Darfur: firewood patrols · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Sleepless in Sudan reports on the return of the “so-called firewood patrols” in Darfur……The idea behind the firewood patrols is pretty simple: the African Union (who has deployed about 6500 troops to Darfur to monitor the situation and create a more secure environment) is meant to work with local police officers to accompany the women of the camps when they venture outside to collect firewood. Since women often have to walk up to 5-10km away from the camp to get the wood, they are vulnerable to attacks, beatings, rape or worse during their journey – and the presence of the troops is meant to prevent anything happening to them.”