War in silence

After over 60 years at war, Sudan and Southern Sudan managed to find a peace agreement and South Sudan seceded from the North in July 2011.

After over 60 years at war, Sudan and Southern Sudan managed to find a peace agreement and South Sudan seceded from the North in July 2011. Nevertheless, the bordering regions of Sudan remain unstable. South Kordofan is one of them. On July 5 2011 and after contested elections giving power to Ahmed Haroun, former commissioner of Darfur and wanted by the International Court of Justice, the war between the Sudanese government (SAF) and the rebels (SPLA-N) started again. Since that date, bombings, landmines and on-the-ground battles have become the daily life of the Nubian. Those random bombings made by the SAF have forced the locals to find refugee in the mountains, or fled to Yida refugee camp in South Sudan. Terrorized by the bombings and landmines, the population cannot grow food anymore which will eventually lead to wide spread famine. The Sudanese government has prevented NGOs and journalists to enter the region. With neither food nor sanitary aid and no media coverage allowed, despite the daily sound of the bombings, this war carries on in a major silence.

© Camille Lepage - Image from the War in silence photography project
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Umbakia 6 year-old (left), Fardos, 10 year-old, and their brother Umbara, 8years old (right) are picking up the remains of the crop. Fleeing from the bombings, their family found refuge in the caves of Qualip, in hope of being safe hidden by the mountains. Nevertheless, the region is still bombed continuously, but many families remain as the refugee camps are very far and the way there is dangerous. The mother of Umbakia, Fardos and Umbara, “we’ll die here if necessary but we will not give up our lands.”

© Camille Lepage - A Nubian couple walk on the ashes of a house that just got bombed in Kauda.
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A Nubian couple walk on the ashes of a house that just got bombed in Kauda.

© Camille Lepage - Image from the War in silence photography project
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From the frontline of deloca, a SPLA-N soldiers observes Kadugli, capital of South Kordofan. The rebel group are positioned in the mountains and surround the city. Yasir Kafi Jinaba, commander of Doloca ‘we’re ready to fight the offensive coming from the Arabs. And if they don’t do anything, we will start the attack.”

© Camille Lepage - Image from the War in silence photography project
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Umbakia 6 year-old (left), Fardos, 10 year-old, and their brother Umbara, 8years old (right) are picking up the remains of the crop. Fleeing from the bombings, their family found refuge in the caves of Qualip, in hope of being safe hidden by the mountains. Nevertheless, the region is still bombed continuously, but many families remain as the refugee camps are very far and the way there is dangerous. The mother of Umbakia, Fardos and Umbara, “we’ll die here if necessary but we will not give up our lands.”

© Camille Lepage - Early morning and after a bombing in Saraf, a few locals cames and pray at the chapel of the parish.
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Early morning and after a bombing in Saraf, a few locals cames and pray at the chapel of the parish.

© Camille Lepage - Image from the War in silence photography project
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Kenny got her face and arms burnt after her house took on fire following the bombings. Part of her roof fell on her and burnt her bocy

© Camille Lepage - On the rebel basis of Heiban, the rebels of the SPLA-N are getting ready to go to the frontline
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On the rebel basis of Heiban, the rebels of the SPLA-N are getting ready to go to the frontline

© Camille Lepage - Image from the War in silence photography project
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In Heiban country, South Kordofan, Sudan, Alhadi 6 year old is walking through the ashes of his house that got bombed by a Sudanese Antonov on the 8th of November 2012. Alhadi and his twin sister were in the compound when the bombing took place. They had to hide themselves in the bunker of their garden to avoid the bomb that fell only a few metres away from them. According to the tradition, when a house is destroyed, children have to draw on the remaining walls memories of their family life. They chose to draw the fighting between the SPLA-N and the Sudanese government.

© Camille Lepage - Image from the War in silence photography project
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A family has move to the mountains after months of being bombed. They brought with them weapons to protect themselves from ground attacks and the bare minimum to survive

© Camille Lepage - Image from the War in silence photography project
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The antonov (plane carrying the bombs) of the Sudanese army just dropped six bombs on Kauda, village in the hands of the rebels. The inhabitants are trying to stop the fire with the little means available at hands. As a consequence of those random bombings, houses are destroyed and also cattle and crops. The government of Sudan then leave hundreds of families without food until the next crop in fall 2013.

© Camille Lepage - Image from the War in silence photography project
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Due to the constant bombings and as a consequence the lack of food and education, locals have no other choice but to walk for days through the vallees of Buram Country, and across fields to reach Yida refugee camp in South Sudan

© Camille Lepage - Image from the War in silence photography project
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Civilians have joined the opposition group SPLA-N on the frontline of Meitan to fight against the Sudanese forces. SPLA-N commander Rajab Said Jafer, “We will not stop once we’ve captured South Kordofan, Bashir and his government who want to annihilate us must fall.”

© Camille Lepage - Image from the War in silence photography project
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A rebel from the SPLA-N is smoking a cigarette in on of the caves of Dolami where families have taken refuge to avoid the bombings coming form the Sudanese government

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