Vol 4/1
February
1999

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For our 'beloved Sierra Leone'

Adeline Cole, a SPA at St Saviour's, Brockley Hill, was one of the instigators of a 3 hour candle-lit vigil in Whitehall for Sierra Leone on 14 January. Adeline's husband and brother are in Freetown. She has not heard from them since early January. Her son was among the last British subjects to leave.

Battles between government and rebel troops have raged through country districts and onto the streets of the capital Freetown following the ousting of the military junta and the restoration of a civilian government in March 98. Despite the cease-fire called on 18 January, public services are out of action and many thousands are homeless, without water supplies and near to starvation. Hospitals are damaged and short of medicines and UN food supplies are being blocked.

Many in the UK are anxious about relatives and friends. Christians seem to be a particular target for the rebel army who have kidnapped and killed priests and missionaries. There are fears for the safety of the Anglican Bishop of Freetown, the Rt Rev. Julius Lynch.

The group have written to Foreign Secretary Robin Cook, asking for an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council and have enlisted the help of local MPs. A second vigil was being planned for 19 January. More than 300 Christians from across the London area joined Adeline (above) at the vigil. They included ex-patriate Sierra Leoneans, missionaries and others who had worked in the small West African state.

More than 300 Christians from across the London area joined Adeline (above) at the vigil

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