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2. Unpacking Chad
If you want to zoom around Chad from the bird’s-eye point-of-view, get Google Earth. It’s a fantastic programme. (But, if it’s not possible, look at the pictures below.)
If you scroll about, you’ll see Breidjing Refugee camp, made up of approximately 30,000 Sudanese refugees, and Farchana refugee camp, with about 20,000 persons.
The top one is an image from Google Earth, which is the Farchana camp from about 2 km above, and the one below that same camp at ground level. From the UN-map below, you can get a sense as to where the refugee camps are located.
(NB: All of these maps, and frequent updates to the situation in Chad and other humanitarian projects can be found at 1) Reliefweb and 2) the MSF Internationalsite.
I don’t know about you, but I can’t think without a map. So, now that you have one, this is what I’m in for starting mid-January of 2008: I’ll be stationed in Hadjer Hadid for about six months doing daily trips to nearby refugee camps (mostly Breidjing and Farchana, I think), and IDP (Internally Displaced People; Chadians who have fled violence in their own country) camps scattered around the area. The MSF contingent is 8-9 expats, and about 50 national staff.
January 5th, 2008 at 3:01 pm
hey steve…
great blog man. i really enjoy reading this stuff. hope your trip to the interior of BC was excellent and no doubt there are more great adventures to come. kinda nuts actually, just thinking about it.
also, love the pic with the cowboy hat…
February 3rd, 2008 at 6:30 pm
Steven,
I must say I have very proud to have been friends with you many years ago. I took the time to show my to be wife a little of my past and tell her all the good times I had growing up with you and your family.
Anyway hope you are having a great time.
February 4th, 2008 at 9:37 pm
Interesting to read your pre destination thoughts, Steve. I did not have that time to mull over where I was going or why I was doing what I was. I left Deline on Great Bear Lake where I worked as a nurse practitioner, got home to Vernon, tried to put things in order in only four days, then down to Vancouver to get a passport which happened within 2 days…MSF was the “word” that made it possible. Then on to PPD, then straight to the field in Marere, Somalia. WoW, so much happened so quickly!! It is great to read blogs from classmates. Look forward to more of your thoughts and experiences.
February 13th, 2008 at 8:31 pm
hi steve hows it going?
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:15 pm
I must say I don’t know what you can do to help either, without the ability to communicate in the local languages, and with so little experience. One of my patients told me once, “….well I wanted to thank you for wanting to help me even if there was nothing you could do” and that stuck with me as one of the most heartfelt thank-you’s I have ever received……
…….At least you’re not working here in Canada prescribing heavy drugs and referring people to poor counseling services.
I am sure this will be a feather in your CV.