WALLY NELL PHOTOGRAPHY
1.714.747.2747 / 1.619.445.4976
NYALA, DARFUR, WESTERN SUDAN - JANUARY 2006
Nyala, Darfur, Sudan. Darfur is an area in Western Sudan plagued by janjaweed (militia on camelback and horseback), where deaths, rape and pillaging has reached genocidal proportions. For some life in the IDP camps might even be an improvement in living conditions to what they had, but for most it is life away from what was lawfully theirs. Since 2003 it is estimated that more than 400,000 have already died and between 2 million and 3 million have been displaced into IDP (Internally Displaced Persons) camps. Many men, women and children flock to the MSF (Medicins sans Frontiers/Doctors without borders) treatment centers in IDP camps in Darfur, Sudan. According to the project coordinator most illnesses currently treated, are colds, flu, aches and pains, infections in wounds, respiratory complaints, OBGYN and other pshysomatic illnesses. According to her, many people have lost most of their families and are left to care for what is left, resulting in some psychosomatic conditions. According to her, malnutrition does not seem to be as much of a problem anymore, since others have sprung to the foreground. According to her, the greatest issue that has been developing, especially in Kalma, is the one of rape. Many women have to gather firewood and in order to do this, have to leave the camp and walk many kilometers to an area where firewood can be found. Away from the confines of the IDP camp, janjaweed and militants wait for young women to walk by and then proceed to rape them. According to her this happens more than once a week. Girls as young as 12 years old have been treated at the MSF center for rape. The problem also exists that women need to report rape to the police, but according to local law need 4 witnesses, or face being charged with adultery. Because of this law, numbers of rape cases cannot be accurately stated, since most are probably not reported. MSF has managed to negotiate a way for women to first seek medical help before doing a police report, since rape victims need to be treated within 72 hours in order to prevent complications. They are hopeful of finding a way to solve this problem.
© Wally Nell 2001/2006