Sierra Leone

A small number of Jews settled in Sierra Leone between 1831-1934. Most of these were merchants. Some of the earliest of these included the Lemon brothers, John Etting Taylor, Nathaniel Isaacs, John Myer Harris, Philip Lemburg, Louis Solomon and Lionel Hart.

They traded in commodities such as groundnuts, palm oil, properties, coffee, ivory, and cloth. They also were involved with politics. It is unclear what happened to these people.

Israeli-based company Watergen’s technology is currently being used to provide Sierra Leone schoolchildren with safe-drinking water out of thin air.

The technology, which comes in the form of an atmospheric water generator known as the “GEN-350,” can produce up to 900 litres of water per day. Water pollution is one of the leading causes of death and approximately half of the population has no access to clean drinking water.

IsraAID, a humanitarian team, is helping to eradicate the Ebola in Sierra Leone. At least 4,000 cases of Ebola have been reported in Sierra Leone. Over 2,600 people have died of the virus recently. The aid includes hygiene kits, mattresses, blankets, kitchen utensils and clothing, according to the American Jewish Committee, which is helping the NGO cover expenses incurred with the assistance.

The Israeli government financed almost half of the construction budget to build Sierra Leone’s parliament house. Israeli architects designed the building and an Israeli construction firm built it.