By Ibrahim S. Bangura
Makeni, Sierra Leone – Decades after Sierra Leone’s brutal civil war, amputees who once symbolized the nation’s suffering now find themselves struggling for survival, abandoned by the very society that once championed their plight.
Among them is Sento Kamara, a survivor of war atrocities. At just nine years old, she lost her left arm in a midnight attack—an act of brutality that would define her life. Now a single mother of four, she continues to bear the weight of survival, cultivating a small farm behind her home in Mansogbo Amputee Camp in Makeni. But it’s not enough.
“My children depend on me for everything—food, clothes, school… even hope. Sometimes we eat just once a day,” she says, wiping away tears. “I see them suffer, and it breaks me. But I have to be strong—for them.”
Sento is one of more than 30 amputees residing in Mansogbo Amputee Camp. Many were once the face of Sierra Leone’s war-ravaged past, appearing in human rights campaigns and international news outlets. But today, they feel forgotten.
Mariatu Sesay, who lost her right hand, describes their reality: “No one comes anymore. No support, no food aid, nothing. We are still here, still alive—but it feels like no one sees us.”
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) recognized amputees as some of the war’s most brutalized victims, recommending urgent reparations, including cash payments, medical care, prosthetics, education, and housing. However, many say these promises remain unfulfilled.
Alhaji Bangura, another amputee, voices the frustration felt by the community: “After the war, they said they would take care of us. But that care never came. We were used and discarded like trash.”
The Harsh Reality
Mansogbo Camp itself is crumbling—its houses made of mud and zinc, lacking running water, adequate healthcare, and accessible transportation for its disabled residents.
Fatmata Conteh, a local community leader, emphasizes their plea: “We are not asking for pity. We are asking to live with dignity. To feed our children. To be able to walk without begging.”
Yet, despite the hardships, Sento remains determined. She plants her crops, cares for her children, and clings to hope.
“I want my children to go further than me,” she says, eyes glistening in the fading sun. “Even if I have to crawl, I will keep moving—for them.”
A Call for Action
The government of Sierra Leone and humanitarian organizations are being urged to revisit the TRC’s recommendations and fulfill the promises made to amputees like Sento.
“Healing is not just about ending a war—it’s about honoring those who lived through it,” the community insists.