On July 16, 2004, Allyson Bowers left Atlanta to join Doctors Without Borders in its effort to bring food and medical care to the people of the Darfur region of Sudan. After traveling through New York, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Cairo and Khartoum, Allyson arrived in Garsila, Western Darfur, where she is working in a feeding clinic, caring for malnourished children, and in the local hospital, the operation of which Doctors Without Borders has assumed.
This site contains all the reports on Allyson's experiences in Western Darfur that her husband has emailed to her friends. (Links to each report are below.) These accounts keep everyone in Allyson's circle apprised of her safety, her progress and, most importantly, her stories, which tell us about the real situation in a country where desperately poor people are struggling to survive, under attack from the Janjaweed militias, which are supported by the Sudanese government.
The United Nations has passed a resolution calling on the Sudanese government to disarm the militias and bring to justice those responsible for the attacks. As a result of the Janjaweed's actions, tens of thousands are dead and more than a million are homeless. Beneath the links to each volume of the report are links to the web sites of organizations, including Doctors Without Borders, that are attempting to alleviate the suffering of the people of Darfur. On these sites, you can learn more about the situation in Darfur, and, if you're so inclined, contribute financially to support the organizations that are trying to help.
Allyson thanks all her friends and family for the good wishes, care packages and prayers they've offered for her -- and for the little fellers she's trying to help.