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CNN Live Sunday

Liberian Refugees Find Sanctuary In Football Stadium

Aired August 17, 2003 - 16:45   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.


FREDERICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: In Liberia thousands of people are flooding into the center of Monrovia, the capital, seeking food and shelter. For now many are finding refuge in a stadium. But food is much, much harder to come by. CNN's Jeff Koinange is in Monrovia, and he reports the situation there is getting desperate.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: For our country! We have made this place!

JEFF KOINANGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Praying for a miracle in one of the continent's most violent countries. Liberians are welcoming something that many thought was impossible only a few days ago, the prospects of peace at last.

On this Sunday in the capital's largest football stadium, now home to more than 50,000 displaced Liberians, an outdoor church service provides the closest thing to entertainment for these desperate people. But their enthusiasm belies their situation, for this stadium is now their bedroom, their dining room, their bathroom, and their kitchen.

There's been no food relief here for more than a month. Many are reduced to eating leaves and insects.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hungry. We're suffering. No food.

KOINANGE: Children, stomachs protruding, show advanced signs of malnutrition.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Food to eat.

KOINANGE: Aid workers, confident of the improving sense of security on the ground, insist help is on the way.

RICH MOSEANKO, WORLD VISION: I would say within a short matter of seven to ten days we should see a lot more aid coming in and capacity building up.

KOINANGE: That's little comfort to these starving citizens, who've endured so much for so long.

As the war-ravaged nation takes the first fragile steps toward some kind of normalcy, many here are hoping that when the food relief finally does arrive it won't be a matter of too little, too late. Jeff Koinange, CNN, Monrovia, Liberia.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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 August 17, 2003 - 16:45   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDERICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: In Liberia thousands of people are flooding into the center of Monrovia, the capital, seeking food and shelter. For now many are finding refuge in a stadium. But food is much, much harder to come by. CNN's Jeff Koinange is in Monrovia, and he reports the situation there is getting desperate.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: For our country! We have made this place!

JEFF KOINANGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Praying for a miracle in one of the continent's most violent countries. Liberians are welcoming something that many thought was impossible only a few days ago, the prospects of peace at last.

On this Sunday in the capital's largest football stadium, now home to more than 50,000 displaced Liberians, an outdoor church service provides the closest thing to entertainment for these desperate people. But their enthusiasm belies their situation, for this stadium is now their bedroom, their dining room, their bathroom, and their kitchen.

There's been no food relief here for more than a month. Many are reduced to eating leaves and insects.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hungry. We're suffering. No food.

KOINANGE: Children, stomachs protruding, show advanced signs of malnutrition.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Food to eat.

KOINANGE: Aid workers, confident of the improving sense of security on the ground, insist help is on the way.

RICH MOSEANKO, WORLD VISION: I would say within a short matter of seven to ten days we should see a lot more aid coming in and capacity building up.

KOINANGE: That's little comfort to these starving citizens, who've endured so much for so long.

As the war-ravaged nation takes the first fragile steps toward some kind of normalcy, many here are hoping that when the food relief finally does arrive it won't be a matter of too little, too late. Jeff Koinange, CNN, Monrovia, Liberia.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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