Angelina Jolie's Sudan Journal - UNHCR

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UNHCR/ K. Mckinsey/ 08.2004UNHCR/ H. Caux/ 12.2004“So we have an electricity problem for most of the day. At 8:30 curfews begin andelectricity goes off. You will hear only the sound of praying in the mosques. It’sbeautiful.” We learn about solar power uses in Sudan. The UNDP project aims atmeeting suppressed and growing demand for electric energy in semi-urbanSudan through reliable photovoltaic domestic systems to substitute fossil-basedgenerating units.Kids smile and say, “HAWADJIA, HAWADJIA.” They always call us that. Itmeans white person.I am told, “Remember the word TAMAN means ‘wonderful’ or ‘cheers.’ Say it tothe children. They will be happy to hear it.”4
The biggest problem here is moving around “go” areas and “no go” areas. AlsoUN workers have to wait for UN security to clear an area before others go. Manypeople and areas asking for clearance.I overhear the news. Israel air strikes kill 12 Palestinians. Instability inAfghanistan, war in Iraq -- fighting everywhere. Earthquake in Japan.The staff is very much in need of computer equipment. It’s apparently stuck in thepipeline. It is hard to imagine all the logistical problems there are working in thisarea.At the UNHCR office, the UN security officer gives us all a security briefing. Dueto the volatile situation in the region, the staff is advised to adhere to the securityinstructions in place and keep themselves abreast of the situation all the time.This is very important.Darfur is divided into localities:- 36 different main tribes- 98 with sub divisionsThey say the crisis started when there was a drought in the north and Arab tribesmoved south. But it was last February when it exploded. JANJAWEED. Securityis trying to work in the “no go” areas to try and open them up and access thepeople in need. There was a ceasefire in April 2004. There have been severalbreaches in August and security zones were created.October 10 Masteri armed clashes. Janjaweed attacked. Masteri was the onlymain road so it stalled operations for a while.Janjaweed allegedly attacked Abu Surug and Bir Seiba, north of the westernDarfur city of Geneina, on Oct. 16, leaving at least 11 people dead. Then itbecame tense in Geneina and difficult for aid workers to work with the localmilitary. Many people wounded by last attack were waiting outside of thehospital. They were unable to have access. “Simply too many wounded.”Zone wardens are at the guest house to alert of any changing zone warnings.DrivingI see women with bricks piled on their heads. 80% of construction you see isprobably done by women. Child labor is also a problem here. For the moment itseems that all aid relief is so needed. A very welcomed sign of hope. The peoplehere have been open to the increased group of internationals.5
Page 1 and 2: Angelina Jolie’s Sudan Journal“
Page 3: the Darfur region of western Sudan
Page 7 and 8: Women are second class citizens. It
Page 9 and 10: We speak with the men gathered unde
Page 11 and 12: “We are late but we’re here. Re
Page 13 and 14: At the helicopter we meet Nick, the
Page 15 and 16: The men tell me about 10 Janjaweed
Page 17 and 18: I meet with a woman who was raped a
Page 19 and 20: UNHCR/ R. EkThey shake hands and to
Page 21 and 22: ills. Feeding center for malnourish
Page 23 and 24: We enter the IDP camp. It blends in
Page 25 and 26: October 27, 2004The future of Afric
Page 27: Presented here are the unedited tho

Angelina Jolie's Sudan Journal - UNHCR

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