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Displaced Women Confront Warlords, Demand End to Fighting
 Women in the Bay region of central Somalia have had enough of the fighting that has displaced their families, killed friends and relatives and continues to threaten their lives. For nearly five years, the Rehaweyn clan has been fighting in the region. As part of peace talks within the clan, women who had been displaced by the fighting met with warlords.
“I have nothing to praise you for,” 77-year-old Bare Kerow told the fighters. “I have no respect for you because you have done bad things to your people: killing, looting and raping. We women are the victims of your stupid actions. You are killing our husbands and children and burning our houses.”
The most recent fighting broke out in July of 2002 and escalated late last year. As a result, some 3,000 women and children lost their homes and are now crowded into four camps in Waajid district. The camps offer limited shelter, food and clean water. World Vision has opened health clinics in the camps. The agency continues to work in the region, despite violence, which has led many other organizations to close down operations.
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