Photo Essays
Sierra Leone: Recovering FROM a decade of civil war
See snapshots of how Sierra Leone is recovering from a brutal civil war that ended in 2002—a war that left 50,000 people dead and displaced 2 million, nearly half of its population. Most of the combatants were children and young people. The Women’s Commission traveled to Sierra Leone in February 2008 as part of its three-year global research and advocacy project for displaced out-of-school youth.
Don’t Call it Shangri-la:
Conflict, displacement, under-development and refugees in Nepal
Nepal, a mountainous nation in South Asia, is host to 108,000 refugees who were expelled from neighboring Bhutan 17 years ago and live in camps in southeastern Nepal. In addition, as many as 250,000 Nepalis are returning to their homes in the midwest region after 10 years of being displaced within the country due to a long-running conflict. These people are referred to as returnees.
Iraqi Refugees in Jordan
The Women’s Commission met with Iraqi refugees living in Amman, Jordan in June 2007 and found that their situation was dire. Glimpse what their lives are like and see why we are urging for a surge of international assistance for Iraqi refugees.
Reproductive Health in Northern Uganda
War has devastated northern Uganda for the last 18 years. The Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), a rebel group fighting the Ugandan government, has committed countless atrocities against its own community, including the abduction of tens of thousands of children and adolescents. (All photos © Women's Commission/Matthew Emry)
Gaps in Education for Darfur's Children and Youth
Traditional humanitarian assistance donors do not view education as life-saving and therefore not vital in the emergency stage of a conflict. In Darfur, however, the “emergency” has gone on for more than three years amid ongoing violence. It is unconscionable that children would continue to be deprived of one of their basic human rights. These children and young people are Darfur’s key to a better future. With education, they will help create a peaceful and prosperous Darfur. Education must be a vital part of humanitarian assistance worldwide. (All Photos and text by Megan McKenna.)
From Darfur to Chad
Eastern Chad is a strikingly remote, very poor, desert area with little infrastructure and few resources. The climate is tough: harsh winds, brutal heat, extreme cold, sandstorms and drenching rains abound, depending on the season. The Chadian communities there struggle to survive with little assistance from the government. The arrival of the refugees from Darfur have put a strain on limited resources, as well as relations between the refugees and the local Chadians. (All Photos and text by Megan McKenna.)
Sudan in Crisis
Appromixately 40,000 Sudanese refugees are living on the border of Chad, near the town of Adre. Many have said that they haven't received food since their arrival and are depending on the generosity of local villagers. The refugees here are waiting to be transported to a refugee camp two hours away and a safe distance from the border.
View
the Sudan
in Crisis
photo essay
From the Ground Up: Education and Livelihood in Southern Sudan
Relatively few Southern Sudanese have returned due to a lack of services, including education and health care, too little information on conditions in their home areas and few job opportunities. UNHCR, which is tasked with helping refugees and the displaced return, only received 56 percent of its requested 2006 budget for Southern Sudan; the agency was forced to cut funding for education, health and other critical services in the region in order to continue supporting repatriation efforts.
View
the Education and Livelihood in Southern Sudan
photo essay
Afghanistan
A woman in Afghanistan today faces a situation created by more than twenty years of warfare and interfactional strife, during which warring factions have continuously manipulated and abused her identity and violated her basic rights. She may have lost her husband or children to war-related violence, land mines or disease. She may be trying to find ways to deal with the impact of three years of the worst drought in thirty years. She may be struggling to survive on the margins of an economic system which has largely collapsed and supports a few powerful groups. She may already be affected by decreasing international assistance. She and her family may live in an area where they can no longer grow food, have no money left to buy food or have exchanged all their assets for food.
Shamshatoo
Photo Essay:
Afghan refugees in Pakistan and their
journey home.
Jalozai
Photo Essay:
the plight of Afghan refugees.