In the wake of torrential rainfall around the KMC municipality, residents of parts of Ebo Town are in tears crying out for immediate assistance due to the flood that has wreaked havoc on poor inhabitants recently.

Heavy rainfall has caused serious damages to homes and properties leaving some families temporarily homeless. Ebo Town road was recently constructed but the lack of a proper drainage system has hampered the free flow of rain and running water. Whenever heavy rains fall, the downpour settles and causes panic as residents keep transferring their belongings to where they thought was ‘safe’. Others prefer to stay to try bailing out the flood - water with containers.

The situation is about becoming a health trap. Refuse is dumped in the same vicinity and it is drained in the flood – waters. Poor residents remain in their houses waiting for the flood – waters to vanish “by God’s help”. Others cry that their belongings are destroyed and that they have nowhere to do their cooking.
Speaking to Point, Fatou Njie and Binta Camara lamented that they had never experienced such an embarrassment. They called on the authorities concerned to help the area with a proper drainage system to avert the pending catastrophe.

Fernard Sanyang, another victim still living in the flood–water area, expressed her disappointment in the situation they find themselves. The problem she said, was caused by the newly constructed road that has no drainage system along its sides. She further said that their fence had collapsed due to the flood; they expect their houses to fall if such rains continue. She said Pa Mboge her neighbour had been relocated due to the flood – waters.

Oumie Touray, wife of Lamin Darboe, in tears said that they were worried for their children and where to go to reside, when rents were so high. She called on Allah the Almighty to intervene and asked KMC and government to help them in time. She further said that her babies were suffering from malaria due to the dirty water in and out of their house.

Miss Yamundow Gomez, another resident of the area, said he forecasts this year’s flooding to be very dangerous, noting that this was just the beginning as the destruction has been enormous. She also blamed the flood on the poor road construction. “It is difficult to go out and to even walk around our area these days. Short distances have become longer.“ The situation will remain if no action is taken,” Ms Gomez said. One Kadijattou Sanyang also expressed a similar sentiment. She appealed to the authorities for a proper drainage system. She said there would be a setback to socio-economic development if proper  drainage systems are not put in place.

Fatou Lowe Mbye, one of the affected, blamed the flooding on the construction of the new road and the motorists would find it difficult to ply the route. She said that they are living in difficulties when Vision 2020 was near.

Muhammed Jallow and Lamin Jammeh of Ebo Town, both drivers, expressed their difficulties regarding the flooding road. They suggested the construction of big gutters, as the only proper and logical solution.
Anna Jobe and Ida Faal blamed the flooding on the huge dumpsite in their area which causes a major blockage for the running water.

With the rains, the refuse is filtered leaving a huge unwanted stench on the site. “These should be cleaned otherwise we stand vulnerable to cholera and other diseases,” they said.