Photo Credit: Refugees International/ Shannon Meehan
02/21/2005

The woman in this picture was interviewed in July 2004 (see 2004 photo.) by Refugees International, and RI staff were fortunate to find her again. Today, she is no longer struggling for food, water, shelter and medicine. The United Nations and private relief agencies have been able to turn around the dire living conditions in her area, and she told us that things she has better access to food, water, and medicine. Her children and husband have joined her in Sudan from Chad.

However, when asked if she felt safe in Masteri and if she and her family would be able to return to her village, the former emotions returned. “I cannot go back. I am afraid, very afraid. I cannot leave this village. If we go to collect firewood from just outside the village, many people are often beaten. At night, the Janjaweed come into the village and steal."