Yesterday I took a coach to the Iraquois 'nation station', I was to interview a young lady by the name of Marion Colcotte. Two weeks ago her parents vanished and she is now the sole operator of the station. It is a demanding job at the best of times without the fear of kidnap or murder hanging over you. Marion is 13 years old, yet she has risen to the challenge as well as any adult might.

The station distributes medical supplies and food to the least fortunate of native families. It is hoped that volunteers will come forward to help Ms Colcotte until a replacement operator can be found or until her parents safe return, as increasingly unlikely as that is.