Comments on: Caught in a rebel offensive in eastern Chad

By: John B Fiddler

John B Fiddler — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 23:55:11 +0000

Exactly a year ago I commenced 6 months with MSF in Kerfi south of Goz beida, surrounded by overflowing wadis treating and feeding refugees and townspeople. We were blessed with a relatively peaceful time, reading these reports I am back there with you as you negotiate the fears. It’s always the young men, aimless, angry, drunk, who can be convinced to fight anyone for anything. I saw the power that toyota pickups and rpg’s bestow…I have my leather amulets that I received in Chad while I worked there and I hold them as I think of the desperate poverty of those proud people, nomads, arab and settled who had nothing and were slowly accepting our help. Now I see the victims-my patients- in my mind, mostly women and children being abandoned as we too have to abandon our posts. I just heard ‘my’ clinic was attacked and the staff and patients beaten.

By: teresa hans

teresa hans — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 01:26:44 +0000

your pictures moved me from Midwest, USA to Chad and the surrounding areas..my heart is broken..i am moved to action

By: Diana Ngila

Diana Ngila — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 18:31:55 +0000

Good to have you back on the blog after a long absence…The writing captured my attention and kicked the mind into imagination-mode becuase of the vivid desciption and the excellent pictures to go along with it. Keep up the good work Finbarr.

By: Wendy Conquest

Wendy Conquest — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 18:22:01 +0000

This is a harrowing story and beautiful photos. I appreciate the courage and tenacity required to show us this part of the world. Good luck with this important work, and thank you.

By: george esiri

george esiri — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 11:20:09 +0000

Good pictures for such adventurous assignment

By: lanick

lanick — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 12:54:56 +0000

Great job, Finbarr, your writing reflect the reality, We need people like you to show what is really going on here. Thanks and best luck

By: Guled

Guled — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 06:22:17 +0000

a good yet sad story,and it could be all told by one sentence“C’est la musique Chadienne”.as somali I know and been through violence.and I have nothing to say but pray for better days for all my chadian brothers.

By: Mikhail

Mikhail — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 08:01:09 +0000

Great photography and great story.

By: Capt Dave Slattery

Capt Dave Slattery — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 07:45:47 +0000

Good Work Finbarr, Nice to have had you hear. Best of luck

By: kscott

kscott — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 19:10:35 +0000

Phrases like “best pictures” and “Bravo” just seem inappropriate and out of context for situations like this. I thought “heart wrenching, sad, unfathomable in our world, why”. I felt glad that the person writing the story was alive to do so.