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Sierra Leone: UN mission warns of looming humanitarian crisis

Sierra Leone: UN mission warns of looming humanitarian crisis

The United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) today warned of a looming humanitarian crisis if the flow of Liberian refugees and Sierra Leonean returnees continued unabated over the next few weeks.

The United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) today warned of a looming humanitarian crisis if the flow of Liberian refugees and Sierra Leonean returnees continued unabated over the next few weeks.

Over the last three months, the situation in Liberia has precipitated a steady flow of Sierra Leonean returnees and Liberian refugees into Sierra Leone, according to the Mission. Since the beginning of June more than 17,000 refugees and close to 8,000 returnees have arrived in the country.

UN and other agencies would soon be unable to respond appropriately to the needs of the new arrivals and there would be a “serious humanitarian crisis” in Sierra Leone, UNAMSIL said.

Meanwhile, the chairman of the UN Security Council sanctions committee on Sierra Leone, Ambassador Adolfo A. Zinser of Mexico, continued his visit to the country.

Yesterday he visited the district headquarters town of Kenema and Koidu in the diamond-rich district of Kono to assess the current peace process and political developments in Sierra Leone.