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On a wing and a prayer, Freetown, Sierra Leone
The meetings have passed with ease, our contact is happy with the agreements reached.
Return flights to Accra from Freetown are once a week, we chose to fly on a Sunday. The weather has been in a bad mood, in Freetown it rains every day, the clouds hang low above the sea foam. Dinner last night was great, as always, outstanding food quality, taking into account the location and time. Credit to Italian Paolo Management, and his girlfriend and the fact that we have the right connections.
Late night reports that the hovercraft is out of order, and we have to fly with an commuter plane departing the airport Lunghi International to Hastings. We are also informed that the rooms are all full, so we have no choice to leave. Military personnel everywhere, the United Nations UNHCR, peacekeeping, senior officials of the OAU, the CIA, mercenaries alike are all Accommodation in the Cape Sierra, a distribution somewhat funny, but no option. Cape Sierra Hotel is the only foreign performance in the war torn Freetown.
Early in the morning we move, after breakfast we say goodbye to our friends, and move with the car provided by the hotel.
Hastings is about an hour's drive from Cape de la Sierra, we passed the security barrier of the UN, the OAU barrier, gliding through devastated Freetown amid the misery and killings that struck this city. We can see houses destroyed buildings in desolate conditions tin roof, people without hope. But somehow life goes on. Talk it brings back memories that are not on my top list. I try to forget the children without limbs, but somehow that vision always comes back. It is a shame to see young children in their misery, why? Power, greed, money. The same story is currently the case in another part of this planet, without making direct reference.
At the airport of Hastings, rain pours in full force. OAU Nigerian troops are guarding the airport, the captain shaking our hands, giving us welcome. We sat on a makeshift wooden bench, one hand holding our valuables in a Attachecase, the other bag with our needs.
We are told that plane from the interior is due to arrive shortly and we will Lunghi Int'l. I wonder, with a visibility of 50-100 feet, the clouds so low that you can almost touch it, you need a special skill pilot to land in such weather. Although the ILS is working, the pilot can not see the runway until it almost touches down. We are talking with the captain about the war and its impact on civilians. One thing that surprises me is the explanation that behind all the killings in Sierra Leone is a man, Charles Taylor. He manages to supply arms to the rebel leader Sankoh Fodeh principal in exchange for diamonds, which both must be rich. But for every seller has to be a buyer. And I know that De Beers has its headquarters in Freetown during the war. We can debate this negative Ness, but one thing is sure I will not buy more diamonds for anyone, as long as I live. (I already have, anyway).
We heard the distant sound of a jet engine, a turbo double helix of Czech origin falls from the sky, land, shooting the main runway.
Hastings is a small airport, we can follow all the movements with precision. We cling to the bags and walking toward the parked aircraft to stroll Lunghi. Njet, Njet said that the Russian pilot. In no way flies again in such weather. We are as if paralyzed, trying to convince to take us. OAU Captain does everything possible, but without success. The guy is stubborn, nothing will move the aircraft again today. while the clouds so low. A glance at our watches, the closing time at 11.00 am, our flight from Ghana Air departing at 13.00 hours on Lunghi.
We are sitting on pins, I turn to the Nigerian captain, asking if they have helicopters stationed here. He nods, but says he can not ask them to take us. I say: 'Come on, that helps us, if we can not stop now, you can not leave until another week. "Zooms to see what we can do, but returns with resignation could not be.
I do not know what happens on this day, except that somewhere an angel should be cared for me, because in about 20 minutes I hear the distinctive whirl of a helicopter, a large carrier or battle, we can not see because of fog. It comes closer and becomes stronger by the second, then the spacecraft out of the sky as the twin before it, I realize the hallmarks of a MIG 8. MIG rolls on the track, turns to the hangars, rotors spinning about half throttle, nobody would know that does not stop there.
Our captain goes into action, running towards the monster, now his tail 30 degrees toward us, the master exchange few words with the pilot opens the cockpit and looks. A powerful white, hairy arm waves to us, we go and hop on the captain now the corridor towards us, waving we hurry up. Needless to say, take the bags and run through our business suit to the helicopter. The captain receives a dollar from us for their problems, and leads us to tell the pilot who love Cuba. We reached the helicopter, after saying goodbye to the soldier who supported us and helped both of us on the plane vibrating their speed rotor blades harvested can hear the sound of the turbines.
The interior is a scrap yard and warehouse, two machine guns, submachine guns heavy guarding the two entrances, doors open, to be launched almost immediately.
Flying very low over the mangroves that occupy are between Hastings and Lunghi, I wonder what would like to make an emergency landing in these waters below us. I have time to study the interior, carrying supplies to the troops, from rice in sacks, paper rolls toilet, everything is put on the ship, and so are the civilians who are sitting in the back. It amazes me how many things coming in small boats. Vibrant, with the gunners to be very attentive to the mangroves and then flew to our destination, a mere 10-15 minute trip, the link with the outside world.
And when we to Lunghi, see Ghana F27 air approaches and land on the runway. The pilot moves the MIG to a narrow zone near the main building, and we thank him, amid the sound of jump outside the aircraft and ran to the main building. Passengers leaving gives us a curious look, because they come from passengers who do not receive any further. Immigration, Customs passed quickly, leaving our past Lions, the main currency. The aircraft was parked and meanwhile we are the first, occupying the seat #. 1 + 2 on the front. Recognize another friend who is a member of the security forces of Ghana, who accompanied the plane from Banjul, Conakry, Freetown to Abidjan and Accra.
Long after taking our seats, the plane has taken off, I realize how lucky we are, if the helicopter had taken us would still awaiting a week in this forsaken place, but with an uncertainty of sleep, as all rooms are booked out. We drink in our welcome drink and try to relax.
In the news a week later we learned that Freetown has been taken by the rebels again, and we know that the preferred location of the rebels is the Cape Sierra Hotel, the The hotel staff told us while we are there. If this is not luck, then what is ….
We thank the brave soldiers of the Nigerian peacekeepers for our return possible, the pilot of the MIG, and pray for children who lost their arms, they will find a normal life. It is still a vague hope however, because a You can imagine what it means to live without the right hand or left, or both. God bless those who can.
Freetown, Sierra Leone, part 2. .
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