These letters and bulletins come from Fred and Elaine Eardley, two Salvation Army Officers in Brazzaville, the Congo.
Although soldiers entered the house to ask us to leave, very little has been taken. Only small items that they could pocket whilst we were distracted packing a few things. Other people we know have not been so lucky, with their entire belongings pillaged or destroyed.
We received excellent support from the US Embassy and their staff, through telephone calls and even a visit from the Ambassador whilst we were displaced. Below you can read the latest news from the internet concerning the happenings.
Please do not worry about us, we are perfectly safe. We only ask that you continue to pray for all the people here so that their futures can be happier ones. We assure you that we will be sensible in all things and not put ourselves or our Congolese friends in danger.
Love and peace to each and every one of you.
Fred and Elaine (Eardley)
Congo Brazzaville
At Least 10,000 Flee Fighting in Brazzaville
UN Integrated Regional Information Networks, June 17, 2002At least 10,000 people have fled Brazzaville, capital of the Republic of Congo, following two days of fighting between government forces and Ninja militias that began on Friday, the United Nations Humanitarian Coordination Office in the country reported.
On Friday, it said, Brazzaville endured two sustained military attacks in the north-eastern outskirts of the town. The first was against the military based near the international airport at Maya Maya, and the second targeted a police school and a station of the gendarmerie in the neighbourhood of Moukondo.
Hundreds of rounds of rockets, mortars, and heavy-calibre machine-gun fire were directed on both areas, the UN reported. The Ninja tried repeatedly, in vain, to destroy the government military helicopters at the airport.
On Saturday, the sound of artillery fire, rockets and mortars reverberated around the hills surrounding Brazzaville as government forces attempted to "widen the safety zone" around the capital, Bill Paton, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Brazzaville, told IRIN. At least 10 attackers and three civilians were confirmed dead, he said.
Government operations were continuing in areas surrounding the capital on Monday.
Red Cross Evacuates Dead, Wounded Without Hindrance
UN Integrated Regional Information Networks, June 18, 2002The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)said on Tuesday that—with the help of Congolese Red Cross volunteers—it had evacuated scores of dead and wounded following fighting which broke out in the Republic of Congo capital, Brazzaville, on 14 June.
So far, the ICRC has taken 17 people to the city's hospitals and transferred 19 bodies to the city morgue. In its statement on Tuesday, the ICRC said it had also provided the military hospital with medicines, dressing materials and supplies for treating bone fractures.
In doing so, it had maintained "close contact" with the military and police so as to ensure the safety of its field staff. This factor, it added, had enabled ICRC delegates and local Red Cross volunteers, "to carry out their humanitarian work without incident or hindrance".
ICRC conducted a needs assessment of the displaced on Sunday. Two days earlier, the UN Humanitarian Coordination Office in Brazzaville said at least 10,000 people had fled the city during the two days of fighting between government forces and Ninja militias. Brazzaville had endured two sustained attacks in the north-eastern outskirts of the city and the military base near the international airport at Maya Maya, had been targeted, the UN said.
In accordance with its mandate, the ICRC reminded all parties to the conflict of their obligation to comply with the principles and rules of international humanitarian law applicable to non-international armed conflicts.
The ICRC also called on commanders to maintain discipline among their troops, whose conduct towards the civilian population "must at all times be in keeping with the above-stated principles".
You will probably know there are problems in Brazzaville. We are not in Gabon. All planes are cancelled.
We awoke on Friday morning at 5am to the sound of shooting, mortars ,canons etc. We had a visit from the TC at 6 to say that we were to stay on the compound. Shooting continued most of the day getting closer all the time but then went quiet at about 2pm. We thought the worst was over until it started again just outside the walls of the compound and bullet shells were landing on the roof. We then heard the gates bursting open and armed soldiers entered the compound. We retired to the safety of the bathroom and prayed!
We were instructed to open our doors and come out and armed soldiers entered the house. We were told to pack a bag, put into vehicles and 'escorted' into town (I am giving you the tame version!)
We have been staying at an Army hall with 4000 other refugees, no water, no santitation etc. Yesterday we managed to get to an email and I emailed the American Ambassador who sent someone to help us. We now have a phone (the soldiers 'confiscated' all ours and Fred and I have moved in beside a friend in town who is a Canadian missionary and have had a shower and a change of clothes (we smell a lot sweeter). Things are calm in town.
We have now had problems twice in two months and do not feel safe at our compound which is isolated and out of town. We are going to speak to the TC and IHQ and if we cannot live in town......
Events like this certainly focus the prayer life and also make you realise the important things in your life! Possessions are nothing, it is your life that is the important thing.Please remember Brazza in your prayers and let people know we are safe and well.
Love you lots
God bless
Elaine Eardley
We will never forget where we were the day the Queen Mother was buried.
Congo Brazzaville the 9th April 2002.Owing to the outbreak of fighting close to where we live and along the only road we can use, we were not able to return home. We had been still working at THQ and received a call from Joan Dunwoodie (the Chief Secretary) to say that they had tried to return but had been turned back and were going to Moungali, our largest Corps.
We left THQ to join them there. There were already hundreds of refugees fleeing from the fighting and coming in from all areas of Brazzaville.
We could clearly hear the sounds of cannons and automatic gunfire, so resigned ourselves to stay the night. All communications had been cut, no telephone network at all. Hundreds gradually swelled into thousands as more people fled to the relative safety of the Corps.
We spent a long, hot uncomfortable night with a lot of frightened and disappointed people, who had expected and wanted peace after the elections.
Next morning we decided to try to get back to our house and set off in two cars, with nine people inside, plus a soldier to escort us (the son of an Officer). It was a long, dangerous, scary and uncomfortable journey, through many checkpoints manned by armed soldiers, but by the Grace of God we finally arrived safely to be met by those who had managed to return before fighting began. We shared a prayer before going into our house for a welcome shower and some decent rest. Afterwards we were confined to quarters for our own safety, until now feeling safe enough to travel and send some messages to friends and loved ones.
It was a long, hot and uncomfortable couple of days and you will be able to read all about it in our next newsletter. Today (Friday 12th) we have travelled back into town and THQ. Many soldiers still remain, but no checkpoints. We have very little fuel left here in Brazzaville as the trains have not been running, so transport will soon become extremely difficult.
Hope you are all keeping well. Please do not worry about us, all will be fine, just pray for peace to come and stay in Congo Brazzaville.
Many thanks for all your prayers and e-mails of support they have really helped the situation to calm down quickly.
All our love
Fred and Elaine Eardley
November and December, up to the 21st were pretty dismal for us. The situation with the electricity had deteriorated to such an awful level that we were only having up to 12 hours of electricity per day, and we never knew which twelve hours it was to be. Plus we spent several days without any electricity at all.Please pray for Congo especially at the moment. An announcement has been made that elections are planned for the 10th March, with other constitutional voting to take place before that. It was during the last elections that the civil war broke out with much death and destruction. Therefore we really need all the prayers we can get at this time. Tension fills the air and people are constantly talking of the possible outcomes. Larger numbers of soldiers patrol the streets and surrounding areas and we expect more rigorous checks of papers, cameras, etc.