Southern Somalia is a hell for civilians living there, and that was true even before the famine that hit the country this summer. When I was in Mogadishu a few months ago, I saw bombed out buildings in every direction, families huddled in ill-equipped hospitals, and, in one case, a group of kids startled by…
It’s been a couple of weeks since we’ve blogged, but we’ve been kept very busy here at CIVIC. This week is a big one—today we released a joint report with Refugees International on civilian protection and amends in Libya and on Thursday we’ll be releasing a report on civilian harm in Somalia supported by UNHCR.…
By Marla Keenan, Managing Director, CIVIC Nearly six years ago I began my career here at CIVIC as an advocate for war victims and their loved ones. Six months ago today in Misrata, Libya while documenting the plight of Libyans in the war, my dear friend Chris Hondros became a war victim himself. Chris spent…
We met Mustafa at the 50 km checkpoint outside of Sirte. He left the city 10 days before and was taking his sister to receive medical care and the IMC clinic at the checkpoint. He told CIVIC staff about what Sirte was like for his family: We left Sirte ten days ago and have been…
Part 2 of 2. Part 1 is here. By Liz Lucas Eventually Mohammed and his family had to leave. The school they currently call home is a welcome relief from living in fear in Sirte. They sleep in peace, without the sounds of bullets whizzing past or planes flying overhead. “My children get crazy when…
Part 1 of 2 By Liz Lucas From inside the school in Al-Wachka comes the sound of children’s voices. At first it seems like a regular school, albeit one where the rules are relaxed. I can hear footsteps running down the hall and squeals as they play games. But for these kids, these are the hallways…
Part 3 of 3, Part 1 is here, Part 2 is here Soad, wife and mother I was in the bedroom with my husband. It was night and we were asleep when a rocket hit. I was unconscious and when I awoke I was widowed. I was hurt in my back and I don’t know…
Part 2 of 3 Khani, 41, truckdriver Three families in this neighborhood lost family the day the rocket killed my son. It was April 13. I was walking past the checkpoint and they told me there had been a rocket by my house, that my son was dead. I started running and I could see…
Part 1 of 3 Driving into Misrata, my colleague Kristele remarked that it reminded her of Beirut, where she spent much of her childhood. The skeletons of shops, hotels, and apartments line Tripoli Street and old men drink tea next to bullet-ridden structures that can scarcely be called buildings. Misrata looks like the city it…