Thousands flee Sierra Leone fighting

Civilians have been scared away by the anti-rebel offensive

By Mark Doyle in Mile 91

Tens of thousands of people are fleeing fighting in northern Sierra Leone between government and rebel forces.

The refugees have taken flight as the British-backed government army attacks rebel positions in and around the northern city of Makeni, using ground troops and a powerful helicopter gunship.

The town of Mile 91, about 50 km south of Makeni, is now full of Makeni residents.

They fled their homes when the Sierra Leone Government attack helicopter, working in liaison with British forces, dropped leaflets which warned of an impending offensive against the rebels.

The gunship has already attacked rebel positions around Makeni, but sources on both sides of the frontline said its gunners had also killed innocent civilians, including pregnant women.

The people of Makeni have fled, partly because they fear the rebels and partly because they are terrified of the gunship.

Emergency aid

It could be that the aim of the government forces is to scare civilians away before mounting further attacks.

If so, the first part of the plan appears to be working.

British soldiers plan to pull out in mid-June

I saw thousands of refugees from Makeni at the town of Mile 91.

A total of more than 20,000 people have fled the city and its surrounding villages.

Most are destitute, lacking food, shelter and medical care.

The Red Cross is giving some emergency aid to the refugees in Mile 91, and the United Nations is preparing to arrange for more.

Twenty-four hours before I visited the town, a village just a few miles away was attacked by the rebels.

Because of the danger of such attacks, aid agencies are currently discussing whether to set up a long-term refugee camp at Mile 91 or perhaps to encourage the refugees to move to a safer location away from the frontline.