Date : 05/2000

Country/Region : SIERRA LEONE

Title : Kenema, Sierra Leone, May 2000

Duration : 00:03:21

Director : SIDLER, Roland

Cameraman : SIDLER, Roland

Editor : unknown

Keyword : RURAL AREA; HOSPITAL; AGRICULTURE; SURGERY; RELIEF DISTRIBUTION; SURGICAL HOSPITAL; URBAN AREA; DOCTOR; WOUNDED PERSON

Person appearing :
RAMEZ, Salahuddin (chirurgien)

Confidentiality level : public

Publication restrictions : publication without restrictions

Copyright : ICRC

Production company : ICRC

ICRC producer :
none

Description : International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) activities continue in Sierra Leone despite the fighting that resumed there on 5 May. There has been no suspension of the CRC’s medical programme at the provincial hospital in Kenema, a city located in the east of the country, which has remained calm. During the past week, despite reduced staffing, the ICRC surgical team carried out a dozen operations on patients wounded in earlier fighting. In addition, the ICRC continued to renovate hospitals and build new facilities. In the hospital at Kenema, Mohammad Sesay (aged 31) recovers from surgery. He was seriously wounded during the war three years ago. An ICRC surgical team has had to operate several times to help him walk again. Dr Ramez Sallahuddin, an ICRC surgeon checks his condition after he has performed other surgery on war wounded. Mohammad’s family arrives at the hospital to accompany him home. His village, Voindama, is located about 20 km from Kenema, where 300 displaced people have constructed their huts. Although the current lack of security places limits on its activities, the ICRC continues to assist victims of Sierra Leone in bringing the essential basic material - (blankets sleeping mats, soap, buckets, tools) and especially seeds (rice and vegetable) before the next rainy season. The entire programme to provide seed and supplies should benefit approximately 300,000 people, including internally displaced people, returnees and particularly vulnerable groups. Distribution of supplies takes place in Mohammad’s village. Once his family receive the seeds they quickly go to the fields so that they can finish planting before the rainy season approaches. Moham mad gives a helping hand. He is still handicapped from the injuries that he sustained, but slowly, step by step he is returning to a normal life.

Original language : International soundtrack

English title : Kenema, Sierra Leone, May 2000

Colour/B&W : colour

Original material/format : Betacam SP

Best material/format available : Betacam SP