SIERRA LEONE-POLITICS: LESS FOOD TO GO AROUND

By Lansana Fofana Reprint | | Print |

LANSANA FOFANA

MAKENI, SIERRA LEONE, Feb 23 1995 (IPS) - THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE FORCED BY REBEL ATTACKS TO FLEE THEIR HOMES HAVE FLOCKED TO THIS NORTHERN TOWN, PLACING A HEAVY STRAIN ON FOOD SUPPLIES AS WELL AS MEDICAL AND OTHER SOCIAL SERVICES, RELIEF OFFICIALS HERE SAY.

“THE ALMOST DAILY INFLUX OF THESE DISPLACED PERSONS IS SERIOUSLY AFFECTING OUR FOOD DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM AND ALREADY OUR RESOURCES ARE DRYING OUT,” SAID TAMBA YAMBA, SUPERVISOR OF A RED CROSS REGISTRATION UNIT HERE.

HE DISCLOSED THAT 70,000 DISPLACED PERSONS HAD BEEN REGISTERED SO FAR WITH THE MAKENI RED CROSS AND THAT THEIR NUMBER “KEEPS SWELLING WHENEVER THERE IS A FRESH ATTACK BY REBELS.”

MAKENI, WITH A POPULATION OF A LITTLE MORE THAN 200,000 PEOPLE, IS THE CAPITAL OF BOMBALI DISTRICT, ABOUT 225 KM FROM FREETOWN. IT IS LOCATED IN SIERRA LEONE’S NORTHERN PROVINCE.

FOR THE PAST FIVE MONTHS, REVOLUTIONARY UNITED FRONT (RUF) REBELS HAVE BEEN ACTIVE MAINLY IN THE NORTH, WHERE THEY HAVE RAZED MANY TOWNS AND VILLAGES, FORCING THEIR INHABITANTS FORCED TO FLEE TO SAFER AREAS LIKE MAKENI.

MOST, LIKE ONE WOMAN IN HER LATE 30S WHO SPOKE TO IPS, ARE TOO AFRAID OF THE REBELS TO ENTERTAIN THE THOUGHT OF GOING BACK HOME.

“I SAW THE COLD-BLOODED KILLING OF MY HUSBAND AND HIS TWO BROTHERS. I BARELY MANAGED TO ESCAPE AND WILL REMAIN TERRIFIED TO RETURN BECAUSE I BELIEVE THE REBELS WILL STRIKE ANY TIME AGAIN,” SHE SAID.

NOT ALL THE DISPLACED PERSONS OBTAIN RELIEF AID. ABOUT 30,000 IN MAKENI REPORTEDLY RECEIVE HANDOUTS OF COOKING OIL, RICE AND WHEAT FROM THE RED CROSS, BUT THOUSANDS OF OTHERS HAVE SETTLED AMONG THE LOCALS AND LIVE OFF HANDIWORK, SOAP MAKING AND PETTY TRADING.

SAYS BAI SEBORAH, PARAMOUNT CHIEF OF BOMBALI DISTRICT: “I THINK THE PEOPLE OF MAKENI HAVE BEEN VERY CO-OPERATIVE AND HELPFUL TO THE DISPLACED PERSONS. SOME EVEN ACCOMMODATE THEM IN THEIR HOUSES.”

EVEN SO, THE CAMPS ARE STRETCHED TO BREAKING POINT. FOR EXAMPLE, ABOUT 20,000 DISPLACED PERSONS LIVE IN AN OVERCROWDED CAMP AT MAGBENTEH, ABOUT FOUR KM FROM MAKENI, WITH NO RUNNING WATER AND POOR SHELTER, WHILE FOOD DISTRIBUTION IS IRREGULAR.

“WE HAVE TO FELL FIREWOOD AND SELL IN THE OPEN MARKET IN ORDER TO SUPPLEMENT THE MEAGRE FOOD RATIONS FROM THE RED CROSS,” SAID A WOMAN WHO LIVES IN THE CAMP.

“IN THE RAINY SEASON WE SUFFER A LOT,” MICHAEL VANDI, A FATHER OF FIVE, TOLD IPS. “THESE MUD DWELLINGS CAN SOMETIMES BE WASHED AWAY BY HEAVY DOWNPOURS AND WE HAVE REQUESTED PLASTIC SHEETS FROM AID AGENCIES SO THAT WE WILL NOT BE WASHED AWAY.”

IN THE MEANTIME THE FOUR-YEAR-OLD WAR, WHICH HAS LEFT ABOUT 10,000 PEOPLE DEAD, SHOWS NO SIGN OF ENDING. THE RED CROSS HAS PREDICTED THAT UNLESS THE FIGHTING STOPS IN THE NORTH, TENSION COULD DEVELOP IN MAKENI AS DISPLACED PEOPLE WILL BE COMPETING WITH RESIDENTS FOR MEAGRE FOOD AND SOCIAL FACILITIES.

“WE HOPE THE FIGHTING SUBSIDES SO THAT THESE PEOPLE WILL RETURN TO THEIR PEACEFUL LIVES, OTHERWISE THIS TOWN IS BOUND TO EXPLODE,” WARNED YAMBA.