However, many areas remain devastated by the war - schools, hospitals, health centres, water, sanitation, roads, education and agriculture were all badly affected by the conflict - and the 70,000 former combatants have added to the numbers of young people seeking employment.
Many people are living as refugees in neighbouring countries, or remain displaced within Sierra Leone. Many have war wounds, and women and children suffered from widespread violence, rape and amputation. Though Sierra Leone is rich in natural resources, poverty remains a huge problem.
ActionAid in Sierra Leone
ActionAid began working in Sierra Leone in 1988 and now works with 158,000 people.
We are working with national and international agencies to help people rebuild their lives and livelihoods. This includes building homes, providing skills training and creating employment for former soldiers.
ActionAid Sierra Leone supports the basic needs and rights of poor people. We work to improve their access to services and lobby government and others to change the policies and practices that affect their lives.
Sixteen-year-old Fatmata Amara was a third-grade high school student when she was forced into prostitution to survive.
Fatmata is now a member of a women's vegetable garden which helps displaced and local families to produce sufficient rice and vegetables to last throughout the year and to develop a seed bank.
"My group was supported by ActionAid with vegetable seeds and work tools. With the money I earn from selling the produce I can now feed myself without having to go back to prostitution," Fatmata said.
Essential Stats
| Sierra Leone | Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 6.04 million (2009) | 21.5 million (2009) |
| Area | 71,740 km2 | 7,703,581 km2 |
| Gross Domestic Product (GDP) | $2.7 billion (2009) | $970.6 billion (2009) |
| GDP per capita | $447 (2009) | $44,598 (2009) |
| Human Development Index | 0.336 (2009) | 0.965 (2009) |
| Life Expectancy (male/female) | 41/44 (2005-2010) | 79/84 (2005-2010) |
| Adult Literacy % | 34.8 (1995-2005) | 99 (1995-2005) |
SOURCES: IMF, UN Data, HDI, UN Statistics
