Saturday, September 01, 2007

Election update - Freetown, Sierra Leone...

So just after posting the previous blog, we received a message through an NGO security tree saying that there was fighting in downtown Freetown. No more information was given. That was at about 2 pm this afternoon.

It is now 6 pm. I just got back from a run along Lumley beach and on returning to the center, heard from some of our staff that there had been shooting downtown. Some of our nurses asked to leave early so that they could be home before dark. It seemed like a wise thing to do. Reports later say that it was police shooting tear gas- no actual shooting took place. There was a clash between the two parties; men with sticks, machetes and knives. About two dozen people are said to have been wounded and taken to the hospital. Again, it’s hard to know how much of what we read or hear is accurate.

I decided to check on-line and sure enough found some articles.

See the following links.

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L01179661.htm

http://africa.reuters.com/wire/news/usnL01214502.html

http://awarenesstimes.com/drwebsite/publish/index.shtml

PS: we are fine!

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi, I am writing from California. I discovered your blog while researching Sierra Leone. I just want you to know that there are people in the US praying for Sierra Leone's elections and against the violence. I have a friend in Cabala Town. He is a pastor (Emmanuel Momoh Conteh)and we have been corresponding by e-mail for almost a year. I would like to get some information from you if you have the time. My e-mail address is Learn2trustHim@comcast.net. Thank you. Debbie

Anonymous said...

San, you beat us to it again with your updates. Let's stay wise and safe and pray that God's peace will fill this land.
Love mama

Anonymous said...

hi san, amazing to think that i was there while you were writing this blog, we arrived safely without any problem and are already back to work again, missing africa...
it was great to see your face (hard working doctor :), keep safe!
love and hugs

Dayogee said...

Thanks for the informative comments. any word on the outcome of teh run-off??

~ Act Justly. Love Mercy. Walk Humbly. micah 6:8 ~