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Redwan’
s story
by Jo Smith
"Our country was involved in a terrible civil
war. Some guys from a neighbouring country
tried to wage war on our country. They tried to
overthrow the government. The fighting and
bloodshed continued for at least 10 years,
mostly killing innocent people who were not
involved in the politics." These are the words
of Redwan Conteh, a young African man who
suffered the horrendous effects of a civil war
in his home country, Sierra Leone.
Redwan’s account begins in 1991, when the
Revolutionary United Front (RUF) declared
war on Sierra Leone’s government. The
killing of thousands of innocent men, women
and children went on for many years. When
the fighting and bloodshed reached Redwan
and his family in 1997, his brother and he fled
to Guinea, a neighbouring country. There,
they were placed in a refugee camp with
others that had fled the conflict.
In the camp, Redwan eked out a meagre
existence for three long years. At first, the
conditions were not that bad. The refugees
were given housing (which were, for the most
part, simply tents); and supplied with clean
water, food, and above all, safety. However,
after some time, things started to get worse.
Problems in the camp began when food
rations began to decline and clean water
became scarce. Soon, disease broke out and
spread like wildfire through the camp.
As a result, Redwan and his brother were
forced to flee. They returned to the city, where
they faced having to fight for survival.
However, quite by luck when they arrived, the
brothers ran into some friends. "A judge tried
to help us – he gave us a place to live and a
chance at happiness," recalls Redwan. "It took
us some time though - about three years in the
refugee camp, and about that much time again
in the city as well".
"Eventually, however, we had the opportunity
to come to Australia. An Australian
Refugee from Sierra Leone recovering in Liberian camp.
Photo: L. Taylor, 1993
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