Photo Credit: Refugees International
12/06/2005

Although the “firewood patrols” have been created to protect women, the AU civilian police, the government police, and AU protection forces do not accompany the women directly. For the patrol that Refugees International accompanied, the patrol team left several hours after the women and patrolled the area that had been agreed upon as the firewood gathering spot. The Sudanese police and AU CIVPOL waited in one area for a few hours, stating that the women knew this spot in case they had to report a problem. Nevertheless, the women have no means of warning the patrol team that they are under attack if they are not right next to the team.