State Historical Society of Iowa

Sudanese Refugee Women and Children at Camp Mile in Chad, May 9, 2004

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Courtesy of Library of Congress, Fiedler, Konrad, "[Sudanese refugee women and children at Camp Mile, Chad]," The New York Sun, 9 May 2004

Description

This May 9, 2004, photograph taken by Konrad Fiedler, shows a group of Sudanese women and children refugees at Camp Mile, located in the country of Chad. The refugees had just received fresh rations. This camp opened four days before this photograph was taken to accommodate an overflow of refugees from Darfur. In 2004, Sudan was the largest country in Africa. Darfur, a region in Western Sudan, encompasses an area roughly the size of Spain. The population of Darfur was estimated at 7 million people in 2004. The genocide in Darfur increased tensions in neighboring Chad and the Central African Republic as hundreds of thousands of refugees streamed over the two countries' borders to escape violence.

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Source Dependent Questions

  • Look closely at the image. The refugees just received fresh rations. What are rations? Describe what rations the refugees received.
  • Think about the landscape. Why does the food and water for the refugees have to be brought in and rationed?
  • What emotions might you feel if you were in this situation? Explain.
  • Compare this photo with the photo of Sudanese refugees at Camp Tine. What is similar between the photos? What is different?
  • In 2004, American officials referred to the crisis in Darfur as a genocide. Why might America responding to the crisis as a genocide be important? How does this illustrate the importance of governments labeling conflicts?

Citation Information

Fiedler, Konrad, "[Sudanese refugee women and children at Camp Mile, Chad]," The New York Sun, 9 May 2004. Courtesy of Library of Congress Courtesy of Library of Congress