A/HRC/10/52 page 10 E. Economic, social and cultural rights 26. The level of enjoyment of economic and social rights remained low, owing to the continued lack of adequate basic social services including safe drinking water, health-care services, and education and housing facilities. Some progress was made in the energy sector, which resulted in an increase in the availability of electricity to Freetown. 27. For most of 2008, the country experienced the effects of the global food crisis with skyrocketing costs and in some cases scarcity of essential commodities such as food, medicines and petroleum products. The rate of unemployment remained high especially among youths. The period also saw numerous strike actions by employees of both the Government and the private sector over poor conditions of service, delayed and non-payment of salaries, poor working conditions, and illegal dismissals and redundancies. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission has identified the lack of availability of basic social services and the high level of poverty as one of the underlying causes of the ten-year civil conflict. However while significant progress has been made in addressing civil and political rights since the end of the conflict, very little progress has been made in addressing the social and economic concerns of people. Continuous low levels of enjoyment of economic and social rights have the propensity to unravel any gains that have been made. 28. One key area of concern is the health sector. While a number of hospitals and health centres have been refurbished and a contingent of foreign-trained doctors deployed in Government hospitals, many hospitals remain poorly staffed, lack basic drugs and medical supplies, and are virtually incapable of effectively responding to emergencies. There have also been instances of people dying in the hands of quack medical practitioners who prey on innocent victims, especially in communities where hospitals and medical facilities do not exist or are not affordable. In 2008, a review of the first full Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP I) (2005-2007) was completed and achievements and lessons learned informed the preparation of PRSP II (2008-2012). The final draft of PRSP II recognizes and incorporates human rights, rule of law, and peace and security as essential prerequisites for sustainable growth and development. F. Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone 29. With US$ 1.5 million catalytic support under the Peacebuilding Fund, significant progress has been made in operationalizing the Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone and building its capacity to discharge its statutory mandate. Offices have been secured, equipped and furnished, core staff recruited, institutional and operational modalities established, and a number of activities implemented, including the release of the first “State of human rights” report of the Commission to Parliament. Statutory instruments for filing complaints on human rights violations and procedures for conducting investigations, inquiries and hearings of such complaints have also been passed by Parliament and published. The operationalization of the Commission is a major milestone in strengthening the national capacity to promote and protect human rights in Sierra Leone. 30. However, the catalytic funding provided to the Commission under the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund will run out in January 2009, and unless additional support is forthcoming from the Government and international partners, there are concerns that the operations of the Commission may be adversely affected. In its 2009 national budget, the Government allocated