Sierra Leone Emergency
About UMCOR Response News.
Sierra Leone is recovering from a decade of civil war, which officially came to an end in January 2002. The war caused almost half of the population to flee their homes at some stage, either to become refugees in one of the neighbouring countries or to become internally displaced people (IDP). It is difficult to estimate how many lives were claimed by the war, but it is evident that it caused serious suffering for the majority of the population. Most people suffered from a loss of home and property, displacement, or human rights abuses, such as forced recruitment, torture, amputations, sexual abuse, etc. Sierra Leone's infrastructure was destroyed and neglected, the Government's authority was severely limited, and the economy collapsed. Presently, in post-war Sierra Leone, people are trying to rebuild their lives on the new foundations of peace and stability.
The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) is responding to continuing emergency in Sierra Leone. One hundred percent of every gift designated for "Sierra Leone Emergency," Advance #181205 will be used in the relief efforts. The generous giving of United Methodists to the One Great Hour of Sharing supplements the cost of Advance gifts. Give through a local United Methodist church or send financial contributions to: UMCOR, 475 Riverside Dr., Room 330, New York, NY 10115. Call 1-800-554-8583 to make a credit card donation.
The photograph of the refugee family was taken by Rainer Lang, ACT, October 2000.
Onsite and Partner News
News Archives 2001
- Suffering: A Harsh Daily Reality in Guinea Refugee Camps, ACT, November 2001.
- The Ravages of War and Challenges of Recovery in Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, UMCOR Inasmuch Update, Fall 2001.
- Diamonds Fund Cycle of Violence in Africa, UMCOR Advance Story of the Month, August 2001.
- UMCOR Hotline, May 18, 2001 (Clean Diamonds Act).
- Prayers of Peace for Sierra Leone by Christie House, New World Outlook, January-February 2001.
News Archives 2000
- Sierra Leone Clerics Ask U.N. to Help End 'Root Cause' of War, UMNS, November 15, 2000.
- I Had to Run for My Life by Rainer Lang, ACT, October 27, 2000.
- Christian and Muslim Search for Peace in Sierra Leone by Marcia Winter, October 26, 2000.
- UMCOR Hotline, September 22, 2000
Includes Letter from Bishop Humper of The United Methodist Church in Sierra Leone requesting financial assistance to repatriate refugees and provide them with food and other essential supplies.
- Bishop Joseph Humper of Sierra Leone Expresses Gratitude to United Methodists Worldwide, by Mulegwa Zihindula, July 17, 2000.
- Sierra Leone: Cutting the link between diamonds and guns, Amnesty International, May 31, 2000.
- Illegal diamond trade funds war in Sierra Leone UMNS, April 19, 2000.
- The United Methodist Church in Sierra Leone by Alma Graham, GBGM, March 10, 2000.
- Sierra Leoneans Describe Horrors of War, UMNS, March 7, 2000.
- School Kits for Sierra Leone: Stories with Photos, GBGM, March 7, 2000.
- UMCOR Supplies Leave for Sierra Leone, UMNS, March 23, 1999.
- Interreligious Community Advocates for Peace in Sierra Leone by Wendy Pomeroy, February 23, 1999.
- Statement by Interreligious Council Council of Sierra Leone, February 9, 1999.
- See Also: GBGM Sierra Leone News Archives 1997-2000.
Top
Offsite News
- Bush Targets Illicit Diamonds, BBC, April 26, 2003.
- Aid agencies help to rid child soldiers of war's scars,
The Christian Science Monitor, October 30, 2001.
- War in Sierra Leone Loosens Its Grip on Child Soldiers, New York Times, May 26, 2001.
- Sierra Leone: Ten Years of Terror, BBC, March 23, 2001.
- Sierra Leone: Hope Against All Odds, ACT, November 2000.
- Life is Short in Sierra Leone, BBC, June 5, 2000.
- Diamonds: A Rebel's Best Friend, BBC, May 15, 2000.
- Cleaning up the Diamond Badlands, BBC, May 5, 2000.
- A War Against Women, Washington Post, April 11, 2000.
- Anger Still Fires the Hell That Was, New York Times, March 31, 2000.
- Faith's Unbreakable Force (Interreligious Council), Christian Science Monitor, December 23, 1999.
Ongoing News
- Africa News: Sierra Leone.
- Sierra Leone News.
- Yahoo! Full Coverage: Sierra Leone.
- Relief Web, United Nations, Sierra Leone
ReliefWeb is a project of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). When a disaster strikes, it features news from UMCOR and other relief agencies.
Photos and Maps
History and Background
