Abstract
- Still criticism of the change in nature of Operation Turquoise in Rwanda: they emanate in particular from Valéry Giscard d'Estaing or Charles Millon, president of the UDF group.
- On the ground, the troops of the Rwandan Patriotic Front stopped 10 kilometers from the French positions. The French have orders to prevent them from advancing towards the town of Cyangugu.
- A few kilometers from Gikongoro, the marines of the Trépel commando are digging combat posts. Buried shelters to protect against possible bombardments. To help them, the mayor of the town sent them volunteer residents this morning. Elsewhere, there are sometimes common law prisoners. Here, it is emphasized, the trench faces south. Proof that the French are not worried only about the rebels in the north but about any aggressor.
- It is the neutrality displayed since the beginning of Operation Turquoise. An operation better accepted today by the Rwandan Patriotic Front which stopped 10 kilometers away. But that does not prevent vigilance. Marin Gillier, Commander: "We hope that there will be no combat and that the conflict will end soon. However, the best way to help stabilize the situation is to be ready for all eventualities".
- The tension has eased today. But in the camps, which are home to around 50,000 people, most of them Hutu fleeing the advancing rebels, there is little faith in peace with the majority Tutsi movement, the ethnic group that is the victim of most of the massacres. However, today, regardless of their origin, refugees first and foremost need care and extended humanitarian aid because they are completely destitute.
- Twenty-four hours ago, those known as the rebels took control of the capital of Rwanda, Kigali, after extremely heavy fighting. Just before the arrival of these RPF forces, another TF1 team had followed the remarkable work of the Red Cross in Kigali during these battles.
- June 27, 1994, 11 am: 41 wounded wait in a truck to be evacuated from the Red Cross hospital. A shell fell within 50 meters of the truck: order was given to hospital staff to go to the shelters. Philippe Gaillard, head of the Red Cross mission in Kigali: "The last bomb fell 20 meters from the hospital. There are 41 injured in the truck. We are unable to unload. And I do not know in what state are these wounded".
- Philippe Gaillard is the boss of the Red Cross in Kigali. On April 9, when everyone was fleeing the city, it was he who improvised this hospital. With eight expatriates and around thirty local employees, the hospital has for almost three months received up to 400 wounded per day.
- The wounded will spend the night in the truck. New attempt on June 28 in the morning. Finally, the truck arrives at the King Faisal hospital, also run by the Red Cross, but in the RPF zone protected from the bombs. 40 of the 41 injured survived these 24 hours of ordeal.
- At the same time in the city center, the tragedy continues: a man arrived in hospital crying, a nine-month-old child in his arms. Two stretchers immediately follow: his wife and his other son are seriously injured. A mortar shell fell on their house. The verdict of the hospital's only surgeon is final: the child will not survive.
- After six months of mission, Philippe Gaillard left Kigali on Wednesday [July 6], two days after the capture of the city by the RPF. He didn't count the lives the Red Cross was able to save.
- Since the arrival of the RPF in Kigali, the fighting has stopped.