Letter: African tragedy
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Sir: It is very sad indeed that it takes the kidnap of five British soldiers in Sierra Leone to start bringing greater public attention to the vast human suffering in that country. How different it might be if the horrors of the last eight months, and indeed several years, had taken place in an area of strategic interest. The politicians might then mount a "humanitarian intervention".
Incidentally, it is not actually correct to say that the excellent agency Action Contre La Faim was "the first aid agency last month to travel deep into the interior" ("Aid agencies pull out of Sierra Leone", 9 August). Hope and Homes for Children has been supporting 80 orphaned or abandoned children and their surrounding community of more than 1,000 people in the northern region throughout the recent conflict.
There are other, lower-key ways of delivering aid which do not create attention.
JAMES WHITING
Director, Hope and Homes for Children
Salisbury, Wiltshire
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments