The war in Sierra Leone

"Blood diamonds" were used to fund the RUF during the war. The RUF controlled the Kono diamond mining areas during much of the war and used forced labor to mine the diamonds.

The Kono diamond mines are empty of workers on a Sunday afternoon. In 2003, President Kabbah stated that the main problems of the diamond industry include illegal mining, smuggling, environmental impact, abuse of official power, poor working conditions, and child labor. A very low tax of three percent is levied on diamond exports to prevent smuggling.

The Freetown amputee camp was instituted in 1999 under the direction of Medicins Sans Frontieres. At one time, there were as many as 2000 amputees and family members living in the camp; now, the number of residents has dwindled to 231 people.

Another view of the Freetown amputee camp shows the state of disrepair. The camp is due to be demolished on 30 June 2004.

In sharp contrast to the children in the private school next door, these amputee camp children do not attend school. One Sierra Leonean expressed his concern that without an education, these children would grow up to be Sierra Leone's future rebels.

A young boy stands in the Freetown amputee camp where he lives.

Burned out homes and buildings are a common reminder of the war throughout rural Sierra Leone. The destruction of property was part of a campaign waged by the RUF called "Operation Leave No Living Thing."

Another burned out home in rural Sierra Leone. Instead of rebuilding the homes, many people salvaged parts to build new homes.

This amputee camp in rural Sierra Leone is home to six families. Many more amputees are on a waiting list for housing.

The team hears the stories from five amputees. Amputations were sometimes symbolic in nature. The RUF would cut off students' right hands to prevent them from writing or cut off fingers to intimidate people from voting.

During the conflict, the RUF often gathered all the vehicles in a community and burned them. The remains of military and non-military vehicles can be seen along roadsides throughout the country.

A tree grows in the center of a car destroyed by the RUF.

In the town of Tombodu, Kamara Chiefdom, Kono District, the RUF forced 54 people into a house and set it on fire. One person escaped. The mass grave site at this RUF "slaughter house" can still be seen in Tombodu.

In Kono, the RUF also dumped bodies into abandoned diamond mines or "savage pits". Pictured is one such mass grave site.