I read Halima Bashir’s “Tears of the Desert: A Memoir of Survival in Darfur” (Sudan). Her story began with a happy life, surrounded by family and neighbours in her village. With her father’s support and encouragement, she achieved well at school and, against village tradition, attended university.
After graduating as a medical doctor,
Halima Bashir returned her village.
She left the village to begin her first placement.
She found herself treating people injured in fights against the
Janjaweed (Arabic for “Devil on Horseback”) Militia.
Taken away by soldiers, she was screamed at
and warned to stop treating these people.
Soon after, she was transferred to a
more remote village. She was 29.
Again, she started treating gun shots injuries . Most of these patients were treated under the cover of night. Many of them were taught to treat their wounds, loaded with medical supplies and sent back to the forests.
One day, working at her clinic, the sounds of
panic and screaming alerted her to a crisis.
The Janjaweed had attacked a school. Young girls were carried into the clinic, their clothing torn, blood covering their little bodies and shock glazing their eyes.
The girls, some only eight years old, and their teachers, had been attacked and raped.
With tears in her eyes, she treated the girls and helped to care for them until they were strong enough to return home. A raped girl in Darfur carries the shame of the attack. Forever.
Her assistance and actions were not
appreciated by the Janjaweed Militia.
Soldiers returned.
They carried her off and left her, cut and bleeding in an isolated shed. That night, three men returned and repeatedly raped her. She was burned with their cigarettes and cut with their blades. Halima was raped until she lost consciousness, her body’s only defense against the brutality.
The men released her, knowing she would carry
the shame wherever she went.
Broken, Halima returned to her village,
to the love and protection of her family.
Life was slowly returning to her, when her father suggested she marry her cousin. He had been a rebel fighter and was forced to flee the country. He was living in England. On accepting, Halima smiled for the first time in a long time. They were married, with the groom in England and the bride in Darfur.
The sound of helicopter blades broke the calm one afternoon. Before long, the villagers realized that they were under attack. Many men stayed behind, while women and children raced for the forest. There, they huddled for hours and waited. As the sun set, they snuck back to find their houses burning and their men killed. Her father was dead.
Halima’s two brothers left to join the army.
The villagers huddled together in the few remaining huts, sharing food and mourning. The next time they heard helicopters, they didn’t hesitate. They ran. They hid. After every building was burning, the helicopters left. The village was gone.
Before the family left the village, Halima felt the need to check her patients one last time.
While she was treating burns and wounds, soldiers came. They asked Halima’s mother where she was. Her mother denied being her mother and the soldiers left. Halima’s mother and young sister fled, before Halima finished treating her patients.
Halima was alone.
Her mother left a message, telling Halima to take the family gold.
All of the gold was given to an agent, who arranged for Halima to be taken to London. Here, she met up with her husband and together, they fought to be recognized as refugees. Several times, they were advised that they would be sent back to Sudan. Each time, they fought to stay.
Halima began talking about her experiences, sharing the Darfur story with the West. She still speaks to large audiences, spreading the word about her country’s troubles.
In 2008, Halima, her husband and their son were granted asylum/refugee status. She does not know where her family is.
Halima Bashir was nominated as Beliefnet’s Most Inspiring Person of the Year in 2008.
In 2010, she was awarded the 2010 Raw in War (Reach All Women in WAR) award. She was not able to attend the ceremony, due to security problems.
Halima is waiting for the day: "when peace comes really to our homeland and when all refugees and all the people who are displaced all over the world go back home and live in peace."
The conflict in Darfur was in its 7th year in 2010.
The United Nations estimates that 300,000 people have died.
About three million refugees were forced to flee
and take shelter in camps.
An unknown number of women and girls
have been abducted, raped and abused.
A generation of children have reached
school-age not knowing a home.
Most schools lack even the basic supplies, including chairs and desks.
Attacks on aid workers have drastically reduced operations.
Some parts of Darfur are inaccessible for aid workers.
Darfur is currently the largest humanitarian emergency in the world.
http://www.beliefnet.com/Inspiration/Most-Inspiring-2008/MIPY-Profile-Halima-Bashir.aspx
http://www.rnw.nl/africa/article/three-killed-factional-clashes-darfur refugee camp pic
1 comment:
Hi, I’m halfway through the book and gripped. I’m almost scared to keep reading as I know what’s ahead, and don’t want to leave the happy, peaceful, loving village. Excellent review and good for you not posting her picture. What a remarkable woman Halima is.
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