2003 Press Releases

The People of the United States of America Contribute Over $272 Million USD to the People of Sierra Leone in 2003

July 15, 2003

Freetown, Sierra Leone

Through their government, the people of the United States of America are contributing over $272 million USD to Sierra Leone’s recovery during the current fiscal year.  Of this amount, $209 million funds school and hospital construction, police training, humanitarian assistance, economic development projects and UN peacekeeping operations.   The remaining $63 million was contributed in the form of debt relief. 

A significant portion of the American contribution to Sierra Leone's recovery is devoted to enhancing stability and long-term prospects for peaceful development.  Specifically, in fiscal year 2003, the US Congress appropriated $144,850,000 to support the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL).  That is in addition to the $516 million the US Government had already invested in UNAMSIL as of January 1, 2003.  Five million U.S. dollars in funding supports the work of the Special Court, which will have received a total of $15 million by the end of this year.  Five hundred thousand dollars was contributed to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC).  Additional grants to the TRC may soon be made available.  

The US Government’s contribution to Sierra Leone's recovery is not charity.  Rather, it is intended as an investment in people of Sierra Leone who are prepared to exert effort to improve their country and to make a better future for themselves and their children.  We are proud to be a partner in that effort.   This partnership involves the entire US Mission (Embassy) to Sierra Leone. 

The US Agency for International Development (USAID) operates three different divisions out of the Embassy dealing with development, humanitarian assistance, and food relief.  USAID is contributing over $34 million to Sierra Leone in fiscal year 2003.  This money was used to build schools; rehabilitate health, water and sanitation services; feed refugees, returnees, and malnourished children; give food to workers on rural roads or who rebuild villages, provide food to farmers during the hungry season while they are working their farms; reunite families; reintegrate former child soldiers; assist market women to improve their businesses; improve management of and increase societal benefits from the diamond mining sector and many similar projects. 

USAID accomplishes much of its work by funding worthy NGO projects.  If you enjoy radio programming from Talking Drum Studios, you should know they are partially funded by USAID.  If your family benefits from skills training or attends classes in a school built by the Christian Children’s Fund (CCF), you should know that USAID funds that as well.  Other well known NGOs who receive support from USAID are Action Contre la Faim, Africare, CARE, Catholic Relief Service, Center for Victims of Torture, International Human Rights Law Group, UMCOR, International Medical Corps, International Rescue Committee, Management Systems International, Merlin, National Democratic Institute, Premiere Urgence, Tearfund, and World Vision International.

The US Government also supports important police and military training in Sierra Leone.   The US Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) trains Sierra Leonean police force personnel through a program managed by the Embassy’s Security Officer.  The Embassy has also sent Sierra Leone Police officials to attend international conferences and specialized trainings on topics such as financial crime and trafficking in persons. 

Likewise, the Embassy’s Defense Attaché runs military readiness initiatives, including HIV/AIDS prevention for Sierra Leone’s armed forces and advanced military training courses.  The Defense Attaché Office also organizes seminars for military and civilian leaders aimed at improving civil-military relations in Sierra Leone.  Three U.S. military personnel participate in the UK-led International Military Advisory & Training Team.  The Defense Attaché Office also funds humanitarian projects such as construction of clinics, schools and other infrastructure.  

Helicopters under contract to the US Government fly frequent support missions for the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) and the Sierra Leone Police, as well as humanitarian relief and economic development assistance missions.  Military logistics and infrastructure experts, Pacific Architects and Engineers (PAE), are completely funded by the US Government in their mission to support the RSLAF and Sierra Leone's regional allies.  In total, these programs cost the US Government $7 million in FY 2003.

The Embassy’s political, economic and public affairs sections also manage  funding for democracy and economic capacity building programs, as well as educational and cultural exchanges.   US Government-sponsored projects in Sierra Leone are wide ranging.  They include the Ambassador’s Self-Help Fund, the Democracy and Human Rights Fund, the International Visitors Program, Fulbright and Humphrey Scholars, and many others. 

Through the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, over $6,500,000 were disbursed for the care of refugees and returnees in Sierra Leone.  This money was given directly to our NGO partners in Sierra Leone to assist Sierra Leoneans that returned home after the war, and to care for Liberian refugees in camps in Sierra Leone.  This amount is in addition to the United States Government's generous contributions to the UN High Commission for Refugees. 

None of these figures include the substantial monetary value of US private sector contributions to Sierra Leone during this year or past years.  It is a testament to the goodwill American citizens feel towards the people of Sierra Leone that they give so generously as private citizens.  Many of the American non-governmental organizations operating in Sierra Leone are largely funded by private, voluntary contributions by ordinary American citizens who wish to express their solidarity with the people of Sierra Leone as they struggle to rebuild the country.

What conditions are attached to this official and private assistance from the people of the United States to the people of Sierra Leone?  Americans expect that their contributions will assist Sierra Leone to build a peaceful and prosperous democracy. Sierra Leoneans may be confident that they will have a faithful partner in the American people provided only that American contributions are utilized to build a society committed to equality of opportunity for all of its citizens, a society which does not permit corruption to destroy its potential as has been so common in the past.