Between the crevasses and ruts of the abandoned Sambailo airfield, and the isolation of the populations of Koundara, there is just one step. But only MAF can take it, with your help.
Story by Joel Conté
“When emergency strikes and the roads are impassable, we feel forgotten,” said Konaté Bangaly, secretary general of the sub-prefecture of Sambailo. “To see your teams inspecting this runway is to see hope land here.”
It started with a gruelling road trip.
I travelled to Sambailo by road with an MAF team and representatives from Autorité Guinéenne de l'Aviation Civile and the Agence de la Navigation Aérienne. I’m Joël conté the Communications Officer for MAF in Guinea.
You can’t get any further north in Guinea than Sambailo. The journey from the capital of Conakry was more than 500 km, requiring a night stopover in the mountain town of Labé. The following day we reached our objective: the old Sambailo airfield.
For my job, I usually get to fly everywhere.
This inspection mission allowed me to experience the nuances that our partners explain to us in front of the cameras. It was more than 11 hours of driving on roads that were only partially sealed, dusty and degenerated.
Finding yourself having to travel this kind of distance in a health emergency does not give a glimmer of hope.
Speaking with Konaté gave me a glimpse into the difficulties that families here face.
“I am the father of four children,” he said. “I have spent my whole life in this sub-prefecture since the second republic. Since its closure the airstrip has been abandoned.
“The presence of organisations here can hardly be counted. For access to the best healthcare, we have to travel a distance of more than 250 km to Labé.”
Haja Rahajarijaona, Operations Manager for MAF in Guinea, understands the potential impact of an airstrip on isolated people. Having served with MAF for many years in his home nation of Madagascar, Haja has seen that the benefits of an airstrip far outweigh the challenges in bringing it up to safe standards
“The airfield is in a state that will require some work,” he said. “The presence of the facilities can still be seen – but their operating condition is unknown. The benefits for the locality are very important.
“Accessibility by air will give an opening to humanitarian and development organisations to shorten travel time and improve their service. It will accelerate the delivery of perishable products, such as vaccines. It will also ensure speed in an emergency, in the form of a medical transfer,” Haja added.
Rehabilitating the Sambailo airstrip will not merely be limited to the purchase of construction materials—it will buy time, safety and lives saved.
We are launching an appeal for solidarity.
Let’s transform this degraded runway into a real lifeline for the most vulnerable.
