Sunday 11 October 2015
Saturday 3rd October 2015
I was up by 6AM. Last night I agreed to meet up at 7AM with Dorothy the CRS country head, for a long hike up Mount Febe. Supposed to be very nice and scenic. I'd rather go for long hikes than to night clubs.
Anyhow the hike was fantastic. It was so incredible to see how crazy about sport Cameroonians are. They were running, stretching, crunching, etc...just about everywhere. The sidewalks, the pavement, in between cars, parking lots, everywhere. It was very unreal.
Yaounde is known for being the city of the 7 hills, as it is indeed surrounded by beautiful lush green jungle hills. A gorgeous sight early in the morning, when the dew is still visible, and the jungle has not fully gotten rid of its foggy blanket.
I was very tired waking up at 6AM on a saturday morning after the exhausting week I had had in Bangui. But it was so worth it.
We walked for a good 3 hours, and then walked back down to the city. We said goodbyes, and I kept on walk around alone. I just wanted to walk walk walk. Not being walk around in Bangui was so frustrating. And the way I love to discover a place is by walking.
And so I kept on walking until early afternoon. Found myself lots of bananas. Walked back to the hotel and laid down by the pool, eating bananas for brunch, while the tropical rain was making its way towards the hotel.
I spent the rest of the afternoon in my room, resting to the sound of the pouring rain, waiting for the time to pack and head to the airport...leaving Africa and back to Paris.
It was a short lived mission. t is really frustrating that I did not even get to really start implementing the project and making a concrete impact. I cant wait for the mission to start again or to find another mission. Soon inchallah...
Anyhow the hike was fantastic. It was so incredible to see how crazy about sport Cameroonians are. They were running, stretching, crunching, etc...just about everywhere. The sidewalks, the pavement, in between cars, parking lots, everywhere. It was very unreal.
Yaounde is known for being the city of the 7 hills, as it is indeed surrounded by beautiful lush green jungle hills. A gorgeous sight early in the morning, when the dew is still visible, and the jungle has not fully gotten rid of its foggy blanket.
I was very tired waking up at 6AM on a saturday morning after the exhausting week I had had in Bangui. But it was so worth it.
We walked for a good 3 hours, and then walked back down to the city. We said goodbyes, and I kept on walk around alone. I just wanted to walk walk walk. Not being walk around in Bangui was so frustrating. And the way I love to discover a place is by walking.
And so I kept on walking until early afternoon. Found myself lots of bananas. Walked back to the hotel and laid down by the pool, eating bananas for brunch, while the tropical rain was making its way towards the hotel.
I spent the rest of the afternoon in my room, resting to the sound of the pouring rain, waiting for the time to pack and head to the airport...leaving Africa and back to Paris.
It was a short lived mission. t is really frustrating that I did not even get to really start implementing the project and making a concrete impact. I cant wait for the mission to start again or to find another mission. Soon inchallah...
Friday 9 October 2015
Friday 2nd October 2015
Today I spent all day at CRS office, sort of debriefing with everyone there about the whole situation in Bangui. All wanted to know how it went.
At night another batch of evacuees arrived. I was hoping to see other Cordaid friends of other familiar faces. But no. I guess they went to another hotel. Sad.
So all of us, CRS CAR and Cameroon staff went out for dinner. I was still so tired, I just wanted to go to sleep.
One thing Cameroonians love more than their fake hair extensions, is their liquor. Gosh you should see how many liquor stores selling champagne and whiskey!
A lot of those who arrived today, mostly African expats, decided to go clubbing and drinking. No thank you!
Off to bed I went.
At night another batch of evacuees arrived. I was hoping to see other Cordaid friends of other familiar faces. But no. I guess they went to another hotel. Sad.
So all of us, CRS CAR and Cameroon staff went out for dinner. I was still so tired, I just wanted to go to sleep.
One thing Cameroonians love more than their fake hair extensions, is their liquor. Gosh you should see how many liquor stores selling champagne and whiskey!
A lot of those who arrived today, mostly African expats, decided to go clubbing and drinking. No thank you!
Off to bed I went.
Thursday 1st October 2015
I finally managed to sleep last night. First decent sleep since Sunday. At last!
I walk back to the room, everyone is already very active. What happened?
Apparently the evacuation flight manifest for today were out last night at 11:30PM, but only got disseminated by email, though everyone knows how bad the internet has been since the hotel is full.
Philippe is really mad, and so are we. UNHAS ignored the updated lists that were sent out and only considered the very first one we had sent out. Comes a bit as a shock given the logistical work put to update the lists each time UNHAS came back to us. From our group, Femke, Arnold and myself are supposed to be extracted today...this morning. Time for a quick bite to eat, pack, and go. The army tanks will be up front momentarily and if we are not there we they call our names, we miss our chance. I would not have minded missing my chance but from an insurance perspective I am not sure how it would have played. So better not fool around and not take the risk.
We are all down and ready when they call out our names. We all line up by groups of 7 with our grab bags.
The tanks dont take to long to arrive. More adrenaline. What a scene!
Now I really regret not having bought a GoPro in Paris before I left. Bummer! I still try and film some with my compact camera. No wide angle though.
And off we go each group behind a few soldiers. We get to the huge tanks, we get instructed to pick up and put on bullet proof jackets and Kevlar helmet. Coooooool! If anything, the mission was worth it for this moment.
How often does one get to take part to a military maneuver with actual lethal risks around?! fun! We all gear up and jump or rather climb in the tank. John is hilarious as any respectful c=Congolese, he is wearing a fancy suit with a tie. Just imagine how unfitting of an outfit for a military evacuation. I suggest he should at least drop the tie. It is like a million degrees inside the tank! But no, he wont have it.
Before the tank ride starts, I discretely tell Arnold who is sitting next to me, that I secretly wish for the rebels to shot bullet or even better a grenade or a rocket at us while we ride. Just for kicks...and for the story to be spicier. Sadly, the tank has no windows and we cant even see what's going on outside. Bummer!
The ride goes well. Not even a pot hole on the rode. Come on guys!!! All these days of tension, and you let this one go by without anything?!
At the airport, no one but us...the evacuees. Strange to see n airport, though as tiny as this one, open only for us. The check in still takes a long time, we still have to go to security, and we still have to wait forever in the boarding room even though the planes are waiting right outside.
When we are finally allowed to walk to the plane, it is quite cool. You know those movies where Mafioso boarding a private jet are safe guarded by private body guards armed with AK47 and Ray Ban sunglasses, wearing running shoes, kaki pants, and a tshirt, sanding on the tarmac scouting away for any suspicious movement? Well it was the same thing.
It was fun. I caught myself scouting away as well, trying to observe what they were observing.
But nothing. We just boarded the plane like any regular commercial plane. The plane itself seemed just like a commercial plane. Aboard, a flight crew dressed like regular airline crew.
Come on!!! what a rip off of n evacuation! I expected to board a big army cargo plane, with the back of the pane opening up and letting us all walk in then sit on the floor, with soldiers and military gear all around. I swear I gotta stop watching so many movies.
And off to Yaounde, Cameroon, we were.
The flight went without a hick up.
Arriving in Yaounde was quite something.
Most European consulate representatives were there, with baskets of sandwiches and beverages for their citizens...all but the French. We did not even get a small bottle of water. Shame shame shame!
It then took about 5.5 hours for all evacuees, less than 60 people, to get our 3 day transit visa, even though there were 5 airport officers there for this and only dedicated to us. A pre-flavor of what to expect in Cameroon. hahaha!
We were all dead tired after such a long day, we all fell asleep in the ride to the new hotel.
Most CRS staff was there to welcome us, even Dorothy the country manager. How kind of them.
A nice shower, a quick bite to eat, and off to bed...at last!
I walk back to the room, everyone is already very active. What happened?
Apparently the evacuation flight manifest for today were out last night at 11:30PM, but only got disseminated by email, though everyone knows how bad the internet has been since the hotel is full.
Philippe is really mad, and so are we. UNHAS ignored the updated lists that were sent out and only considered the very first one we had sent out. Comes a bit as a shock given the logistical work put to update the lists each time UNHAS came back to us. From our group, Femke, Arnold and myself are supposed to be extracted today...this morning. Time for a quick bite to eat, pack, and go. The army tanks will be up front momentarily and if we are not there we they call our names, we miss our chance. I would not have minded missing my chance but from an insurance perspective I am not sure how it would have played. So better not fool around and not take the risk.
We are all down and ready when they call out our names. We all line up by groups of 7 with our grab bags.
The tanks dont take to long to arrive. More adrenaline. What a scene!
Now I really regret not having bought a GoPro in Paris before I left. Bummer! I still try and film some with my compact camera. No wide angle though.
And off we go each group behind a few soldiers. We get to the huge tanks, we get instructed to pick up and put on bullet proof jackets and Kevlar helmet. Coooooool! If anything, the mission was worth it for this moment.
How often does one get to take part to a military maneuver with actual lethal risks around?! fun! We all gear up and jump or rather climb in the tank. John is hilarious as any respectful c=Congolese, he is wearing a fancy suit with a tie. Just imagine how unfitting of an outfit for a military evacuation. I suggest he should at least drop the tie. It is like a million degrees inside the tank! But no, he wont have it.
Before the tank ride starts, I discretely tell Arnold who is sitting next to me, that I secretly wish for the rebels to shot bullet or even better a grenade or a rocket at us while we ride. Just for kicks...and for the story to be spicier. Sadly, the tank has no windows and we cant even see what's going on outside. Bummer!
The ride goes well. Not even a pot hole on the rode. Come on guys!!! All these days of tension, and you let this one go by without anything?!
At the airport, no one but us...the evacuees. Strange to see n airport, though as tiny as this one, open only for us. The check in still takes a long time, we still have to go to security, and we still have to wait forever in the boarding room even though the planes are waiting right outside.
When we are finally allowed to walk to the plane, it is quite cool. You know those movies where Mafioso boarding a private jet are safe guarded by private body guards armed with AK47 and Ray Ban sunglasses, wearing running shoes, kaki pants, and a tshirt, sanding on the tarmac scouting away for any suspicious movement? Well it was the same thing.
It was fun. I caught myself scouting away as well, trying to observe what they were observing.
But nothing. We just boarded the plane like any regular commercial plane. The plane itself seemed just like a commercial plane. Aboard, a flight crew dressed like regular airline crew.
Come on!!! what a rip off of n evacuation! I expected to board a big army cargo plane, with the back of the pane opening up and letting us all walk in then sit on the floor, with soldiers and military gear all around. I swear I gotta stop watching so many movies.
And off to Yaounde, Cameroon, we were.
The flight went without a hick up.
Arriving in Yaounde was quite something.
Most European consulate representatives were there, with baskets of sandwiches and beverages for their citizens...all but the French. We did not even get a small bottle of water. Shame shame shame!
It then took about 5.5 hours for all evacuees, less than 60 people, to get our 3 day transit visa, even though there were 5 airport officers there for this and only dedicated to us. A pre-flavor of what to expect in Cameroon. hahaha!
We were all dead tired after such a long day, we all fell asleep in the ride to the new hotel.
Most CRS staff was there to welcome us, even Dorothy the country manager. How kind of them.
A nice shower, a quick bite to eat, and off to bed...at last!
Wednesday 30th September 2015
All the priority people to be evacuated both of UNHAS flight and on ECHO Flights are packed and waiting in the lobby by 8:30AM. By 9AM all is cancelled, but people are Chief of Missions are still waiting in the lobby just in case the UN and ECHO manage to secure convoys to the airport given that the flight are there and ready. Once again, not a bullet sound outside. What are MINUSCA and Sangaris doing? where are they?
In the meantime, I am having breakfast at the buffet with some friends. Before I go, I grab some fruits and pastries in a napkin to bring to the Chief of Missions since they will not get a chance to have breakfast. Cherry on the cake...the restaurant manager threatens to call security on me if I take any food out of the restaurant. I explain to him the reason, he stands his ground. He does not seem to understand that the security (financial as well as military) of the hotel is us. I tell him to go and try to call his security, and I walk away.
I swear I am not sure whether I am angrier at the rebels and locals for pillaging our offices, or at the hotel management for being so inhumane and pillaging us further.
The President is rumored to be arriving later in the afternoon.
The Chief of Mission committee meets again. We hear that yesterday, when we met up in a back room that had chairs and light during one hour for our evening meeting, the hotel actually charged us 300 euros for using the space. Everyone was in shock, but I really dont understand why none of these NGO directors did not do anything at all. The hotel should be happy that it is full for the first time of the year and try to show some compassion and humanity towards us.Every day I catch myself thinking that when we leave this place we should make sure that all the rebels and locals know that because we have all paid cash in advance for days, the hotel safe is filled with loads of cash, and watch what happens. hehe!
Karma is a bitch as I often heard while in Asia. So no worries...what goes around comes around.
The rest of the day went without the sound of a gun shot. As if everything had return to normal.
Oh, I almost forgot, during the early afternoon, we got word that there was a window of opportunity to make an "escape". We had been waiting, Philippe, Leann and myself, for a window so we could make a run to the CAM for Philippe and I to pick up our remaining stuff, and for Leann and some of her staff to pick up their stuff at their residence, right across from the CAM.
The window got confirmed. 5 of us jumped in a jeep. No escort whatsoever. No protection either.
We sped as fast as possible on the road. All eyes of people on the side walk turned towards us. Not a single vehicle but us on the road. Tension was most definitely high. More adrenaline in me.
We got to the CAM. Philippe and I jumped out. They kept on going. We had time to collect our things. For me to pack my bags. We caught a bit with the head nun, and gave her a big smile for good bye. The car was back. We jumped back in as fast as possible while locals around were staring at us. More adrenaline. I loved it!
And we sped back to the hotel. Fast!
Voila! Mission accomplished. Not a gun shot nor a grenade. Silly to say, but I was a bit disappointed.
I had some new clean clothes and my swim suit. So I went for a dip and a short swim in the afternoon.
The rest of the day and evening went by.
More bonding and socializing with our group. A very nice and fun bunch.
Tonight I am super tired though. Everyone wanted to stay up and hang out. It is 10PM, I am beat!
Laila Saida...
In the meantime, I am having breakfast at the buffet with some friends. Before I go, I grab some fruits and pastries in a napkin to bring to the Chief of Missions since they will not get a chance to have breakfast. Cherry on the cake...the restaurant manager threatens to call security on me if I take any food out of the restaurant. I explain to him the reason, he stands his ground. He does not seem to understand that the security (financial as well as military) of the hotel is us. I tell him to go and try to call his security, and I walk away.
I swear I am not sure whether I am angrier at the rebels and locals for pillaging our offices, or at the hotel management for being so inhumane and pillaging us further.
The President is rumored to be arriving later in the afternoon.
The Chief of Mission committee meets again. We hear that yesterday, when we met up in a back room that had chairs and light during one hour for our evening meeting, the hotel actually charged us 300 euros for using the space. Everyone was in shock, but I really dont understand why none of these NGO directors did not do anything at all. The hotel should be happy that it is full for the first time of the year and try to show some compassion and humanity towards us.Every day I catch myself thinking that when we leave this place we should make sure that all the rebels and locals know that because we have all paid cash in advance for days, the hotel safe is filled with loads of cash, and watch what happens. hehe!
Karma is a bitch as I often heard while in Asia. So no worries...what goes around comes around.
The rest of the day went without the sound of a gun shot. As if everything had return to normal.
Oh, I almost forgot, during the early afternoon, we got word that there was a window of opportunity to make an "escape". We had been waiting, Philippe, Leann and myself, for a window so we could make a run to the CAM for Philippe and I to pick up our remaining stuff, and for Leann and some of her staff to pick up their stuff at their residence, right across from the CAM.
The window got confirmed. 5 of us jumped in a jeep. No escort whatsoever. No protection either.
We sped as fast as possible on the road. All eyes of people on the side walk turned towards us. Not a single vehicle but us on the road. Tension was most definitely high. More adrenaline in me.
We got to the CAM. Philippe and I jumped out. They kept on going. We had time to collect our things. For me to pack my bags. We caught a bit with the head nun, and gave her a big smile for good bye. The car was back. We jumped back in as fast as possible while locals around were staring at us. More adrenaline. I loved it!
And we sped back to the hotel. Fast!
Voila! Mission accomplished. Not a gun shot nor a grenade. Silly to say, but I was a bit disappointed.
I had some new clean clothes and my swim suit. So I went for a dip and a short swim in the afternoon.
The rest of the day and evening went by.
More bonding and socializing with our group. A very nice and fun bunch.
Tonight I am super tired though. Everyone wanted to stay up and hang out. It is 10PM, I am beat!
Laila Saida...
Tuesday 29th September 2015
...the sun rose, and MINUSCA failed on their promises. No patrol at all went to the CAM to extract Philippe and the nuns. yet another disappointment from the UN.
The hotel by mid morning was full. The lobby was filled up with evacuees newly arrived and lining up to try and book rooms at the front desk. Cash in advance is still the only way to go. Ridiculously abusive!
Our intel confirms that many more NGOs got pillaged during the night. MINUSCA and Sangaris where were you all night???
Late morning, a window of opportunity opened up, the conflict cleared the access to the hotel. CRS staff teamed up with Philippe, and they made a 5 car convoy, no escort whatsoever, yet made it safe to the hotel. Yay! I was actually really happy to see him, and also see the CRS team arrive. Well, I was super proud and impressed that they took such risk. Goes to show Philippe's and Leann's experience with such situations.
Rumors say that the rebels are taking teh day off to rest from all the pillages and refill ammunition. Thus, an intense night to come.More action to come. More adrenaline for me!
The difefrent NGOs present in the hotel decide to put together periodical Chief of Mission's meetings. Since I am the only one from SCCF, I get to attend. What an interesting process. Yet at the same time, very surprisingly disorganised. As if it were the very first time for everyone, when most people around the table had already gone through at least 2 similar yet much worse situations in the past, and in Bangui. Oh well...
Our task is to put together a list ranking each NGO staff by order of evacuation priority. I was under CRS responsibility, so up to them. Personally, the longer I stay, the more action I get to see, the more adrenaline, and the more exciting an experience. So I let Leann do whatever she wants. Might as well put me at the bottom of the list.
First batch of evacuations planned for tomorrow morning.
The rest of the day goes as usual...intel hunt, speculation, a bit of socializing and networking, and a lot of laughing thanks to our dear Arnold.
Up until last night, dinner options were many. Just like in any restaurant, there was a menu with different prices and options, based on clients appetite and budget. So why would anything change, right?!
Well...now that the hotel is full or evacuees with no other option that to stay here, the hotel management, all of a sudden has decided to remove the entire menu, and impose the most expensive option: the 30 euros buffet. 30 euros for a meal when the minimum monthly salary is around 40 euros. And the manager is a foreigner! When the waiter brought the bill to us, even though we assumed it was all like last night and we had all taken just a simple salad from the salad bar, I lost my equanimity, or at least had some trouble maintaining it. Scandalous! And so we told the waiter we would simply not pay, and if the management had a problem with it, to come and confront us. Our loud scandal made a few other people complain as well. Good!
After dinner, some of us, not me, wanted to get a drink, and so we hung out on the terrace overlooking the pool, and facing far away, the main avenue. All of a sudden, we see firework-like lights coming from the street and shooting up in the sky and coming towards the hotel/us. I see Philippe jumping super fast and ducking behind the wall. Everyone, by reflex does the same thing. The lights fly above our heads and above the hotel. We see like big fire red bullet. WOW! more adrenaline. The rebels were shooting long range tracers with bullets at us. Probably just to intimidate us because it was just a one time thing. We all thought there were anti aircraft mist, and started fearing for the helicopters who kept doing their rounds all night long.
wow! so long for a relax evening outside. Our group went inside and stayed inside, while several unconscious people went back out to hang out.
Later on as we are about to go to sleep, or at east try, I get a call from Sister Flora, whispering on the phone that the office guards have been tied up while the office is being pillaged by armed rebels. I felt so helpless and frustrated at the same time knowing that there was nothing at all I could do given our failures the nights before. And so all I could tell her was to pray for the guards to not be harmed.
For rebels and locals to pillage private profit making corporations, I can perhaps understand given how opportunistic and abusive private sector companies can often be in the developing world. But NGOs?! Yes, perhaps some NGOs are not all that clean, but that for the most part we are all there to help local communities improve their livelihoods, not at all to take advantage of them, but rather to ensure that the grants we win get the most sustainable and positive impact as possible.
Another sleepless night in Bangui...my body is still filled with adrenaline. I am not quite sure if my reaction is normal given the situation. Perhaps I am a bit crazy, yet at the same time, I know there is absolutely nothing I can do.
Bonne nuit.
The hotel by mid morning was full. The lobby was filled up with evacuees newly arrived and lining up to try and book rooms at the front desk. Cash in advance is still the only way to go. Ridiculously abusive!
Our intel confirms that many more NGOs got pillaged during the night. MINUSCA and Sangaris where were you all night???
Late morning, a window of opportunity opened up, the conflict cleared the access to the hotel. CRS staff teamed up with Philippe, and they made a 5 car convoy, no escort whatsoever, yet made it safe to the hotel. Yay! I was actually really happy to see him, and also see the CRS team arrive. Well, I was super proud and impressed that they took such risk. Goes to show Philippe's and Leann's experience with such situations.
Rumors say that the rebels are taking teh day off to rest from all the pillages and refill ammunition. Thus, an intense night to come.More action to come. More adrenaline for me!
The difefrent NGOs present in the hotel decide to put together periodical Chief of Mission's meetings. Since I am the only one from SCCF, I get to attend. What an interesting process. Yet at the same time, very surprisingly disorganised. As if it were the very first time for everyone, when most people around the table had already gone through at least 2 similar yet much worse situations in the past, and in Bangui. Oh well...
Our task is to put together a list ranking each NGO staff by order of evacuation priority. I was under CRS responsibility, so up to them. Personally, the longer I stay, the more action I get to see, the more adrenaline, and the more exciting an experience. So I let Leann do whatever she wants. Might as well put me at the bottom of the list.
First batch of evacuations planned for tomorrow morning.
The rest of the day goes as usual...intel hunt, speculation, a bit of socializing and networking, and a lot of laughing thanks to our dear Arnold.
Up until last night, dinner options were many. Just like in any restaurant, there was a menu with different prices and options, based on clients appetite and budget. So why would anything change, right?!
Well...now that the hotel is full or evacuees with no other option that to stay here, the hotel management, all of a sudden has decided to remove the entire menu, and impose the most expensive option: the 30 euros buffet. 30 euros for a meal when the minimum monthly salary is around 40 euros. And the manager is a foreigner! When the waiter brought the bill to us, even though we assumed it was all like last night and we had all taken just a simple salad from the salad bar, I lost my equanimity, or at least had some trouble maintaining it. Scandalous! And so we told the waiter we would simply not pay, and if the management had a problem with it, to come and confront us. Our loud scandal made a few other people complain as well. Good!
After dinner, some of us, not me, wanted to get a drink, and so we hung out on the terrace overlooking the pool, and facing far away, the main avenue. All of a sudden, we see firework-like lights coming from the street and shooting up in the sky and coming towards the hotel/us. I see Philippe jumping super fast and ducking behind the wall. Everyone, by reflex does the same thing. The lights fly above our heads and above the hotel. We see like big fire red bullet. WOW! more adrenaline. The rebels were shooting long range tracers with bullets at us. Probably just to intimidate us because it was just a one time thing. We all thought there were anti aircraft mist, and started fearing for the helicopters who kept doing their rounds all night long.
wow! so long for a relax evening outside. Our group went inside and stayed inside, while several unconscious people went back out to hang out.
Later on as we are about to go to sleep, or at east try, I get a call from Sister Flora, whispering on the phone that the office guards have been tied up while the office is being pillaged by armed rebels. I felt so helpless and frustrated at the same time knowing that there was nothing at all I could do given our failures the nights before. And so all I could tell her was to pray for the guards to not be harmed.
For rebels and locals to pillage private profit making corporations, I can perhaps understand given how opportunistic and abusive private sector companies can often be in the developing world. But NGOs?! Yes, perhaps some NGOs are not all that clean, but that for the most part we are all there to help local communities improve their livelihoods, not at all to take advantage of them, but rather to ensure that the grants we win get the most sustainable and positive impact as possible.
Another sleepless night in Bangui...my body is still filled with adrenaline. I am not quite sure if my reaction is normal given the situation. Perhaps I am a bit crazy, yet at the same time, I know there is absolutely nothing I can do.
Bonne nuit.
Monday 28th September 2015
Today was yet another interesting day.
We finally managed to get the UN forces and Embassy forces to pay attention to us. Isabelle in Paris did a fantastic job backing me up to get my case on the priority lists for international internal evacuation.
At the same time, the Cordaid team here managed to get a UN Burundi blue helmets pick up to come get us at the CAM and take us to the Ledger Hotel.
And so we all packed our things to get ready, and waited.
At the same time I got confirmation that the French army would send me a pick up to evacuate during the day.
When the UN pick up came, Philippe suggested to jump on the opportunity and not wait for the other pick up. And so I listened to him.
Philippe, as brave as he is, decided to not go just yet as the nuns of the CAM were not feeling so good and safe. And since thus far not a single authority has even inquired about them, having Philippe in the center with them helped make them feel better.
Arnold and I loaded our own pick car in which we were to follow the UN pick up, as a 2 vehicle convoy.
Before starting the car, Arnold made quite a moving prayer for us. And for once, I said Amen.
The streets were empty of vehicles. Only pedestrians, and big UN white armored vehicles. I so wished I had a go-pro camera with me to film the whole thing. Thankfully, the Ledger hotel was only a few minutes drive away.
In all honesty, I was not worried at all. On the opposite, I found the moment so exciting. And so after our first night under the bullets, I got yet another adrenaline boost.
When we got to the hotel, we made sure to shake the hand of every soldier that was on our convoy.
Ok, now, the hotel Ledger, please, after reading this post, and every single time you have the opportunity, tear down the reputation of this chain of hotel.
This hotel's business is 100% foreign expats. It is clear that the whole city is now in a situation of a coup d'etat attempt. In other words, humanitarian crisis. Yet, the hotel will only accept clients if they pay their room cash in advance, and announces that it is forbidden to sleep on the floor or in the sofas. (all NGO offices, including their safes, have been pillaged, so obviously money liquidity is a very big issue at the moment, especially since the only ATM machine in the hotel is out of order).
So checking in took us 5 hours.
The rest of the day went quite well. Meeting lots of new people, and being at the center of the NGO and IGO population, all in the same boat, and all speculating about intel and events to come.
Personally, I found the situation fascinating.
Myself and another Cordaid guy, Fred, befriended two employees from the UN, MINUSCA forces.
After diner, we went for a drink at the bar to further discuss. Philippe called me telling me that their office was being pillaged a second time and that they were about to take the two safes from the office. (loaded with cash inside).
And so with my friends Danielle and Sophie from MINUSCA, we did all we could, to send over a patrol, and at the same time, arrange for evacuation of Philippe and the nuns. We got confirmation that all this would happen.
The night went on. I went up to try and get some sleep. Unfortunately; my roommate Arnold, snores way to much and to loudly, to the point that it was louder than the explosions outside. So I took blanket and pillow to go sleep in the hallway. Strangely, being able to hear the explosions and bullets calmed me down, as I was able to follow the evolution of the conflict.
The night was VERY tensed. Though inside the hotel all was very quite. People were probably all sleeping peacefully because the noise of the AC in their room covered the noises from outside. But I personally clearly heared a few attempts of rebels trying to take over the hotel and being pushed back by armed forces.
Every hour I was checking on Philippe. He had told me that they feared rebels would come down from the hill jungle and use the CAM as a hide out. So they turned off all the lights and hid in their rooms...and made sure the phones would not ring.
For several hours I did not get any answer from him...
We finally managed to get the UN forces and Embassy forces to pay attention to us. Isabelle in Paris did a fantastic job backing me up to get my case on the priority lists for international internal evacuation.
At the same time, the Cordaid team here managed to get a UN Burundi blue helmets pick up to come get us at the CAM and take us to the Ledger Hotel.
And so we all packed our things to get ready, and waited.
At the same time I got confirmation that the French army would send me a pick up to evacuate during the day.
When the UN pick up came, Philippe suggested to jump on the opportunity and not wait for the other pick up. And so I listened to him.
Philippe, as brave as he is, decided to not go just yet as the nuns of the CAM were not feeling so good and safe. And since thus far not a single authority has even inquired about them, having Philippe in the center with them helped make them feel better.
Arnold and I loaded our own pick car in which we were to follow the UN pick up, as a 2 vehicle convoy.
Before starting the car, Arnold made quite a moving prayer for us. And for once, I said Amen.
The streets were empty of vehicles. Only pedestrians, and big UN white armored vehicles. I so wished I had a go-pro camera with me to film the whole thing. Thankfully, the Ledger hotel was only a few minutes drive away.
In all honesty, I was not worried at all. On the opposite, I found the moment so exciting. And so after our first night under the bullets, I got yet another adrenaline boost.
When we got to the hotel, we made sure to shake the hand of every soldier that was on our convoy.
Ok, now, the hotel Ledger, please, after reading this post, and every single time you have the opportunity, tear down the reputation of this chain of hotel.
This hotel's business is 100% foreign expats. It is clear that the whole city is now in a situation of a coup d'etat attempt. In other words, humanitarian crisis. Yet, the hotel will only accept clients if they pay their room cash in advance, and announces that it is forbidden to sleep on the floor or in the sofas. (all NGO offices, including their safes, have been pillaged, so obviously money liquidity is a very big issue at the moment, especially since the only ATM machine in the hotel is out of order).
So checking in took us 5 hours.
The rest of the day went quite well. Meeting lots of new people, and being at the center of the NGO and IGO population, all in the same boat, and all speculating about intel and events to come.
Personally, I found the situation fascinating.
Myself and another Cordaid guy, Fred, befriended two employees from the UN, MINUSCA forces.
After diner, we went for a drink at the bar to further discuss. Philippe called me telling me that their office was being pillaged a second time and that they were about to take the two safes from the office. (loaded with cash inside).
And so with my friends Danielle and Sophie from MINUSCA, we did all we could, to send over a patrol, and at the same time, arrange for evacuation of Philippe and the nuns. We got confirmation that all this would happen.
The night went on. I went up to try and get some sleep. Unfortunately; my roommate Arnold, snores way to much and to loudly, to the point that it was louder than the explosions outside. So I took blanket and pillow to go sleep in the hallway. Strangely, being able to hear the explosions and bullets calmed me down, as I was able to follow the evolution of the conflict.
The night was VERY tensed. Though inside the hotel all was very quite. People were probably all sleeping peacefully because the noise of the AC in their room covered the noises from outside. But I personally clearly heared a few attempts of rebels trying to take over the hotel and being pushed back by armed forces.
Every hour I was checking on Philippe. He had told me that they feared rebels would come down from the hill jungle and use the CAM as a hide out. So they turned off all the lights and hid in their rooms...and made sure the phones would not ring.
For several hours I did not get any answer from him...
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