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CNN Live Today

Kids in the Crossfire

Aired September 25, 2002 - 10:09   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Well there is a nasty political situation brewing a half a world away. We got some developments to pass along now about the American school kids who are pinned down by a military coup on the West African nation of Ivory Coast. We have learned that some American troops who were supposed to be on their way to help those kids out are actually now in the air. We'll have an update on that coming from our Barbara Starr at the Pentagon in just a few moments.
Now some 200 schoolchildren and staffers have been trapped inside this international Christian academy which is caught in a crossfire between government and rebel troops. French troops are now on the scene and they have secured that school. And as we understand it, of that number of 200 children and staffers there about 101 of the figures there are children who are from this country.

And joining us now on the telephone is Dr. David Harvey, who, as I understand it, has -- is a grandfather of some kids who are there at that school.

Dr. Harvey, are you there?

DR. DAVID HARVEY, GRANDFATHER OF IVORY COAST STUDENTS: Yes, sir (ph).

HARRIS: As I understand it, you have a couple of grandchildren there?

HARVEY: Yes, we have three grandchildren, all girls, there.

HARRIS: Names please?

HARVEY: Yes, Alexis (ph), Stephanie (ph) and Jordana (ph).

HARRIS: How are they?

HARVEY: Fine, they're doing well. They had a good night's sleep last night, and they said -- of course they called this morning, mentioned that the French troops were there on campus so they feel pretty well secure right now.

HARRIS: So did they say the French troops came in there firing or just came in there and they...

HARVEY: No, no.

HARRIS: ... everything down or what? HARVEY: No, they just -- no, they just came in, because the school is outside of the town there, and the situation there right now is rather calm since they have arrived.

HARRIS: Yes. Now how old are your -- are your grandkids?

HARVEY: The two of them are 12, twins, Alexis and Stephanie, and then the other one is 10 years old, Jordana.

HARRIS: Well have they told you that they've been frightened or have they felt pretty secure all along?

HARVEY: Well they felt pretty secure, except yesterday, you know, when they were firing over the wall of the school into the town, naturally they were stressed out somewhat.

HARRIS: Yes.

HARVEY: But they feel rather safe right now.

HARRIS: What'd they tell you about gunfire there coming inside the compound? As we understand it, the reports that we've been hearing is that they are caught smack-dab in the middle of two different forces that are shooting at each other and there's been some fire that's been going over their heads.

HARVEY: Yes, the firing was going over their heads form the back side of the wall into town, but nothing ever fell on the property itself. So they're thankful for that. And they believe that they're there and -- you know they know that the Lord is with them and their trust is in Him.

HARRIS: What have you been hearing from the U.S. government?

HARVEY: Oh, the government, we haven't been in contact with them at all. And we just know that they're doing what they can in sending the U.S. troops over there.

HARRIS: So they haven't been trying to get in touch with you to calm your fears or anything?

HARVEY: No, they haven't. They -- we have -- there's quite a few families over there, of course, you know with 100 children or so, so I guess they can't contact everybody. But we just try to follow the e-mails that come out of there, and we've been calling them twice a day so we know that -- how things are going.

HARRIS: Well what have they been doing, the kids, what have they been doing when all this fighting's been going on, have they been still going to classes or what?

HARVEY: No, well the classes have been closed of this the last two or three days. And they -- first they met together in one room and then one dormitory that is together. But they were out in the gym last night having a time together, just in case they were evacuated and would miss each other, but otherwise they've been sort of in their dorms with their house parents. They have house parents in each of the dorms with the kids. Our daughter and her husband, they are house parents for 20 teenage girls, and so they're there with them in the dorm. And once in a while they go over to the cafeteria, if things are calm, and of course I'm sure they will today.

HARRIS: Yes.

HARVEY: But...

HARRIS: Speaking of the cafeteria, what do you know about how much food they've got to last?

HARVEY: Well, they -- they've had pretty well stocked up supply there. So they've been -- done pretty well that way. So everything seems to be calm there and in order.

HARRIS: Well here's hoping it stays that way.

HARVEY: We hope so.

HARRIS: And that they all stay safe. Please give our best to Alexis, Stephanie and Jordana.

HARVEY: Yes, thank you so much.

HARRIS: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) to know that a lot of folks here stateside are hoping for the very best for them.

HARVEY: Thank you very much. We know the Lord will take care of them.

HARRIS: All right. Take care. You got it.

HARVEY: OK.

HARRIS: Dr. David Harvey, best to you, take care -- Daryn.

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Dr. Harvey might want to hold on a second, not to come back on with us but to listen in, because we're going to go right to the Pentagon now. Barbara Starr telling us the latest about the U.S. efforts to help there on the ground on the Ivory Coast.

Barbara, good morning.

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn.

Well a U.S. military official directly involved in this entire operation told CNN within the last few minutes that some elements of the U.S. military force that landed in nearby Ghana overnight are now in the air and on their way to the Ivory Coast. These troops are going to move closer to Bouake, to the school. It is not clear at this point whether they will actually enter the town, go to the school and participate in an evacuation of the children. But the U.S. forces are leaving Ghana, going to the Ivory Coast so they can be closer if they are ordered to begin an evacuation process. The feeling here at the Pentagon is that for the moment the French military forces at the school do have the situation well in hand, that they are controlling the situation and they have enough vehicles and assets to move the children and staff and faculty to a safer location if things do turn anymore difficult for them there.

But again, the U.S. forces are in the air, expected to land in the Ivory Coast relatively soon. They will take up positions and be ready to stand by to move in. The estimate now is there could be as many as 150 American schoolchildren, staff and faculty that they will try and remove from this school and simply get them out of the crossfire.

Again, there's no belief that the school itself, of course, is being targeted specifically; but they are in a difficult situation, they're in the crossfire and they do want to get them out of there -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Understandable. Barbara, we've already heard how there's French troops on the ground there, how will that work with the French and the U.S. in the same place?

STARR: Well what we do know is that the French military and the U.S. military are in very, very close contact. And in fact, the U.S. ambassador, the Ivory Coast government, the president of the Ivory Coast, and the U.S. military are all in very close contact today, we are told, trying to work out a situation, see what the best method is of getting the children to a safer location.

KAGAN: Barbara Starr at the Pentagon, thank you. We will check back with you to track that.

STARR: Sure.

HARRIS: Am I crazy or does it just seem strange...

KAGAN: Yes.

HARRIS: Yes, thank you. That may be the case.

KAGAN: You have two questions.

HARRIS: But still doesn't it seem strange that the -- no one from the government has been in contact with the families of these kids stateside...

KAGAN: You know it's a different...

HARRIS: ... at least in the case of the Harvey's?

KAGAN: ... world -- different world over there. But according to the grandfather, Dr. Harvey, we talked to, he seems OK with how things are going and...

HARRIS: OK, well here's knocking on wood for those kids.

KAGAN: Yes, absolutely.

HARRIS: All right. Speaking of wood...

KAGAN: You're crazy, but I love you.

HARRIS: Oh thank you, likewise on both counts.

KAGAN: OK.

HARRIS: OK.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired September 25, 2002 - 10:09   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Well there is a nasty political situation brewing a half a world away. We got some developments to pass along now about the American school kids who are pinned down by a military coup on the West African nation of Ivory Coast. We have learned that some American troops who were supposed to be on their way to help those kids out are actually now in the air. We'll have an update on that coming from our Barbara Starr at the Pentagon in just a few moments.
Now some 200 schoolchildren and staffers have been trapped inside this international Christian academy which is caught in a crossfire between government and rebel troops. French troops are now on the scene and they have secured that school. And as we understand it, of that number of 200 children and staffers there about 101 of the figures there are children who are from this country.

And joining us now on the telephone is Dr. David Harvey, who, as I understand it, has -- is a grandfather of some kids who are there at that school.

Dr. Harvey, are you there?

DR. DAVID HARVEY, GRANDFATHER OF IVORY COAST STUDENTS: Yes, sir (ph).

HARRIS: As I understand it, you have a couple of grandchildren there?

HARVEY: Yes, we have three grandchildren, all girls, there.

HARRIS: Names please?

HARVEY: Yes, Alexis (ph), Stephanie (ph) and Jordana (ph).

HARRIS: How are they?

HARVEY: Fine, they're doing well. They had a good night's sleep last night, and they said -- of course they called this morning, mentioned that the French troops were there on campus so they feel pretty well secure right now.

HARRIS: So did they say the French troops came in there firing or just came in there and they...

HARVEY: No, no.

HARRIS: ... everything down or what? HARVEY: No, they just -- no, they just came in, because the school is outside of the town there, and the situation there right now is rather calm since they have arrived.

HARRIS: Yes. Now how old are your -- are your grandkids?

HARVEY: The two of them are 12, twins, Alexis and Stephanie, and then the other one is 10 years old, Jordana.

HARRIS: Well have they told you that they've been frightened or have they felt pretty secure all along?

HARVEY: Well they felt pretty secure, except yesterday, you know, when they were firing over the wall of the school into the town, naturally they were stressed out somewhat.

HARRIS: Yes.

HARVEY: But they feel rather safe right now.

HARRIS: What'd they tell you about gunfire there coming inside the compound? As we understand it, the reports that we've been hearing is that they are caught smack-dab in the middle of two different forces that are shooting at each other and there's been some fire that's been going over their heads.

HARVEY: Yes, the firing was going over their heads form the back side of the wall into town, but nothing ever fell on the property itself. So they're thankful for that. And they believe that they're there and -- you know they know that the Lord is with them and their trust is in Him.

HARRIS: What have you been hearing from the U.S. government?

HARVEY: Oh, the government, we haven't been in contact with them at all. And we just know that they're doing what they can in sending the U.S. troops over there.

HARRIS: So they haven't been trying to get in touch with you to calm your fears or anything?

HARVEY: No, they haven't. They -- we have -- there's quite a few families over there, of course, you know with 100 children or so, so I guess they can't contact everybody. But we just try to follow the e-mails that come out of there, and we've been calling them twice a day so we know that -- how things are going.

HARRIS: Well what have they been doing, the kids, what have they been doing when all this fighting's been going on, have they been still going to classes or what?

HARVEY: No, well the classes have been closed of this the last two or three days. And they -- first they met together in one room and then one dormitory that is together. But they were out in the gym last night having a time together, just in case they were evacuated and would miss each other, but otherwise they've been sort of in their dorms with their house parents. They have house parents in each of the dorms with the kids. Our daughter and her husband, they are house parents for 20 teenage girls, and so they're there with them in the dorm. And once in a while they go over to the cafeteria, if things are calm, and of course I'm sure they will today.

HARRIS: Yes.

HARVEY: But...

HARRIS: Speaking of the cafeteria, what do you know about how much food they've got to last?

HARVEY: Well, they -- they've had pretty well stocked up supply there. So they've been -- done pretty well that way. So everything seems to be calm there and in order.

HARRIS: Well here's hoping it stays that way.

HARVEY: We hope so.

HARRIS: And that they all stay safe. Please give our best to Alexis, Stephanie and Jordana.

HARVEY: Yes, thank you so much.

HARRIS: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) to know that a lot of folks here stateside are hoping for the very best for them.

HARVEY: Thank you very much. We know the Lord will take care of them.

HARRIS: All right. Take care. You got it.

HARVEY: OK.

HARRIS: Dr. David Harvey, best to you, take care -- Daryn.

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Dr. Harvey might want to hold on a second, not to come back on with us but to listen in, because we're going to go right to the Pentagon now. Barbara Starr telling us the latest about the U.S. efforts to help there on the ground on the Ivory Coast.

Barbara, good morning.

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn.

Well a U.S. military official directly involved in this entire operation told CNN within the last few minutes that some elements of the U.S. military force that landed in nearby Ghana overnight are now in the air and on their way to the Ivory Coast. These troops are going to move closer to Bouake, to the school. It is not clear at this point whether they will actually enter the town, go to the school and participate in an evacuation of the children. But the U.S. forces are leaving Ghana, going to the Ivory Coast so they can be closer if they are ordered to begin an evacuation process. The feeling here at the Pentagon is that for the moment the French military forces at the school do have the situation well in hand, that they are controlling the situation and they have enough vehicles and assets to move the children and staff and faculty to a safer location if things do turn anymore difficult for them there.

But again, the U.S. forces are in the air, expected to land in the Ivory Coast relatively soon. They will take up positions and be ready to stand by to move in. The estimate now is there could be as many as 150 American schoolchildren, staff and faculty that they will try and remove from this school and simply get them out of the crossfire.

Again, there's no belief that the school itself, of course, is being targeted specifically; but they are in a difficult situation, they're in the crossfire and they do want to get them out of there -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Understandable. Barbara, we've already heard how there's French troops on the ground there, how will that work with the French and the U.S. in the same place?

STARR: Well what we do know is that the French military and the U.S. military are in very, very close contact. And in fact, the U.S. ambassador, the Ivory Coast government, the president of the Ivory Coast, and the U.S. military are all in very close contact today, we are told, trying to work out a situation, see what the best method is of getting the children to a safer location.

KAGAN: Barbara Starr at the Pentagon, thank you. We will check back with you to track that.

STARR: Sure.

HARRIS: Am I crazy or does it just seem strange...

KAGAN: Yes.

HARRIS: Yes, thank you. That may be the case.

KAGAN: You have two questions.

HARRIS: But still doesn't it seem strange that the -- no one from the government has been in contact with the families of these kids stateside...

KAGAN: You know it's a different...

HARRIS: ... at least in the case of the Harvey's?

KAGAN: ... world -- different world over there. But according to the grandfather, Dr. Harvey, we talked to, he seems OK with how things are going and...

HARRIS: OK, well here's knocking on wood for those kids.

KAGAN: Yes, absolutely.

HARRIS: All right. Speaking of wood...

KAGAN: You're crazy, but I love you.

HARRIS: Oh thank you, likewise on both counts.

KAGAN: OK.

HARRIS: OK.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com