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...
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