Sierra Leone — Childhood on the Edge

Five years after the end of a brutal civil war, Sierra Leone struggles with some of the world’s most alarming nutrition and health statistics. One in five children will not reach the age of five, threatened by malnutrition, limited access to healthcare, poor hygiene, and a fragile economy.

The root causes are complex: decades of conflict destroyed infrastructure and livelihoods, leaving families without steady income or adequate food. Unsafe water, inadequate sanitation, and limited maternal support exacerbate the vulnerability of the youngest.

UNICEF is leading nationwide programs to improve access to healthcare and maternal support, and operates Specialized Nutrition Units to care for severely malnourished children. These interventions provide a lifeline, helping to transform precarity into possibility, and offering glimpses of hope for the future of Sierra Leone’s children.