RESEARCH ESSAY

Case study: Sierra Leone’s Civil War

How does humanitarian relief or aide help on Civil War’s or any disturbances arising
from each country? How does it contribute to the betterment of each person, citizen, human on
that specific place? First of all, humanitarian relief and/or aide are the ones that helps improve
the welfare of each person in ways and processes such as providing food aid, education,
healthcare or protection. These such aides are provided in forms of in-kind goods or assistance
and cash or funds that constitutes 6% if total humanitarian spending.
Discussing about the civil war or the ongoing issue of Sierra Leone. Since Sierra Leone
has a massive diamond reserve, this became the root of the Civil War that is happening to that
location. The competition for seizing control of the diamond-producing region has been a huge
conflict. Although the diamond reserves were the root of this conflict, it is also stated the fact
that there was a hint of unequal benefits that occurs from diamond extraction wherein there
happens to be an economic inequality that led to frustration among the people or the population
that were not included from the benefits it brews. The government also played a huge role in
making the matters worse as they encourage smuggling for the reason that there was no proper
collection of tax from the diamond sector. The Government Diamond Office or the GDO was at
fault in this situation for the reason that they are the ones assigned to increase tax revenues that
were necessary for strengthening the civil sectors that also includes the army.
With all of what stated and discussed in regards with the Civil War happening inside
Sierra Leone caused a major upset in terms with the economy. Based on the humanitarian
situation report of the Sierra Leone these are some of the acts to maintain its peace and welfare:
The UN Security Council established a peacekeeping force called the UNAMSIL for Sierra
Leone that further help maintain the peace and protection to the citizen who leaves there. It was
mentioned also on the report provided that there are urgent and critical areas in need of funds,
assistance and attention such as the rehabilitations of water and sanitation facilities, rehabilitation
and support to the health sector which is crucial since there is an ongoing civil war that may
affect the livelihood of the people, the rehabilitation of educational infrastructures and also the
provision of learning materials, reinforcement of bridges and arterial routes prior to rains, and the
increase of support to the DDR process. They also established the DDR programme that focused
on the efficiency in data collection, sensitization, coordination and lastly the camp management.
It also increased its security conditions that provided more consistent programming. These are
just some of the humanitarian aides and peacemaking acts that the government and the United
Nations provided to fully maintain the welfare, protection and most importantly the peace in
Sierra Leone.
Sources:
https://www.e-ir.info/2012/10/25/the-causes-of-the-sierra-leone-civil-war-underlying-
grievances-and-the-role-of-the-revolutionary-united-front/

https://reliefweb.int/report/sierra-leone/sierra-leone-humanitarian-situation-report-special-issue-
mar-2000-0