African
countries tightened travel curbs on Thursday in an effort to contain the Ebola
outbreak, ignoring World Health Organization warnings that such measures could
heighten shortages of food and basic supplies in affected areas.
In the
West Point slum in Liberia’s capital Monrovia, the scene of violent clashes
with the army on Wednesday after the area was quarantined to curb the spread of
Ebola, hundreds of people jostled their way towards trucks loaded with water
and rice.
Police
used canes to beat back some locals while aid workers helped others dip their
fingers in ink to record their ration.
“I
ain’t eat since yesterday. I have four young children and none of us eat. I
feel bad,” said Hawa Saah, a pregnant 23-year-old resident of West Point,
speaking in
