March 2001 |  Archive  |  Read article |  © Robert Knoth
reportage  On the run
Because of constant fighting between several rebel movements
and the Guinean Army in Eastern Guinea their was an outbreak
of violence against refugees from Sierra Leone. Several refugee
camps have been destroyed, people murdered, molested or
robbed from their belongings by either rebels, Guinean army
or Guinean civilians. Hence, many of the refugees decided to go
back to their own country. Photographer Robert Knoth travelled
with them. To view story please scroll to the right		 white white white  white Back to start
  Katkama refugee camp: Local civilians have set fire to some huts in the camp. They strongly oppose the presence of the refugees, regarding them all being RUF rebels. Boudou camp has been totally destroyed by guinean civilians last december. Now it is being used by Sierra Leone refugees as a place to spend the night on their way north into Guinea. This woman has been beaten by her husband during a figth and walks around in despair. The woman was to tired to travel to Massakoundou refugeecamp, her husband insisted. They have been on the run from Kolomba Refugeecamp near the border with Sierra Leone.   Refugees from the Parrot's Beak fighting over a food package donated by Action Contre le Faim. The refugees have been walking for days to get out of the Parrots Beak without food and have been constantly harassed by Guineans. Guinean army and security forces check the belongings of refugees. The refugees are being transported with an UNHCR convoy to a safer area around the town of Albadaria, up north further away from the border.   Nyadou refugee camp: Sierra Leonean refugees waiting for transport by a UNHCR-truck to the Albadaria Refugee-camp, around 200 kilometres north of Nyadou. The Nyadou camp has been attacked by rebels and the Guinean government wants them out of the war zone. Massakoundou refugee camp: Taxi drivers and some passengers waiting for other refugees to travel to the Guinean capital Conakry. During their voyage they risk getting molested and robbed at checkpoints. There is no transport to Conakry provided by the UNHCR or other ngo's.   Muslims saying their evening prayers onboard the 'Fanta'. That day the ship repatriated around 420 persons back to Sierra Leone. Most of them came from the transit camp near the Sierra Leone Embassy St. Marie in Conakry, where they had stayed a few days after their arrival from Eastern Guinea. 05.00 am: A group of passengers waiting anxiously for the moment the coast of Sierra Leone comes in sight. On arrival, most refugees coming from Guinea are transferred to campsites in Waterloo, 20 miles east of Freetown. Afterwards they will go to special resettlement areas.