Freetown Page #2

Kids, come on!

Hurry! Hurry!

Violence escalated this morning

as NPFL forces seized control

of outlying areas of Monrovia.

Shortages of food and water

in Paynesville

are forcing thousands of refugees

to plead for aid

from the United Nations.

The NPFL threatens

conditions will worsen...

Hey, look out!

As long as President Doe

controls the government.

President Doe's actions...

- Abubakar.

- Shh. Hang on, Elders.

We are trapped.

No food. No water.

They shoot us if we try to escape.

Rebels are setting up checkpoints

at the edge of the city,

discouraging any who are trying to flee.

No Krahns can get by me.

I'll make sure I pull out in front

of every Krahn that crosses my path.

We can get no food, water.

- Our kids have been shot at.

- Come on.

Come, come. Come on.

The men who live in this apartment,

are they in here?

Whoever it is, they'll go.

Menti. Meyers. Are you there?

That's Forkpah.

Praise God you were not harmed.

You're making the right choice.

It isn't safe to be here any longer.

How can you teach about Jesus Christ

when people's lives are at risk?

Your mothers

will be very happy to see you.

He's not going home.

We're going to teach.

During the war?

Away from the war, where it is safe.

It's not safe in Monrovia, my brother.

It is not safe anywhere.

Then we will leave the country.

- Wait, what?

- He's not kidding.

Are you just gonna pack up and

drag a suitcase to Sierra Leone?

Selli.

Anyone have a better idea?

Lay low. Stay inside.

You can study if you want,

but stay off the streets.

Brother Abubakar.

Stay out of the reach of the rebels.

Look. Stock food and water.

Let's just wait this thing out.

There's no more food.

The water is out, too.

Same with our place.

And power's been gone for weeks.

What if you run into the rebels

just walking down the street?

What if they shoot you

because you're Christian?

Or because you're tall or not,

or for whatever reason?

Or they shoot us

through our apartment door

while we're hiding like cowards.

It is not cowardice to survive.

We are not going to Freetown.

It is not an option.

Brother Abubakar.

You could drive them there.

No. No, no, no.

What else can we do?

There are rebels everywhere

in the city and in the jungle.

They're gonna set up roadblocks

and checkpoints

at every intersection

between here and the border.

Just finding petrol will take

a miracle from God.

Let's just wait here until...

We aren't any safer here

than we are in the open air.

I saw a man get shot

right in front of our apartment

this morning.

It could have been any of us.

We will use the main road

out of the city.

But I imagine

we can run into trouble here.

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