DATE=1/23/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-244574
TITLE=SIERRA LEONE SITREP (L)
BYLINE=JOHN PITMAN
DATELINE=FREETOWN, SIERRA LEONE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: IN SIERRA LEONE, THOUSANDS OF CIVILIANS HAVE BEGUN
FLOODING INTO THE CENTRAL PART OF THE CAPITAL. . AS V-O-A'S JOHN
PITMAN REPORTS FROM FREETOWN, THESE DISPLACED PEOPLE ARE FLEEING
CONTINUING FIGHTING BETWEEN REBELS AND WEST AFRICAN PEACEKEEPERS
IN THE SUBURBS EAST OF THE CITY.
TEXT: THE CIVILIANS ENTER FREETOWN ON FOOT, OFTEN WITH A BUNDLE
OF CLOTHES AND OTHER BELONGINGS BALANCED ON THEIR HEADS. MANY ARE
HEADING FOR THE CAPITAL SPORTS STADIUM, WHICH CITY OFFICIALS SAY
HAS THE CAPACITY OF AROUND 25-THOUSAND PEOPLE.
THE EXACT SIZE OF THE EXODUS FROM EASTERN FREETOWN IS NOT YET
KNOWN. BUT ONE PRELIMINARY ESTIMATE SAID MORE THAN 100-THOUSAND
PEOPLE COULD BE ON THE MOVE. THE CIVILIANS ARE FLEEING AREAS
WHERE THE WEST AFRICA PEACEKEEPING FORCE -- ECOMOG -- IS PURSUING
ITS COUNTER-OFFENSIVE AGAINST THE REBELS.
MANY OF THOSE ARRIVING IN CENTRAL FREETOWN ON SATURDAY SAID THEY
WERE COMING FROM AN EASTERN NEIGHBORHOOD -- AS WELL AS SUBURBS
OF FREETOWN IN THE MOUNTAINS WHICH RISE UP FROM THE CITY'S
EASTERN BOUNDRIES..
ECOMOG HEAVY ARTILLERY COULD BE HEARD SHELLING REBEL POSITIONS IN
AND AROUND KISSY ON SATURDAY EVENING. ECOMOG COMMANDERS SAY THEIR
GOAL IS TO DESTROY ALL OF THE REBEL BASES AROUND THE CAPITAL. AND
CUT THE RETREATING REBEL FIGHTERS OFF FROM THEIR SUPPLY CAMPS
FURTHER INLAND.
CIVILIANS FROM EASTERN FREETOWN HAVE ALSO BEEN ARRIVING AT THE
CAPITAL'S MAIN HOSPITAL WITH HORRIFYING STORIES OF REBEL
ATROCITIES. ACCORDING TO SURVIVORS, REBELS FIGHTERS -- WITH
NAMES LIKE CAPTAIN BLOOD -- ORGANIZED MASS AMPUTATIONS,
CUTTING THE HANDS AND FEET OF DOZENS OF CIVILIANS.
AT THE HOSPITAL ON SATURDAY, TWO SISTERS AGE 12 AND 14 AWAITED
TREATMENT. THE 12-YEAR-OLD HAD LOST BOTH OF HER HANDS. HER
14-YEAR-OLD SISTER HAD LOST HER LEFT HAND. ACCORDING TO THE
GIRLS' MOTHER, A THIRD SISTER ALSO LOST BOTH OF HER HANDS TO A
REBEL AXE. THE MOTHER SAID A FOURTH DAUGHTER, AGE 15, WAS
ABDUCTED BY THE REBELS ARE THEY RETREATED FROM THE CITY.
THE HOSPITAL HAS DEVOTED AN ENTIRE 20-BED WARD TO THE AMPUTEES.
BUT THE CONTINUING FLOOD OF VICTIMS MEANS MOST NEW ARRIVALS MUST
WAIT ON THE FLOOR IN THE HOSPITAL'S ENTRY WAY OR COURTYARD.
DOCTORS AND NURSES WORK AROUND-THE-CLOCK TO TREAT THE WOUNDED.
BUT, SAY THEY ARE HAMPERED BY A CONTINUING SHORTAGE OF BASIC
SUPPLIES AND MEDICINES. NURSES SAY AMPUTEE VICTIMS HAVE NOT
RECEIVED PAIN KILLERS, AND STILL WEAR THE FIELD BANDAGES THEY
WERE GIVEN BY ECOMOG MEDICS.
A CARGO PLANE FULL OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL SUPPLIES FROM THE BRITISH
GOVERNMENT IS EXPECTED TO ARRIVE HERE ON SUNDAY. THAT DELIVERY
WILL PROVIDE SOME WELCOME RELIEF. BUT, LOCAL AIDE WORKERS SAY A
MASSIVE AND CONTINUOUS INFUSION OF FOOD AND MEDICINE WILL BE
REQUIRED TO TREAT AND FEED ALL OF THE CITY'S GROWING POPULATION
OF HUNGRY AND TRAUMATIZED CIVILIANS. (SIGNED)
NEB/JP/TMD-T/SD
23-Jan-99 5:34 PM EST (2234 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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