Tragedy in Sierra Leone: Children Die in Homemade Mines for Gold.

According to ТСН: In a village in Sierra Leone, the community mourns the deaths of teenagers Mohamed Bangura and Yaya Jenne, who went in search of gold but lost their lives due to a mine collapse. Both boys did not return home from their searches that took place around Nyimbadu, in the east of the country. Their deaths have now become the third similar incident in the last four years, resulting in at least five children dying.

Tendency for Extraction

Mohamed and Yaya are part of a growing trend where more children in the region leave school to extract gold in dangerous conditions. The eastern province, known for diamond mining, has recently turned into a hub for artisanal gold mining due to the depletion of diamond deposits.

Informal mines are appearing on fertile lands, in places of old cemeteries and along rivers, as formal mining companies are few and far between. Geological activity leads to the formation of imperfect pits that can reach depths of 4 meters.

Families in Nyimbadu mainly engage in agriculture and small trading, so earning money in the mines often becomes the only way to improve their financial situation. This situation is a significant loss for the community.

Yaya's mother, who finds herself in a difficult situation, recalls that she herself had introduced her son to working in the mine:

“If I had known he was going to that site, I would have stopped him.”

After the collapse, the mother tried to find help to rescue the children, but unfortunately, she was too late.

Hopeful Words and Realities

Sar Ansumana, a local activist, notes:

“Many parents have no choice. They are poor and forced to send their children to the mines.”

The day after the funeral, children and youth returned to work, sifting through sand in search of gold. One boy, 17-year-old Komba Sesay, is trying to earn money for his education, but his earnings remain meager.

Education is not a priority for many, even for teachers who also leave their lessons for additional income from the mines.

System Challenges

The authorities acknowledge the problem and are working on a solution:

“We spend about 8.9% of our GDP on education,”

The families of the deceased boys are in despair over a loss that represents not just a personal tragedy, but a threat to an entire generation.

“We need help. Not prayers. Not promises. Help,”

This tragedy once again highlighted serious socio-economic issues in the region where poverty drives youth to seek dangerous ways to earn a living. The community needs help to provide their children with a better future, and responsible institutions must find effective solutions to improve the situation and prevent similar cases in the future.