11-19-2014, 07:11 PM
The situation in Sierra Leone continues to deteriorate. Government forces have proven to have little authority outside of view of Freetown, while the rebels, under the leadership of General Katlego, are reported to have near unobstructed reign throughout much of the country's interior. But even their authority is now threatened by raids by Guinean warlords across the now undefended Sierra Leone-Guinea borders.
What few health care clinics running in the north and west edges of Sierra Leone are reporting that they have been swamped by survivors of these raids, and there are as yet unconfirmed reports of Ebola cases among those seeking the clinics' help.
Human rights organizations are only now beginning to get observers into the region, as travel to and in the country has become treacherous if not simply impossible. General Wallace-Johnson's forces continue to keep the country's main airport closed, siting damage caused to the infrastructure during the initial coup attempt, with no hint as to when the facility will be open again. Until then, all aid bound for the country is limited to over-land travel or by sea, neither of which are without their own risks.
Liberia has closed it's border with Sierra Leone when rumours of Ebola first began, and have thus far denied any requests by foreign aid organizations to land supplies there and crossing the border to Sierra Leone. In response to the rumours, the Liberian government has deployed further military forces to the border.
The peace General Wallace-Johnson has fought hard to achieve in Freetown continues to prove elusive, as three more MPs have been killed by Temne-sympathizers, and another has taken his own life, seemingly unable to cope with the growing pressure on the nearly broken government.
What few health care clinics running in the north and west edges of Sierra Leone are reporting that they have been swamped by survivors of these raids, and there are as yet unconfirmed reports of Ebola cases among those seeking the clinics' help.
Human rights organizations are only now beginning to get observers into the region, as travel to and in the country has become treacherous if not simply impossible. General Wallace-Johnson's forces continue to keep the country's main airport closed, siting damage caused to the infrastructure during the initial coup attempt, with no hint as to when the facility will be open again. Until then, all aid bound for the country is limited to over-land travel or by sea, neither of which are without their own risks.
Liberia has closed it's border with Sierra Leone when rumours of Ebola first began, and have thus far denied any requests by foreign aid organizations to land supplies there and crossing the border to Sierra Leone. In response to the rumours, the Liberian government has deployed further military forces to the border.
The peace General Wallace-Johnson has fought hard to achieve in Freetown continues to prove elusive, as three more MPs have been killed by Temne-sympathizers, and another has taken his own life, seemingly unable to cope with the growing pressure on the nearly broken government.