Jane Hahn, 32, has been covering the conflict in C?te d'Ivoire since March 31. Ms. Hahn, a freelance photographer, is based in Accra, Ghana. She spoke to Kerri MacDonald late Friday afternoon from Abidjan, where she is staying in a camp of Jordanian United Nations peacekeeping.
Following his remarks, edited and condensed.
I came here on the last commercial flight to Accra, last Thursday. My initial plan was to join the rebels with other journalists. But when I arrived first, I was told not to try leaving the airport. It has proved it changed hands between Gbagbo's forces and the forces of the United Nations. There was a little bit of fighting outside. I have noticed, there were four carriers of personnel of the United Nations armoured sitting on the front. I grabbed my camera to run out when I saw a few other foreigners speaking with them. I jumped in and brings back me to their battalion. I have been with them since.
I have no idea how others got out of the airport later. Even today, the airport road is a little dangerous. At the time, it was really dangerous.
I felt comfortable coming here because I have been covering since the elections in C?te d'Ivoire. I have been familiar with the layout of Abidjan. I realized that I was actually in a unique position, so I decided to stick it.
Today, for the first time since I've been here, we had the chance to take a patrol to the headquarters of the United Nations. It is across the city, where most of the hotels are, and the Presidential Palace. It is extremely volatile. But today, it seems pretty calm. More people were sitting outside, or going to market to try to get some food. Everyone has to welcome the convoy of the United Nations - with a smile, with thumbs up, with cheers - and it was really very pleasant. When people see the convoy of the United Nations from, many of them raise their hands to show that they are not carrying weapons. Young men will raise their shirts. people held their hands out the window.
Unfortunately, we led problems on the way back. In Abidjan, there are snipers in some buildings that have been abandoned. As we driving, one of the Blue Helmets heard that there are some people in the building. I heard shots and dropped to the bottom inside the tank. This is the problem now - few days there will be fighting and there will be a few days of quiet. Things are now a bit of calm, but the UN is a very large target. These are strangers.
I am extremely grateful for the blue helmets of the United Nations, because without them, I would be unable to work. They were always very hospitable. They shared their food. they shared their water. Commander abandoned his dormitory for a group of displaced Lebanese community. There was an evacuation, there are fewer people who live there now, but at some point, I think that there are probably twenty.
Jane Hahn April 7: Moustapha Ramadan helps a young Lebanese girl of a United Nations vehicle Jordanian as foreigners are evacuated to Abidjan.There are days where it is still too dangerous for peace out. The United Nations, of NGOs, the French - almost all foreigners, and particularly journalists, are targets. In January and March, it was extremely difficult, but now it is literally impossible out without any kind of armoured vehicle.
The most difficult seeks photos that illustrate the situation. Yet, I am in a unique position, but the majority of journalists are either blocked hotels or just outside the city limits. There are a couple of local Ivorian photographers who are able to move more freely, but as a stranger, really, this is an incredibly frustrating situation. There are many scenes that I want to get close, but I can't stop to see what happens. I try and catch what I can.
I even not seeking out of shots really great; I am looking to get something. When I was here in January and March, I have worked extensively with Rebecca Blackwell. At the time, you had only a few minutes to draw. It was very frustrating to get something really good. We were just happy to get something. Now, you have no time at all. It is not yet to obtain good photography; It is the obtaining of any type of photo.
It is just an incredible city. It is used to take into account the Paris of West Africa. To see what has happened over the years, particularly in the last few months, it's really very shocking.
Jane Hahn/Associated Press April 4: United Nations peacekeepers provide security during the night in the streets of Abidjan.
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