Sierra Leone 2001
11/07/2001

During September, RI traveled to the newly-disarmed district of Kono in Eastern Sierra Leone. Until May 2001, roughly 60% of Sierra Leone was under RUF control. This picture is illustrative of the levels of destruction present in former RUF-controlled areas. In Koidu, the capital of Kono, no buildings are intact and there are almost no social services available to people. These high levels of destruction make it difficult for NGOs to move into Kono to start programs. Despite the lack of social services and destruction, refugees from Guinea are returning in high numbers to Kono.