Churches appeal for $2.4 m to assist refugees

Action by Churches Together (ACT) launched on Tuesday a US $2.4 million appeal for post war-reconstruction and recovery programmes targeting Liberian refugees in Sierra Leone. The programmes include food security, animal husbandry, water and sanitation rehabilitation.

To be implemented by the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), the programmes target at least 4,000 families, provide livestock for income generation activities, construct water wells and latrines and train hygiene promoters.

UMCOR said under current conditions in Sierra Leone, food security would remain unstable in the eastern Koinadugu and Kailahun districts, because of poor availability and a rapid return of refugees.

A large number of Liberian refugees had recently returned to Sierra Leone to escape fighting in their own country. The UN High Commissioner Refugees and the Sierra Leone government, who started a census of refugees in the country in May, estimate that there are at least 55,000 refugees in the country. Most of them are Liberians.

"Sierra Leone is recovering from a decade of civil war," ACT said. "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...in post-war Sierra Leone, people are trying to rebuild their lives on the new foundations of peace and stability."

ACT said there was a dire lack of food, an absence of animal husbandry, little access to safe water points, and schools remain in ruins. "Initiatives have to be taken to address this situation if a future crisis of even greater magnitude is to be avoided. On of the most basic needs confronting the people of Sierra Leone is food security," ACT said.

Details can be found at: www.act-intl.org