Lately, the media has been full of stories about people fleeing Syria and seeking refuge in Europe. It's definitely a tragic situation, but today I want to talk about the story of someone in a different part of the world. Hadijah is a grandmother in the Central African Republic, a landlocked nation that faces more than its fair share of challenges.
A civil war in her country forced her to flee to the neighbouring nation of Chad, where she stayed for almost 18 months. She explains "I was a refugee, but now I've returned to my country. I can not live abroad". As someone who loves her country and her community, it must have been devastating to return to Central African Republic to find that her house and business had been destroyed, and that she risks a violent attack if she dares to visit her neighbourhood.
As a result, she's now what's called an "internally displaced person". She's in her home country, but she can't live in her home, or carry on with normal life. As it is, she's temporarily living near a mosque, and making simple cakes to provide for her daughter and grandchildren. She's living in limbo, uncertain of what the future holds.
Take a look at the above video to hear more of her thoughts about herself, her country, and her future. Watching it reminded me that most refugees and internally displaced persons want nothing more than to carry on with their normal lives in their home towns. Efforts by the international community to resolve conflict and minimise disruption will have a direct impact on reducing the number of refugees, and creating normal, happy lives for people who are unlucky enough to live in conflict-affected nations.
Facts about the Central African Republic civil war
Commenced: December 2012
Combatants: Government forces, versus the Seleka rebel coalition
Cause: Rebel forces accused government of failing to abide by peace agreements
Internally displaced persons: An estimated 200,000 in 2013
Death toll: In the thousands, exact numbers not currently known
International response: An African Union Multinational Force for Central Africa was comprised of troops from Gabon, Chad, Cameroon, Congo, and Equatorial Guinea, serving as peacekeepers. Brazil, Estonia, Georgia, South Africa, and France also sent troops to support the effort.
Timeline
December 2012: Civil war erupts
March 2013: Seleka rebels storm the capital, President flees the country, Seleka group appoints new government
July 2014: Ceasefire announced
May 2015: Agreement signed between government and 10 armed groups to dispose of weapons