Country
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone, a British former colony, is located on the West coast of Africa. It has an area of about 72,000 square kilometres. The population is just over 5 million but over 90% of the population is illiterate. The country is endowed with vast mineral resources, including diamonds. Sierra Leone is considered by the Human Development Index analysis as being the least developed in the world. In terms of its wealth, this is a contradictory situation, but it is a reality.
Map of Sierra Leone
The country suffered a horrific decade long civil war between 1991 and 2002, during the war local communities and even family members fought between each other. Sadly the war was not widely reported in the Western media and so many of the atrocities are only just emerging. More important it is only now that the West is waking up to the need for help in rebuilding communities.
One brutal feature of the war was the use of amputation as a weapon of fear and intimidation by both factions. Today this leaves hundreds of people trying to survive with only one arm or one leg. Many of the victims of these war crimes were innocent young men who were targeted in order to stop them fighting for the other side.
More information
- The BBC provides a more detailed profile of both the country and its recent history.
- Click here for a short video clip of the area near Maima village, Kono where many battles took place.
- An informative history of the Country is found at the web site: http://www.cryfreetown.org
- There is more information about rebuilding and reconciliation initiatives at: http://www.hopesierraleone.org
- Action for Children in conflict has initiatives to help many children affected by the war in Sierra Leone: http://www.actionchildren.org