Before the British and Portuguese arrived in Sierra Leone, a farmer and hunter named Pa Kambi settled on the banks of the river where Kambia lies today.

This made it possible for the highest number of death rate especially infant and maternal mortality in Kambia than all other districts in the country.

Animal raising of sheep and goats on small-scale units has declined because of forced sales in order to compensate for the chronic fall in agricultural production and the subsequent rural poverty.

Cattle rearing by groups of resident Fullahs in the North-east of the district has similarly disappeared as they have migrated to Guinea, due to the protracted civil war.

This is due mainly to the growth of outside agriculture; commerce is probably the most important source of the traditional weekly market villages known as the "LOUMAH" along the border.

Although disrupted during the war, these weekly markets have resumed and increased in number from 5 in the pre-war period to 15, with traders coming from various parts of both countries, from as far as Conakry, Nzerekore, Macenta and Faranah in Guinea and from provincial Headquarters towns of Bo, Kenema, Kono, Makeni and the capital city of Freetown, giving these village markets a true international character.

In the early phase of the war, this border district functioned as host for a large number of internally displaced persons and transit zones for refugees.

Similarly the neighbouring district of Forecariah has been host to over 210,000 officially registered refugees (residing in 10 camps) during the civil conflict.

Most of these children are now young adults and have returned to the community without passing through any formal demobilisation process and with very little resettlement and social reintegration support.

But by far their most important sources of survival are the smuggling of goods, mostly drugs, alcohol, cigarettes and light arms across the border, juvenile delinquencies, and as sex workers and concubines of the large number of national armies, peace-keeping forces, Para-militaries and long distance travellers.

But by far the most important factor is the rapid revival of the cross-border trade in the traditional weekly market towns and villages on both sides of the border.

Moreover, they now attract thousands of traders and other visitors from large and far-off towns including the capital cities (Freetown and Conakry) and mining areas of both countries.

In addition to the Loumah towns and villages, the district also has several large towns such as Rokupr, Mambolo, Kassiri, Kukuna, Kamassassa, Kychom and Yeliboya that are famous for their trade in fish and agricultural produce such as rice, groundnuts, palmoil and pepper and as ports for inland water transportation to destinations in both Guinea and the rest of Sierra Leone, including the capitals of Freetown and Conakry.

Discussions with members of the community indicated that in addition to the consequences of the civil war, a major problem is the insufficient support for food production.

Similarly, support for income generation activities and self-employment opportunities are lacking, leaving members of the community especially young people with little alternative means of subsistence.