Road with two reporters.

Joseph Bangura reports for Radio Mari:

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Sierra Leoneans don’t have the same love affair with weather stories that Canadians do. Locals don’t gab about the extreme heat, torrential rains or heavy winds. Radio stations don’t report on it either. In Makeni, there’s no source for weather reports or forecasts.

But that doesn’t mean the weather isn’t newsworthy. As the rainy season heightens, downpours are almost daily occurrences. Just last week, Makeni was hit by the worst storm it has seen this year. Rain pounded homes, businesses and streets throughout the night. Winds whipped through the city, tearing up shoddy structures that pass as dwellings.

In the morning, the destruction was most apparent on Rogbaneh Road. Shops along the main business strip were severely damaged and millions of Leones in merchandise were destroyed. Business owners and city workers spent the better part of the day sifting through rubble and searching for anything that might be salvageable.

At 9 am, we received a call from a local reporter. “I have a big story,” said Amara Bangura. Thirty minutes later, we were on Rogbaneh Road with two reporters.

Amara Bangura reports for Radio Mankeh:

Listen Now:

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