Donors offer $800M aid for Sierra Leone

<i>Financial Times and the BBC report that donors agreed to contribute $800 million to support the reconstruction efforts in Sierra Leone.</I><br><br>The donor community has committed $800 million to help recover Sierra Leone from a decade-long civil war that ended four years ago. The pledge, however, is $150 million short of the government?s requirement through 2007. Nevertheles&#8230;

By Newswire Newsletter // 02 December 2005

The donor community has committed $800 million to help recover Sierra Leone from a decade-long civil war that ended four years ago. The pledge, however, is $150 million short of the government?s requirement through 2007. Nevertheless, Vice-President Solomon Berewa acknowledged that the funds would "go a long way to meeting [the nation?s] immediate normal needs." Joséictor Angelo, the United Nations envoy to Sierra Leone, urged donors to immediately make the funds available. Angelo vowed to closely monitor how and where the country intends to use the aid.

Sources:

$800m aid pledged to Sierra Leone (Financial Times)

Donors pledge to rebuild S Leone (BBC)