Sierra Leone: humanitarian situation in Freetown increasingly alarming

As fighting continues in and around Sierra Leone's capital Freetown, the humanitarian situation in Freetown becomes increasingly alarming with hundreds of thousands of people being trapped in their homes without water and electricity and unable to go out to search for food. In sporadic telephone conversations UNHCR local staff remaining in Freetown speak of a possible humanitarian disaster in the capital unless a ceasefire is arranged and humanitarian supplies are brought in. The situation of children and other vulnerable groups is particularly grave as is the situation of people who have been displaced into Freetown as a result of fighting in surrounding areas.

So far, we have not seen refugee flows from Sierra Leone except for some 450 people who have asked for asylum in Conakry and Forécariah, east of Conakry.