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| May 18, 2008 |
Sam Ouandja, Northeast, The Central African Republic. Many days drive from Bangui. A three hour plane trip.
On May 07,2007 the people of Sam Ouandja (population roughly 10,000) got a surprise.
2,646 strangers suddenly arrived. The emaciated men, women and children had been walking through the desert for at least eleven days. They were in desperate need of water and food and had urgent medical needs. Half were suffering from acute malnutrition, many from malaria, diarrhea and from the wounds inflicted during the attack.
"We were bombed by planes and attacked by armed men so we ran", Mastura Adam Yaya told me. "My husband was killed. We went into the desert. We lost everything. I have 10 children. I don't know how I will provide for them."
Once there were 6000 people in Dafak. Some were killed, some fled into Chad, and 3,028 have now come to Sam Ouandjo, stretching the resources of this remote town. Still, the local people welcomed the refugees despite their own troubles: they had been attacked by 'bandits' several times in recent months. There was not enough food or clean water; there was no shelter. Even simple needs could not be met. There were no cooking pots, clothes or mats to sleep on. There was no soap.
Aid agencies rushed to the rescue. Trucks rumbled toward Sam Ouandjo carrying blankets, kitchen sets, mosquito nets, soap, jerry-cans. UNICEF and partners installed water treatment systems and set up a school. And so the first refugee camp for Darfurians was formed in CAR.
But "I'm still afraid",Ms Yaya said in a barely audible voice. "I'm afraid."
Oh-triplets were born today.
On May 07,2007 the people of Sam Ouandja (population roughly 10,000) got a surprise.
2,646 strangers suddenly arrived. The emaciated men, women and children had been walking through the desert for at least eleven days. They were in desperate need of water and food and had urgent medical needs. Half were suffering from acute malnutrition, many from malaria, diarrhea and from the wounds inflicted during the attack.
"We were bombed by planes and attacked by armed men so we ran", Mastura Adam Yaya told me. "My husband was killed. We went into the desert. We lost everything. I have 10 children. I don't know how I will provide for them."
Once there were 6000 people in Dafak. Some were killed, some fled into Chad, and 3,028 have now come to Sam Ouandjo, stretching the resources of this remote town. Still, the local people welcomed the refugees despite their own troubles: they had been attacked by 'bandits' several times in recent months. There was not enough food or clean water; there was no shelter. Even simple needs could not be met. There were no cooking pots, clothes or mats to sleep on. There was no soap.
Aid agencies rushed to the rescue. Trucks rumbled toward Sam Ouandjo carrying blankets, kitchen sets, mosquito nets, soap, jerry-cans. UNICEF and partners installed water treatment systems and set up a school. And so the first refugee camp for Darfurians was formed in CAR.
But "I'm still afraid",Ms Yaya said in a barely audible voice. "I'm afraid."
Oh-triplets were born today.