They were subsequently released, after long negotiations. The other part of the east and northern regions are still under rebel control. Although some of the major roads were recently declared opened by the rebels, the UN humanitarian office is calling for caution in venturing into these areas. Over 150,000 lives have been lost so far, while an estimated 500,000 have become refugees mainly in the neighboring countries of Liberia and Guinea. Over 1.5 million have become internally displaced.
Humanitarian agencies manage one amputee s camp in the capital city Freetown.
Destruction took place in nearly all villages in the country, at a level worse than in the major cities and towns. This has led to the over crowding of major towns and cities, which play host to the hundreds of thousands of displaced people from the countryside. Koinadugu, Kailahun and Kono in the north and eastern parts of the country are some of the worst affected among the 12 districts, although not one district was spared the destruction brought about by the war. The over-running and siege of the capital city by rebel forces in January 1999 was so intense that within a three week it was estimated that over 5,000 lives were lost and 6,000 houses were burnt down in the capital city and surroundings. The subsequent attempt to dislodge the rebels by the peacekeepers and the fighting between the two groups also contributed to the physical destruction.