Buedu is a beautiful, sleepy little town located in a remote corner of Sierra Leone near the borders of Liberia and Guinea, but it is also the region where the current ebola outbreak began, in a village in Guinea about twenty miles from Buedu.
Andando has a long history with Buedu where, among other things, we set up a sustainable rice farming project with 168 families and supported a local school there. When we finished working in Buedu we left with the knowledge that the kids were learning and families were well on their way to self-sufficiency.
Ebola has changed everything in Buedu. Since May, the virus has been wreaking havoc in this isolated area of Sierra Leone. Schools are closed, crops have not been planted because of illness and now the community is facing severe food shortages. Buedu is not easy to get to under normal circumstances, but for the last four months the government has quarantined the area, only allowing emergency vehicles through.
We have been trying to get information for the last couple months and have only recently been able to understand better what is happening. We have a long-time partner who has informed us of the situation on the ground and the need for emergency food supplies.
Andando would like to send an emergency supply of food - mainly rice and oil - to this hard hit community. Through our contacts, we have arranged shipment and a fair distribution system. In order to accomplish this, we need your help. A 50kg bag of rice costs $40 including delivery costs, which are high because of the remoteness and difficulty of the terrain. Please consider donating for this project. There are multiple ways to donate through our website - any amount is welcome, just put "Buedu" in the notes. The goal for this effort is $5000. We know that this is not a long-term solution, but the seriousness of the situation demands a response.
You can also send a check to Andando at PO Box 542 Jefferson, OR 97352.
If you would like further info, email info@andando.org with ‘Buedu’ in the subject line.
Thank you for considering ‘walking together’ with the people of Buedu.