Darfur - Women Far from Home |
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January 14th, 2007 - 12:52PM |
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Photo: Emily Holland/The IRC IRC communications officer Emily Holland is blogging from Darfur, Sudan this month. Today, I arrived in Nyala, Darfur to document the International Rescue Committee's programs here, in particular those aiding displaced women. Otash Camp is located in northern Nyala and has been operating for three years. Approximately 50,000 people displaced by the Darfur conflict currently reside here, many in makeshift shelters -- some without a roof over their heads. The IRC has operated a health clinic in Otash since August 2004, which provides critical services to internally displaced people, plus special care for women. Below are brief interviews with some women who have just arrived in Otash: I arrived in October. My village was attacked. They burned our houses. They took all of our things. I gave birth to my baby on the way. It was out in the open and raining hard. My baby is five months old. His name is Muhammad. We want food. We want clothes. We want to have a better life. -- 20 years old I arrived fifteen days ago. It took us three days to walk here. There was a problem in my village. We lost family members. Some of them who fled with us did not show up. I have three children, 2 here and one was left behind. Life is hard. No one has given us food or plastic sheeting for house. Interview cut short, she was crying. -- 25 years old They took our animals. They took our things. They chased us out of the village. We came by donkey. I came here with my husband and nine of my children. My baby was ten days old when we left. She is 39 days old now. I am so hungry. I have no milk to feed my baby. We have no food. We have no shelter. No plastic sheeting. My children go off and work - carrying things - to make a little money. I need money so I can raise my children. -- 36 years old, standing outside house which was little more than a straw windscreen - no roof Earlier: Leaving for Darfur Posted By: Emily Holland | Africa, Diaries & Journals, Sudan & the Darfur Crisis, Women, _Emily Holland in Darfur Permalink |
