ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, May 14, 1996 TAG: 9605140039
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-6 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: ABIDJAN, IVORY COAST
SOURCE: Associated Press
A rusty freighter seeking a haven for thousands of sick and weary Liberian refugees was forced out to sea again Monday after restocking urgently needed food and medical supplies in Ghana.
Of the 3,000 to 4,000 refugees, Ghanaian authorities would only let eight seriously ill people get off. Two of them were hospitalized in critical condition.
``It is really horrible and scandalous that the people were not allowed to come down from the boat even if it was only for a few hours, just to come down for some rice,'' said Michel Loro with the international relief group Doctors Without Borders. ``It is really inhumane.''
The ship left the port about 8 p.m. local time and its destination was not clear.
Ghanaian officials said it was returning to Liberia. Other port officials said they believed the freighter would try to make it to Lagos, Nigeria, where government officials have indicated they would consider taking in the refugees.
As the Bulk Challenge continued its eight-day ordeal at sea, 3,000 more people were scrambling to board another freighter in Monrovia.
Fighting broke out among the people desperate to buy $70 tickets, and African peacekeepers beat them with belts and batons to restore order.
The Nigerian-owned Bulk Challenge, ``which has been found to have no mechanical fault, was provided food and water and medicine,'' said a Ghanaian government statement. ``The captain was then directed to return to Monrovia, where ECOMOG has created a safe haven.''
ECOMOG is the West African peacekeeping force, which has done little to control six weeks of brutal violence among rival factions that has destroyed the Liberian capital.
Phil Doherty, head of the Liberian mission for Doctors Without Borders, said there was only one toilet on the freighter and people had been forced to defecate on deck. A woman died Sunday from hemorrhaging and Ghanaian authorities removed her body.
``It's just getting worse,'' said Doherty. ``We have no confirmation of specific diseases, but we've known for many days of severe diarrhea among many of the people.''
Diarrhea is often a sign of cholera, a highly contagious disease that can be fatal.
The refugees were taken in small batches off the Bulk Challenge Monday and onto nearby barges for medical attention. They were then put back on the ship.
On Sunday, the Bulk Challenge had tried to dock at Takoradi, but Ghanaian authorities blocked it with large floating cranes. Naval sources said gunshots were heard on the freighter and they feared Liberian faction fighters were on board.
They later let the Bulk Challenge anchor for several hours to refuel and then forced it to embark on the three-day journey to Lagos, Nigeria.
However, its generator broke down overnight and the ship was allowed to return Monday morning.
The United Nations pleaded Monday with West African leaders to offer the Liberians refuge.
In Washington, State Department spokesman Nicholas Burns said the United States believes Ghana and Ivory Coast should assist the refugees.
``These people are fleeing savage fighting in the streets of Monrovia. They deserve the assistance of the international community,'' he said.
But like Ivory Coast, which turned away the Bulk Challenge earlier in the week, Ghana is fed up with harboring tens of thousands of Liberians who have fled the 61/2-year civil war. Ivory Coast has already been flooded with 350,000 Liberians who have fled across the border since Charles Taylor launched the war six years ago.
More than 150,000 Liberians have died and half the population of 2.9 million has been left homeless,
LENGTH: Medium: 76 linesby CNB