Justin Yurkanin's ProposalWomen are essentially the backbone of Southern Sudan, and have been forced to exist in the midst of an ongoing civil war since 1983. According to the UN, the region is composed of nearly 75% women because of a massive exodus and genocide of men. Women are responsible for food, trade and any form of commerce in the ravaged area. The United Nations "Operation Lifeline" in Northwest Kenya, spends more than one million dollars a month flying relief into Sudan. They give aid to thousands of women, but this is not a solution o the problems these women face. My proposal is to photograph the women of Southern Sudan in the war torn towns of Rumbek and Gogrial in the Bahr-el-Ghazal province. Dinka women in these cities are expected to be subservient to men in addition to producing many children to provide future fighters for the Sudanese People's Liberation Army (SPLA). They are literally in the middle of a war. The women of Rumbek and Gogrial have begun an amazing attempt to rectify their dire situation. A "smart relief" movement is being encouraged by the UN, and these women have become the leading implementers. They have instituted practices such as safe trading, in which events like soccer games are organized to bring a cease to the fighting around Rumbek and Gogrial for the purpose of allowing women to trade goods and food. They have tried to introduce new crops like Cassava, which is less easily pillaged as it does not need to be stored. Also they are pushing for more education and schools in the area. "Operation Lifeline" is designed to bring relief to starving people afflicted by the war. Yet, this organization's relief has a double-edged sword. Much of the nutritional gel packs and medical relief is stolen from the civilians by the rebel SPLA forces and Northern Armies. Pressure and violence are exerted on the women receiving relief, because it is viewed by the north as a means for the south to continue the war. "Smart relief" is seen as a viable solution to stopping the pressure brought on these women because it will stop the flow of foreign aid into these cities. I have been to Lokichokio base for "Operation Lifeline," and have spoken with this agency of the UN. They have agreed to allow me to fly to Rumbek (UN flights from Lokichokio generally only cost about 8,000 shillings or $100), and then drive with them to a medical unit located outside of Gogrial. Gogrial is currently occupied by the northern army, and is surrounded by the rebel SPLA forces. The heart of this story is meant to dispel the notion that these war torn areas of Africa are beyond hope. For nineteen years a generation of women have grown up in the mist of a war. Their initiatives to broker peace and to find a way to live are a testament to the power of peace even in one of the world's most brutal areas for war and conflict.
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