Episcopal Relief and Development has contributed $100,000 to Action by Churches Together (ACT), an international alliance of churches and relief agencies, to provide humanitarian relief for people dealing with the devastating effects of civil war in Sierra Leone.

Ten years of civil war in Sierra Leone has severely weakened its physical infrastructure. The country is unable to provide citizens with basic local services. One third of the 4.5 million population is internally displaced, and more than 500,000 people have fled to neighboring Guinea and Liberia.

The situation has been exacerbated by recent fighting in Guinea, along the borders with Sierra Leone and Liberia, trapping more than 250,000 refugees in a war zone. As a result of the ongoing conflict, Sierra Leonean refugees in Guinea have become victims of persecution. To escape this persecution, refugees are fleeing back to their homeland where they have become targets of continuing violence.

Working in partnership with local ecumenical and faith-based organizations, ACT is sponsoring an urgent relief program to meet the immediate needs of returning refugees. Episcopal Relief and Development's contribution will support a collaboration between ACT and the Council of Churches in Sierra Leone to provide food, shelter, clothing, and medical care. It will also provide trauma counseling and agricultural recovery.