Hundreds are dead and thousands more are missing after a mudslide in Sierra Leone. D.C. United's goalkeeper, Bill Hamid, is raising money to help those in need by auctioning off game-worn, autographed jerseys.
In this photo taken on Monday, Aug. 14, 2017 and provided by IFRC, Red Cross volunteers dig for survivors at the scene of heavy flooding and mudslides in Regent, just outside of Sierra Leone’s capital Freetown. The Red Cross estimates that 600 people are still missing as the death toll from massive mudslides in Sierra Leone’s capital is certain to rise. Authorities say more than 300 were killed in and around Freetown following heavy rains. Many victims were trapped under tons of mud as they slept. An official says the local mortuary is “overwhelmed with corpses.”
(IFRC via AP)
IFRC via AP
In this photo taken on Monday, Aug. 14, 2017 and provided by IFRC, Red Cross volunteers dig for survivors at the scene of heavy flooding and mudslides in Regent, just outside of Sierra Leone’s capital Freetown. The Red Cross estimates that 600 people are still missing as the death toll from massive mudslides in Sierra Leone’s capital is certain to rise. Authorities say more than 300 were killed in and around Freetown following heavy rains. Many victims were trapped under tons of mud as they slept. An official says the local mortuary is “overwhelmed with corpses.”
(IFRC via AP)
IFRC via AP
In this photo taken on Monday, Aug. 14, 2017 and provided by IFRC, Red Cross volunteers dig for survivors at the scene of heavy flooding and mudslides in Regent, just outside of Sierra Leone’s capital Freetown. The Red Cross estimates that 600 people are still missing as the death toll from massive mudslides in Sierra Leone’s capital is certain to rise. Authorities say more than 300 were killed in and around Freetown following heavy rains. Many victims were trapped under tons of mud as they slept. An official says the local mortuary is “overwhelmed with corpses.”
(IFRC via AP)
IFRC via AP
Rescue workers carry the body of a victim from the site of a mudslide in Regent, east of Freetown, Sierra Leone, Monday, Aug. 14, 2017. Mudslides and torrential flooding has killed many people in and around Sierra Leone’s capital early Monday following heavy rains, with many victims thought to be trapped in homes buried under tons of mud.
(AP Photo/ Manika Kamara)
AP Photo/ Manika Kamara
Rescue workers search for survivors and victims after a mudslide in Regent, east of Freetown, Sierra Leone, Monday, Aug. 14, 2017. Mudslides and torrential flooding has killed many people in and around Sierra Leone’s capital early Monday following heavy rains, with many victims thought to be trapped in homes buried under tons of mud.
(AP Photo/ Manika Kamara)
AP Photo/ Manika Kamara
In this image made available by Society 4 Climate Change Communication, Sierra Leone, mud and water cascades down the side on a hill in Freetown, Sierra Leone Monday Aug. 14, 2017. Mudslides after heavy rains and flooding killed scores of people in Sierra Leone’s capital on Monday.
(Society 4 Climate Change Communication via AP)
Society 4 Climate Change Communication via AP
In this image made available by Society 4 Climate Change Communication — Sierra Leone, people survey the damage after mudslides in Regent, east of Freetown, Sierra Leone, Monday Aug. 14, 2017. Mudslides after heavy rains and flooding killed scores of people in Sierra Leone’s capital on Monday.
(Society 4 Climate Change Communication via AP)
Society 4 Climate Change Communication via AP
Security forces take a rest after searching for bodies from the scene of heavy flooding and mudslides in Regent, just outside of Sierra Leone’s capital Freetown. Tuesday, Aug. 15 , 2017. Survivors of deadly mudslides in Sierra Leone’s capital are vividly describing the disaster as President Ernest Bai Koroma says the nation is in a “state of grief.”
(AP Photo/ Manika Kamara)
AP Photo/ Manika Kamara
In this Monday, Aug 14, 2017, photo, crowds gather outside the Connaught Hospital waiting for loved ones outside a mortuary in Freetown, Sierra Leone. Mudslides and torrential flooding killed more than 300 people in and around Sierra Leone’s capital early Monday following heavy rains, with many victims trapped in homes buried under tons of mud.
(Society 4 Climate Change Communication-Sierra Leone via AP)
Society 4 Climate Change Communication-Sierra Leone via AP
Volunteers prepare during a mass funeral for victims of heavy flooding and mudslides in Regent at a cemetery in Sierra Leone, Freetown, Thursday, Aug. 17 , 2017. The government has begun burying the 350 people killed earlier this week in mudslides in Sierra Leone’s capital, and it warned Thursday of new danger from a large crack that has opened on a mountainside where residents were told to evacuate.
(AP Photo/Kabba Kargbo )
AP Photo/Kabba Kargbo
Heavy equipment is used as rescue workers search for survivors and victims following a mudslide in Regent, east of Freetown, Sierra Leone, Monday, Aug. 14, 2017. Mudslides and torrential flooding has killed many people in and around Sierra Leone’s capital early Monday following heavy rains, with many victims thought to be trapped in homes buried under tons of mud.
(AP Photo/ Manika Kamara)
AP Photo/ Manika Kamara
Family members attend a mass funeral for victims of heavy flooding and mudslides in Regent at a cemetery in Sierra Leone, Freetown, Thursday, Aug. 17 , 2017. The government has begun burying the hundreds of people killed earlier this week in mudslides in Sierra Leone’s capital, and it warned Thursday of new danger from a large crack that has opened on a mountainside where residents were told to evacuate.
(AP Photo/ Manika Kamara)
AP Photo/ Manika Kamara
FILE — In this Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2017 file photo, volunteers stand at the scene of heavy flooding and mudslides in Regent, just outside of Sierra Leone’s capital Freetown. Churches across Sierra Leone held special services Sunday, Aug. 20 in memory of the more than 450 people who were killed in mudslides and flooding earlier this week.
(AP Photo/Kabba Kargbo, file)
AP Photo/Kabba Kargbo, file
FILE- In this Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2017 file photo, volunteers search for bodies from the scene of heavy flooding and mudslides in Regent, just outside of Sierra Leone’s capital Freetown. Survivors picking through the debris of Sierra Leone’s deadly mudslides are facing the reality that most, if not all, of the estimated 600 people missing are dead.
(AP Photo/ Manika Kamara, File)
AP Photo/ Manika Kamara, File
Volunteers prepare to bury coffins during a mass funeral for victims of heavy flooding and mudslides in Regent at a cemetery in Sierra Leone, Freetown, Thursday, Aug. 17, 2017. The government has begun burying the hundreds of people killed earlier this week in mudslides in Sierra Leone’s capital, and it warned Thursday of new danger from a large crack that has opened on a mountainside where residents were told to evacuate.
(AP Photo/Manika Kamara )
AP Photo/Manika Kamara
Volunteers bury coffins during a mass funeral for victims of heavy flooding and mudslides in Regent at a cemetery in Freetown, Sierra Leone, Thursday, Aug. 17, 2017. The government has begun burying the hundreds of people killed earlier this week in mudslides in Sierra Leone’s capital, and it warned Thursday of new danger from a large crack that has opened on a mountainside where residents were told to evacuate.
(AP Photo/Manika Kamara)
AP Photo/Manika Kamara
In this photo taken on Saturday, Aug. 19, 2017, children displaced by recent heavy floods and mudslides eat a meal in Freetown, Sierra Leone. More than a week after Sierra Leone’s deadly mudslides, charities are grappling with how to help hundreds of children who lost parents in the disaster. It’s particularly difficult in an impoverished West African country where an Ebola outbreak decimated many families just two years ago. Aid groups say they are on alert for child traffickers.
(AP Photo/ Manika Kamara)
AP Photo/ Manika Kamara
In this photo taken on Saturday, Aug. 19, 2017, children displaced by recently heavy floods and mudslides wait for food ration in Freetown, Sierra Leone. More than a week after Sierra Leone’s deadly mudslides, charities are grappling with how to help hundreds of children who lost parents in the disaster. It’s particularly difficult in an impoverished West African country where an Ebola outbreak decimated many families just two years ago. Aid groups say they are on alert for child traffickers.
(AP Photo/ Manika Kamara)
WASHINGTON — August has been a devastating month for floods, not just in the U.S. but around the world.
Flooding in West Africa led to massive a massive mudslide that devastate the region in and around Freetown, the capital city of Sierra Leone. The government has put the death toll at 450, though local leaders say more than 1,000 people could be dead. Thousands more have been displaced.
The devastation has had a major impact on D.C. United’s goalkeeper, Bill Hamid, whose parents emigrated from Sierra Leone to the U.S. and still has family living in the area.
“Seeing this affected my family from grandmother, to my aunts and uncles and cousins,” he said. “It makes me want to do something about it.”
Hamid is teaming up with D.C. United and Schools for Salone to help raise money by auctioning off game-worn, autographed jersey and will match dollar-for-dollar all funds raised through the auction up to $2,000 for those in need.
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“Schools for Salone is a nonprofit I’ve worked with throughout the years and is currently on the ground in Sierra Leone providing water filtration systems, food and emergency supplies,” Hamid said. “Any help you can give to help the people of this country would be greatly appreciated.”
You can find the jerseys being auctioned off on D.C. United’s website.
