By Danny Williams
KONO, Sierra Leone, March 10 (Reuters) — In Kono District’s Jiama Nimikoro Chiefdom, women risk their lives working in abandoned mining pits, combining the roles of family caregivers and miners to support their households.
Amid the noise of shovels and splashing water, miners’ chants echo across the pits. “Come and see what the Lord has done,” they sing, voices rising above the mud and water as they dig for remaining mineral deposits.
The women’s work is physically demanding and dangerous, with hazards including unstable mine walls, flooding, and exposure to contaminants. Many turn to mining in abandoned pits as a source of income, reflecting the limited economic opportunities available to women in the region.
Local observers say that small-scale mining by women has become a survival strategy, providing essential support to families in a district historically reliant on diamond production.
Authorities and advocacy groups have long warned about the health and safety risks associated with artisanal and abandoned pit mining, calling for stronger regulations and community support to protect vulnerable workers.
