Sierra Leone, battling a deadly outbreak of Ebola, passed a new law on Friday, August 22, according to which anyone who hides a victim of the disease would face a two-year jail term.
According to the attorney general, the new measure would help to resolve the crisis.
Sierra Leone has been one of the hardest hit by the epidemic, with 374 deaths and 907 cases since the outbreak began.
“A maximum of two years jail term will be imposed on anyone caught hiding somebody who is believed to be infected with the deadly Ebola disease,” Attorney General Frank Kargbo said after introducing the bill into parliament.
With tensions over the outbreak running high, the majority leader of the house, Ibrahim Bundu, criticised neighbouring countries that he said had abandoned Sierra Leone.
“We are appalled by the slow pace of response by some of our development partners and the abandonment and isolation from those we viewed and believed to be our biggest friends at sub-regional, regional and global levels,” he said in a statement.
He called the cancellation of flights and closing of borders to contain the virus “ugly developments” that were leading to further isolation and causing businesses to shut down “at the time of greatest need.”
According to the latest figures from the World Health Organization (WHO), 1,350 people are now believed to have died from the Ebola virus, which has been raging in the region since March.
The WHO said it was concerned that families were hiding infected loved ones in the belief they will be more comfortable dying at home.
by ROTMANLUV 2023-07-08, 17:34
