Refugee Camps In Kenya Research Articles

Gender, Home & Identity: Nuer Repatriation to Southern Sudan by Katarzyna Grabska (review)

Katarzyna Grabska, Gender, Home & Identity: Nuer Repatriation to Southern Sudan. Suffolk: Currey, 2014. 240 pp.Acondition that marks the lives of millions of people throughout the world, conflict-induced displacement often results in social ruptures and dislocation for affected women, children, and men; it may also open up possibilities of subverting gender and generational inequalities, leading to the emergence of transformed social hierarchies.Katarzyna Grabska's compelling book, Gender, Home & Identity: Nuer Repatriation to Southern Sudan, is a sensitive account of the lives of a group of South Sudanese refugees and their gendered experiences of war-time displacement and eventual repatriation. Her analysis is based on multi-sited ethnographic research carried out in Kenya and South Sudan between April 2006 and September 2007. More specifically, her book follows the efforts of 17 Nuer families and over 50 additional individuals who fled their homes in order to escape the violence that tore their communities apart during the Second Sudanese Civil War. Their initial flight was followed by long-term displacement throughout Sudan and several East African countries until they settled in Kakuma, a refugee camp in northwestern Kenya where they remained for years.The Second Sudanese Civil War (1983-2005), the primary cause of the displacement discussed in Gender, Home & Identity, resulted in the displacement of four million women, children, and men, including large numbers of Nuer, the second largest ethnic group in the country. Some stayed in camps for internally displaced persons in the northern capital, Khartoum. Others sought safety in refugee camps in Kenya and Ethiopia during the long years of conflict. The signing of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) between the Sudanese government in Khartoum and the Sudan People's Liberation Army-Movement (SPLA/M)-the main South Sudanese rebel group-facilitated the return of more than two million refugees, including many of the Nuer families whom Grabska had met first in Egypt in 2002, and later in Khartoum, Kenya, and eventually South Sudan.Thus, after decades of life in exile, some of them arrived in L[varepsilon]r,1 a county capital in South Sudan's Unity State and Upper Nile region. In the long and tumultuous process of displacement and emplacement, their lives were irreversibly changed in unexpected and significant ways. Faced with the challenges of settling in and creating new homes in a place they barely remembered (or never actually knew), and adjusting to local expectations of proper behavior for females and males, they often felt uprooted all over again. Described in rich ethnographic detail by Grabska, their experiences provide a historically-situated framework for a broader discussion of the intersection of gender, violence, and displacement, as well as their consequences for contemporary involuntary migration flows.Indeed, one of the main strengths of the book is Grabska's detailed interrogation of the multifaceted ways in which identity, gender, and generational relations have been redefined in South Sudan as a result of war, displacement, return, and (re)integration. Combining insights from the fields of anthropology and refugee, migration, feminist, and gender studies, her account of the struggles faced by those displaced, as well as those who stayed behind, underscores Nuer efforts to (re)create a sense of home, community, and nation in spite of very challenging circumstances. Her analysis also reveals the complexity and fluidity of the profound social changes that took place during and after the war.Gender, Home & Identity's key argument is that women's and men's experiences in situations of displacement vary with regard to the contexts of their exile and the circumstances of their post-war emplacement. Guided by this premise, Grabska analyzes how Nuer women and men, young and old, navigated the social conditions of war and violence, actively adjusting, adapting, subverting, and negotiating their social place both in exile and after their return home. …

Mil Vezes Boa Noite

Diretora: Erik Poppe Produção: Ahmed Abounouom, Geir Eikeland Henning, Pedro Garde, Finn Gjerdrum, Stig Hjerkinn Haug, Stein B. Kvae, Jackie Larkin, Lesley McKimm, Kaare Storemyr Guión: Erik Poppe, Harald Rosenløw-EEG Título original: tusen dios ganger natt Ano 2013 País de origem: Noruega / Irlanda / Suecia Gênero: Drama Cor: Cor Duração: 117 minRebecca (Juliette Binoche) é uma das fotojornalistas de guerra de maior prestígio no mundo, famosa por gravar imagens perigosas e assustadoras nos cenários mais terríveis, em um esforço para tentar relatar o custo real da guerra no contexto moderno. Mas ela também é uma esposa e mãe que deixa o marido e duas filhas jovens cada vez que você viajar para um novo zona de combate. Depois de uma experiência de quase-morte durante o registo de um ritual de uma mulher suicida, seu marido Marcus (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) dá-lhe um ultimato: ou renúncia à profissão perigosa ou perdido família com quem você sempre pode contar ao retornar de uma viagem de negócios. No entanto, a convicção de que suas fotos podem fazer a diferença incentiva as pessoas a permanecer em sua determinação, o que torna difícil para ela se afastar completamente do seu trabalho. Com uma oferta para tirar fotos em um campo de refugiados no Quênia, como um espaço supostamente seguro que permite que sua filha Steph (Lauryn Canny) para se juntar a ela, Rebecca fica cara a cara com o risco que cada vez que retorna sua profissão e retorno ao trabalho em zonas de conflito.

Lessons from introducing a livelihood project for unaccompanied children into an existing child protection programme in the Dadaab refugee camps in Kenya

Evidence shows that displacement, family separation and economic status are risk factors for child protection concerns and children's mental health, and that violence and economic status are risk factors for children's physical, emotional and social development. Family based care, community social support and economic strengthening have been shown to moderate such risk factors. This article explores the introduction of a livelihood project for unaccompanied children into an existing child protection programme in the Dadaab refugee camp complex in Kenya, with the primary objective of strengthening the household economy of foster families and improving the care of the fostered children. In this article the authors reflect on the programme's work in recognising and building on existing traditional clan-based family tracing and care mechanisms for unaccompanied and separated children, as well as the importance of understanding the particular needs of specific groups of children such as those without appropriate care. They discuss issues of insecurity and lack of funding affecting programme quality and programme monitoring, and discus challenges of project design. Consideration of how such challenges can impact on existing traditional care mechanisms is shared. The authors argue for greater acknowledgement and efforts to build on traditional child protection mechanisms within wider debates on child protection systems; greater understanding and consideration of the needs of unaccompanied children in particular contexts; better monitoring of the outcomes of child protection programmes on the children they serve; and adequate and sustained funding for child protection in emergencies.

An agent-based modeling approach applied to the spread of cholera

Cholera is an intestinal disease and is characterized by diarrhea and severe dehydration. While cholera has mainly been eliminated in regions that can provide clean water, adequate hygiene and proper sanitation; it remains a constant threat in many parts of Africa and Asia. Within this paper, we develop an agent-based model that explores the spread of cholera in the Dadaab refugee camp in Kenya. Poor sanitation and housing conditions contribute to frequent incidents of cholera outbreaks within this camp. We model the spread of cholera by explicitly representing the interaction between humans and their environment, and the spread of the epidemic using a Susceptible-Exposed-Infected-Recovered model. Results from the model show that the spread of cholera grows radially from contaminated water sources and seasonal rains can cause the emergence of cholera outbreaks. This modeling effort highlights the potential of agent-based modeling to explore the spread of cholera in a humanitarian context.

Lost Girl Found by Leah Bassoff (review)

Reviewed by: Lost Girl Found by Leah Bassoff Hope Morrison Bassoff, Leah. Lost Girl Found; by Leah Bassoff and Laura DeLuca. Groundwood, 2014. 212p. Trade ed. ISBN 978-1-55498-416-9 $16.95 E-book ed. ISBN 978-1-55498-418-3 $14.95 R Gr. 8-12. While the Lost Boys of Sudan have received public attention, very little has been paid to the girls who were caught in the crossfires and complexities of the Sudanese conflict. This novel follows the life of such a girl, Poni, a young Didinga girl living in southern Sudan. Even before the war, Poni’s life is filled with much strife, due in large part to her frustration with the limitations placed upon her by gender; she is determined to get an education and to avoid being forced into marriage, despite the expectations of her tribe. When her village is attacked, she escapes and walks for weeks, amid constant death and destruction, until she arrives at the Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya. After many months at the camp, she leaves Kakuma and travels to Nairobi, where she is taken in by Sister Hannah and promised an education in exchange for hard work. The plot is both riveting and at times chilling (particularly the graphic depictions of violence and death), but it is Poni herself who carries the novel; there is a detached sadness to her narration that exudes both despair and depth, and the rich imagery and carefully crafted details further elevate the tone. As a note explains, Bassof, a writer, and DeLuca, an anthropologist, met at a conference about Sudan and decided to cowrite this novel to give a female voice to the story of Sudanese refugees, and Poni’s character is a composite of the many stories they heard in their research. This is girl power in its truest form, and Poni’s story is certain to profoundly impact all who take it in. An author’s note, timeline, list of further reading/viewing, and glossary are included. Copyright © 2014 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois

Examining strain diversity and phylogeography in relation to an unusual epidemic pattern of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in a long-term refugee camp in Kenya

BackgroundA recent longitudinal study in the Dadaab refugee camp near the Kenya-Somalia border identified unusual biannual respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) epidemics. We characterized the genetic variability of the associated RSV strains to determine if viral diversity contributed to this unusual epidemic pattern.MethodsFor 336 RSV positive specimens identified from 2007 through 2011 through facility-based surveillance of respiratory illnesses in the camp, 324 (96.4%) were sub-typed by PCR methods, into 201 (62.0%) group A, 118 (36.4%) group B and 5 (1.5%) group A-B co-infections. Partial sequencing of the G gene (coding for the attachment protein) was completed for 290 (89.5%) specimens. These specimens were phylogenetically analyzed together with 1154 contemporaneous strains from 22 countries.ResultsOf the 6 epidemic peaks recorded in the camp over the period, the first and last were predominantly made up of group B strains, while the 4 in between were largely composed of group A strains in a consecutive series of minor followed by major epidemics. The Dadaab group A strains belonged to either genotype GA2 (180, 98.9%) or GA5 (2, < 1%) while all group B strains (108, 100%) belonged to BA genotype. In sequential epidemics, strains within these genotypes appeared to be of two types: those continuing from the preceding epidemics and those newly introduced. Genotype diversity was similar in minor and major epidemics.ConclusionRSV strain diversity in Dadaab was similar to contemporaneous diversity worldwide, suggested both between-epidemic persistence and new introductions, and was unrelated to the unusual epidemic pattern.

Constrained Agency on Contraceptive Use among Somali Refugee Women in the Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya

This report discusses constraints on contraceptive use and implications for family planning among Somali refugee women settled in the Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya. It is based on a postgraduate study on the various perceptions and attitudes among Somali refugee women to contraception, and their interaction with family planning service providers. The study was conducted in two stages with 32 respondents, who included married and unmarried women and men between the ages of 19 and 58. The first stage included four focus group discussions with 22 participants, and explored general views on contraceptive use and family planning. The second stage comprised face-to-face individual interviews with 10 key respondents. The findings suggest that even though the majority of Somali refugee women do not use contraceptives, it is not by choice, but due to the numerous barriers they face. Hence, instead of supporting choice policy approaches, there is a need to redress their concerns about contraceptives and remove the constraints that hinder their use.

Meeting the Needs of English Learners

AbstractThe authors discuss educational issues that trail English Language Learners (ELLs) by looking at the experiences of Mumina, a student who entered a U. S. classroom seven years ago after spending time in a refugee camp in Kenya. ELLs ‐ especially at the high school level ‐ are a challenging group for educators because they have a relatively short period of time to develop English proficiency and literacy skills, while simultaneously learning content. ELLs are diverse groups of students that cover a wide spectrum of language, literacy, and educational needs. The authors state that rich classroom learning experiences are necessary. At the policy level, they indicate that in order to meet the needs of ELLs, a greater investment in teacher reparation programs and professional development demands top priority.

Epidemiology of respiratory viral infections in two long-term refugee camps in Kenya, 2007-2010

BackgroundRefugees are at risk for poor outcomes from acute respiratory infections (ARI) because of overcrowding, suboptimal living conditions, and malnutrition. We implemented surveillance for respiratory viruses in Dadaab and Kakuma refugee camps in Kenya to characterize their role in the epidemiology of ARI among refugees.MethodsFrom 1 September 2007 through 31 August 2010, we obtained nasopharyngeal (NP) and oropharyngeal (OP) specimens from patients with influenza-like illness (ILI) or severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) and tested them by RT-PCR for adenovirus (AdV), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), human metapneumovirus (hMPV), parainfluenza viruses (PIV), and influenza A and B viruses. Definitions for ILI and SARI were adapted from those of the World Health Organization. Proportions of cases associated with viral aetiology were calculated by camp and by clinical case definition. In addition, for children < 5 years only, crude estimates of rates due to SARI per 1000 were obtained.ResultsWe tested specimens from 1815 ILI and 4449 SARI patients (median age = 1 year). Proportion positive for virus were AdV, 21.7%; RSV, 12.5%; hMPV, 5.7%; PIV, 9.4%; influenza A, 9.7%; and influenza B, 2.6%; 49.8% were positive for at least one virus. The annual rate of SARI hospitalisation for 2007-2010 was 57 per 1000 children per year. Virus-positive hospitalisation rates were 14 for AdV; 9 for RSV; 6 for PIV; 4 for hMPV; 5 for influenza A; and 1 for influenza B. The rate of SARI hospitalisation was highest in children < 1 year old (156 per 1000 child-years). The ratio of rates for children < 1 year and 1 to < 5 years old was 3.7:1 for AdV, 5.5:1 for RSV, 4.4:1 for PIV, 5.1:1 for hMPV, 3.2:1 for influenza A, and 2.2:1 for influenza B. While SARI hospitalisation rates peaked from November to February in Dadaab, no distinct seasonality was observed in Kakuma.ConclusionsRespiratory viral infections, particularly RSV and AdV, were associated with high rates of illness and make up a substantial portion of respiratory infection in these two refugee settings.

Epidemic cholera in Kakuma Refugee Camp, Kenya, 2009: the importance of sanitation and soap

Cholera remains a major public health problem that causes substantial morbidity and mortality in displaced populations due to inadequate or unprotected water supplies, poor sanitation and hygiene, overcrowding, and limited resources. A cholera outbreak with 224 cases and four deaths occurred in Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya from September to December 2009. We conducted a case-control study to characterize the epidemiology of the outbreak. Cases were identified by reviewing the hospital registry for patients meeting the World Health Organization (WHO) case definition for cholera. For each case a matched control was selected. A questionnaire focusing on potential risk factors was administered to cases and controls. From 18 September to 15 December 2009, a total of 224 cases were identified and were hospitalised at Kakuma IRC hospital. Three refugees and one Kenyan national died of cholera. V. cholerae O1, serotype Inaba was isolated in 44 (42%) out of 104 stool specimens collected. A total of 93 cases and 93 matched controls were enrolled in the study. In a multivariate model, washing hands with soap was protective against cholera (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] =0.25[0.09-0.71]; p < 0.01), while presence of dirty water storage containers was a risk factor (AOR=4.39[1.12-17.14]; p=0.03). Provision of soap, along with education on hand hygiene and cleaning water storage containers, may be an affordable intervention to prevent cholera.

Understanding Low Usage of Micronutrient Powder in the Kakuma Refugee Camp, Kenya: Findings from a Qualitative Study

Home fortification with micronutrient powder has been shown to be a low-cost, feasible, and effective approach to address micronutrient deficiencies. A large-scale program distributing micronutrient powder to approximately 50,000 refugees was implemented at the Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya. Uptake of the micronutrient powder at distribution points dropped nearly 70%,from 99% to a low of 30%, and remained at 45% to 52% despite increased social marketing efforts. To identify factors at the distal and proximal levels leading to the low uptake of micronutrient powder through a qualitative inquiry. In-depth interviews were conducted with community leaders, stakeholders, implementing partners, and beneficiaries. Direct observations of food preparation and child feeding were conducted. Focus group discussions were employed to examine perceptions and practices of beneficiaries regarding micronutrient powder use. Superficial formative research and lack of interagency coordination led to insufficient social marketing prior to the program. In addition, community health workers were inadequately trained. This resulted in inadequate communication regarding the health benefits and use of micronutrient powder to the beneficiaries. Reliance on personal experiences with micronutrient powder and issues with its packaging, in part, led to confusion and deleterious rumors, resulting in decreased uptake of micronutrient powder at distribution points. A successful micronutrient powder program requires careful design, with emphasis on conducting thorough formative research, ensuring the involvement and commitment of all stakeholders from the outset, investigating the role of cultural factors, and ensuring provision of sufficient, adequate, and timely information to the beneficiaries.

Epidemiology of Respiratory Infections Caused by Atypical Bacteria in Two Kenyan Refugee Camps

Chlamydia pneumoniae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and Legionella spp. are common causes of atypical pneumonia; however, data about these atypical pathogens are limited in the refugee setting. Paired nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal specimens were collected from patients with respiratory illness presenting to healthcare centers in two refugee camps in Kenya. The specimens were tested for C. pneumoniae, M. pneumoniae, and Legionella spp. as well as eight respiratory viruses. Atypical pathogens were detected in 5.5% of the specimens of which 54% were co-infected with at least one of the eight viruses tested. Patients positive for atypical bacteria co-infected with virus were significantly more likely to have severe acute respiratory illness than patients infected with only atypical bacteria (P = 0.04). While the percentage of atypical pathogens identified was lower than expected, we found a significant relationship between atypical bacterial-viral co-infection and severity of disease in this refugee population.

Non-governmental organisations and the management of HIV and AIDS in refugee camps: A comparison of Marratane Camp in Mozambique and Kakuma Camp in Kenya

In recent years, a number of sub-Saharan African states appear to have placed restrictions on the operations of international non-governmental organisations (NGOs) within their state boundaries. Indeed, some commentators and academics have questioned the role NGOs should play in providing humanitarian aid to refugees and to what extent they are, or should be, involved in the political, cultural, economic and healthcare concerns and agendas of any state. However, the high HIV/AIDS prevalence in refugee camps in sub-Saharan Africa creates negative economic, social, political and security implications for their host states and many states lack the knowledge, experience and funds to manage the problem successfully. Within this context, this article examines and compares the role and effectiveness of two separate NGOs involved since 2001 in HIV/AIDS management programmes in two distinct refugee camps: Save the Children in Marratane Refugee Camp in Mozambique and the International Rescue Committee in Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya. NGO success in managing HIV/AIDS programmes is analysed according to UNHCR guidelines and specifically against four key aspects of HIVAIDS management; HIV/AIDS awareness, HIV/AIDS prevention, access to HIV healthcare services and the provision of treatment.

Reflections on refugee students’ major perceptions of education in Kakuma Refugee Camp, Kenya

This reflective study explores refugee students’ perceptions of the educational approach used in Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya. The study focuses on my personal reflections as a teacher and a student in this camp, and as a refugee. My goal of writing this narrative is to reflect fully on the refugee students’ life in a camp and then contribute to the method of narrative analysis. It is my hope that this article will contribute to the current literature on the narrative approach.

Lost boys, invisible girls: stories of Sudanese marriages across borders

Forced migration challenges and changes gender relations. The transnational activities of refugees resettled in the West create gender asymmetries among those who stay behind. This article explores the transnational marriages of young southern Sudanese women (‘invisible girls’), who either stayed in Sudan or remained in refugee camps in Kenya, to Sudanese men who were resettled to America, Canada or Australia (‘lost boys’). Incorporating gender as a relational category into the analysis of transnational practices that migrants and refugees engage in is important. The article argues that there is a need to put feminist analysis at the centre of transnational processes resulting from (forced) migration. It looks at the connections between different geographical locations, the impacts of the migration of young refugee men on bridewealth and marriage negotiations and the gender consequences for young women, men and their families. It is argued that transnational activities, such as marriage, contest, reconfigure and reinforce the culturally inscribed gender norms and practices in and across places. Transnational marriage results in ambiguous benefits for women (and men) in accessing greater freedoms. Anthropological analyses of marriage need a geographical focus on the transnational fields in which they occur. The article seeks to deepen understanding of the nuanced gendered consequences of transnationalism. It shows how gender analysis of actions taken across different locations can contribute to the theorisation of transnational studies of refugees and migrants.

A Participatory Approach to Assessing Refugee Perceptions of Health Services

The necessity and value of beneficiary input is widely recognized by the humanitarian community. Nevertheless, limited beneficiary involvement occurs due to various barriers. This study explores the effectiveness of an innovative, participatory approach to assessing beneficiary perceptions in resource-limited settings. A unique hybrid of qualitative and quantitative methodologies assessed perceptions of health programs within five refugee camps in Kenya and Tanzania. A database of perceptions and opinions was established through key-informant interviews, focus group discussions and free-response questionnaires among refugees, community leaders and healthcare providers. Each participant subsequently force-ranked the collected views into quasi-normal distribution according to level of agreement. Responses were analyzed using by-person factor analysis software. Eighty-one individuals (96%) successfully completed the participatory exercise. The methodologies identified detailed levels of consensus, rank-ordered priorities and unique sub-population opinions. The authors illustrate benefits and feasibility of qualitative quantitative participatory methodology in assessing beneficiary perceptions of refugee services.

Cholera Outbreak in Kenyan Refugee Camp: Risk Factors for Illness and Importance of Sanitation

An outbreak of watery diarrhea struck within the Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya in April 2005; 418 people were treated, and 4 persons died. Vibrio cholerae O1 was isolated from 33 patients. In June 2005, we conducted a retrospective matched case-control study to define risk factors associated with cholera among camp residents and identify interventions that could prevent further cases and future outbreaks. We identified cases of cholera through medical records at the main health facility in the camp and matched controls (without watery diarrhea since November 2004) to the cases by age category (< 2, 2-4, 5-14, and > 14 years) and location of residence within the camp. Cases were defined as any person of any age with profuse, effortless watery diarrhea (three or more stools in 24 hours). A multivariate model showed that storing drinking water at home in sealed or covered containers was protective against cholera (matched odds ratio [MOR] = 0.49 [0.25, 0.96]), whereas "sharing a latrine with at least three households" (MOR = 2.17 [1.01, 4.68]) and arriving at the Kakuma camp on or after November 2004 (MOR = 4.66 [1.35, 16.05]) were risk factors. Improving sanitation and promoting methods to ensure safe drinking water are likely to be effective measures in moderating future cholera outbreaks in this setting. Higher risks for cholera illness among refugees recently "in-migrated" suggest that there may be value in targeting new arrivals in the camp for risk reduction messages and interventions, such as covered water storage containers, to prevent cholera.

Who Wants to Return Home? A Survey of Sudanese Refugees in Kakuma, Kenya

With the goal of better understanding some of the psychological factors related to refugees’ desire to return home, surveys were administered to 235 South Sudanese refugees living in the Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya. Respondents were asked about how much they wanted to return to Sudan, their emotional reactions about returning, their views on the prospects for peace, their expectations regarding how they would be received upon return, and their concerns about specific challenges they might face. In addition, they completed an inventory measuring their personal beliefs about issues in five domains: vulnerability, injustice, distrust, superiority, and helplessness in regard to prospective returnees to Sudan. A large majority was very eager to repatriate. Individual differences in attitudes toward returning were significantly linked to the strength of their beliefs in the five domains. Stronger beliefs about vulnerability, injustice, distrust, and helplessness were associated with more negative perceptions of return, while a stronger belief about returnee superiority was correlated with a more favourable perspective on repatriation.

Why Uganda Has Failed to Defeat the Lord's Resistance Army

The Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) was derived from a Christian cult formed by Alice Lakwena to oppose the government of Yoweri Museveni who had seized power in Uganda in 1986. Following several serious defeats in 1987 of the “Holy Spirit Battalion”, as her rebels were then known, Lakwena fled to a refugee camp in Kenya. One of her followers, however, Joseph Kony, took the remnants of the force and formed the LRA. They launched raids across northeastern Uganda, abducting numerous children along the way. The captured boys, besides serving as soldiers, were forced to participate in acts of torture as well as execution-style murders of would-be escapees. 2 Female abductees became abused servants and “wives”, and were subjected to forced sexual slavery, with many becoming pregnant and giving birth in the bush. 3 Estimates vary widely as to the present-day strength of the LRA, from a few hundred to several thousand. Though relatively small in numbers, their tactics of abducting children instill fear in the population, resulting in approximately 1.5 million internally displaced persons (IDPs), essentially destabilizing a significant portion of northern Uganda. 4 The LRA’s original mission of overthrowing the government appears at times to have become subordinate to Kony’s mysticism, including his claim to be in contact with certain spiritual forces. 5 As one newspaper wrote, the LRA “have often seemed more like a bizarre cult than a guerrilla movement because of their seemingly mindless atrocities against civilians and lack of political agenda.” 6 Kony’s stated objective remains, however, to depose President Yoweri Museveni. He would replace the government with one based on the Ten Commandments, though how he reconciles his brutality with his religious beliefs is difficult to understand.

Sudan: A Humanitarian Response to a Silent Genocide: An American Nurse's Perspective

*Editor’s note: Ms Gately first began volunteering in the late 1980s in Afghanistan during the Soviet invasion of that nation. Since then, she has returned to Afghanistan for 6 months with the organization Doctors Without Borders, volunteered at refugee camps in Kenya, the Balkans, and Iraq, and has now made 2 trips to Darfur. For the past 4 years, Gately has been on aid missions more than she has been at home, so she currently works per diem at Boston Medical Center to have the flexibility she needs to perform her volunteer work. While in Darfur, Ms Gately developed a Web series for the BBC, which was picked up by others, and she was asked to contribute to a book on refugees that is scheduled for publication later this year. In discussing her volunteer role, Gately explains, ‘‘No direct nursing care is involved, although my most fulfilling moments are when I am able to spend time with and hold the children and babies.’’