But reports indicate that this concerning declaration of medical martial law ended up causing major food shortages instead, as many residents were not given the promised food rations.

According to Breitbart, only certain families were given rice handouts during the initiative, angering many others who thought that they would be getting rations as well. As volunteers went door-to-door, looking for any ill or dead who might be hidden in people's homes, the poorest Sierra Leonean residents were restricted from working, which prevented many of them from eating.

"They expected, when they saw us, that we were coming with food, but unfortunately we are just coming to talk to them," explained Samuel Turay, a 21-year-old volunteer who was among the 30,000 that patrolled the streets. "So they were not so happy about it."