Abu Shouk is beginning to slowly turn into a village of sorts – many village turning into one seemingly endless expanse. The desert sand in some areas resembles the surface of the moon and is full of deep wells in the earth where brick making is happening. Free water yields to brick making an activity that is not only a livelihood issue but also one of security and stability. In this cloaked culture, providing walls against the elements and prying eyes allows for families to talk and gather safely and away from this necessary madness.

It is hard to imagine living like this, even temporarily. The temporary has now turned into the “timeless” and no one knows when these people will be able to return. There is still rampant insecurity in the village areas where these people came from. The training of the militias still continues, and over 50% of North Darfur is SLA (Sudanese Liberation Army) territory. There is conflict from many sides, and now there is a new place for “prey” in the IDP Camps and the surrounding environs. Women and children gathering wood find themselves subject to harassment and rape and the “police” that are often accused of these crimes face little punishment and seem in many cases to be above prosecution. Darfur is a place where issues of protection, security and safety are at the forefront of people’s heart and minds. Food and water may be scarce, but the daily emotional strain and torment that some families face impacts whole communities and in some cases entire camps.