Donor team says needs are "enormous"

A delegation of donors from 12 counties ended a week-long mission to Sierra Leone on Friday declaring that although peace had come, the problems and needs facing the country were "enormous," the UN Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) reported.

Addressing journalists in the capital Freetown, a representative from The Netherlands said he had been "shocked" by the amount of devastation and huge humanitarian needs in the areas the team visited, adding that the international community would continue to support Sierra Leone.

Alan Doss, the Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Governance and Stabilisation, told reporters that the response from donors was "extremely positive," as Sierra Leone moved from emergency relief to the reconstruction phase, UNAMSIL reported. The purpose of the visit, Doss said, was not to make financial pledges but to discuss with the government the prospects and priorities for reintegration and recovery.

During their stay, the representatives toured the districts of Kono and Kailahun in the east, Kambia in the north, and Pujehun in the south of Sierra Leone. They met with government and UNAMSIL officials and represenatives of national and international NGOs.

The team was made up of representatives from Canada, Germany, The Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States, the European Union and the European Commission Humanitarian Office.