Photo Credit: Refugees International
03/15/2005

As in Darfur, most violence occurs when gathering firewood. Women and young girls are sent out daily in the early morning to gather firewood for food preparation. For many, it often means they must travel over 10 miles to reach any vegetation. Due to the lack of trees, grazing land, and other resources, tension has risen dramatically between the host population and the refugee community. Firewood has become one of the most contested resources. Accused of taking all the firewood in the area, many refugee women and girls have been brutally beaten and even raped. These two young girls are on their way to collect firewood for their family. Already outside the camp one can see the sparse vegetation and trees.