Emergency Services
The Consular Section provides emergency services to Americans. Such services include visiting American detainees in custody, providing information about physicians and hospitals, helping family members and friends in the United States locate and transmit information to American citizens believed to be in Sierra Leone, and assisting when an American dies abroad.
When an American Citizen is arrested, the consular officer will visit the detainee and, at the detainee’s request, contact family members. The Consular Section maintains a list of attorneys practicing in Sierra Leone. The Consular Officer, however, is not permitted to advise Americans on legal matters or to recommend a particular lawyer.
When an American dies abroad and the embassy is informed, a consular officer notifies the family of the deceased and informs them about options and costs for disposition of remains. Costs for preparing and returning a body to the U.S. may be high and must be paid by the family. Often, local laws and procedures make returning a body to the U.S. for burial a lengthy process. A consul prepares a Report of Death of an American Abroad based on the local death certificate; this is forwarded to the next of kin for use in estate and insurance matters.
Family members who may need to reach an American living in Sierra Leone because of an emergency at home or because they are worried about his/her welfare, should call the State Department's Overseas Citizens Services Office at (202) 647-5225. The State Department will relay the message to the consular officer in Sierra Leone, who will attempt to locate the citizen, pass on the message and, consistent with the Privacy Act, report back to the family.