Sierra Leone — Points of Entry, Cross-Border Mobility and Disease Surveillance (12—22 October 2021)

With the emergence of the COVID-19, securitization of national points of entry of all countries became crucial within the mobility discourse, particularly given the plethora of unprecedented COVID-19 recorded cases in neighboring countries caused through traveling. With the huge characteristics of notable points of entry porosity at both land and blue crossing points in Sierra Leone, mapping and identification of official and unofficial points of entry plays an essential role to check the spread of COVID-19 cases in Sierra Leone.

The present study is focused on participatory mapping of points of entry, by IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) within the three districts in Sierra Leone:-Kailahun, Pujehun and Falaba districts, within the project’s broad aim of contributing “strengthening health care system, preparedness and resilience against COVID-19 at points of entry in Sierra Leone”.

The aim of the participatory mapping exercise was to identify major crossing points in Kailahun, Pujehun, and Falaba districts that would assist government with data on points of entry and cross border mobility patterns for the institutionalization of COVID-19 mitigation and prevention measures. In particular, the aims and objectives of the project were to:

• Identify points of entry with high volumes of cross border travellers;
• Help provide key information on various cross border mobility patterns and trends within Kailahun, Falaba and Pujehun Districts bordering with Liberia and Guinea useful for disease detection, response and prevention such as COVID-19;
• Understand cross border activities at and around points of entry separating Sierra Leone from Guinea and Liberia.