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 last official population of 1985 census of 4.5 million is still being quoted.
The country is endowed with vast mineral resources, a small educated, population but hard working. 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. Over 90% of the population is illiterate.
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.
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
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. Action for Children in conflict has initiatives
to help many children affected by the war in Sierra Leone: http://www.actionchildren.org