This is a picture of refugees from Mozambique taken in 1994 during the Mozambican Civil War. The Civil War started in 1977 and didn't end until 1995. Along with war, a Cholera epidemic was sweeping through the refugee camps.
You can get Cholera from drinking contaminated food or water. It's pretty much a bad case of diarrhea that can kill you in a matter of hours if not treated(MedicineNet).When Salgado travelled through Mozambique it was not uncommon to see mother's carrying with them two or three orphaned children.
It's estimated one million people were killed during the Civil War. Civilians were the main target for the rebel group. Since the War, the country has went from Marxism to Capitalism, and is now a multi-party government(Wikipedia). After years of fighting, the country is finally settling and finding peace.
"MedicineNet.com." Cholera. MedicineNet.com, Feb 2010. Web. 18 Feb 2010
"Mozambique." Wikipedia. Wikipedia Foundation, Inc., 14 Feb 2010. Web. 18 Feb 2010
Salgado, Sebastiao. Photograph. Migrations: Humanity in Transition. Aperture. New York, 2000. 233.
--Pamphlet. "Southern Sudan: A Population in Distress" Migrations: Humanity in Transition. Aperture. New York, 2000. 16.
I can't imagine having to worry about the food I eat or the water I drink that it's contaminated and I'd get sick from it. I also can't imagine having to be in the middle of a war that lasted for almost 20 years. Every time I see one of Salgado's photos and hear the story behind it, I try and put myself into their situation and every time, I can't do it. I can't imagine having such hardships and being able to live through them. I know without a doubt in my mind that I'd give up halfway through. There's no way I could keep living a life like theirs. It makes me appreciate their lives so much more and makes me even more grateful for my own.
ReplyDeleteI did my post on one of the Mozambique pictures too, its so sad to me to read about these peoples lives. I am so glad you did your post about the cholera. I must confess I talk a little about how it killed so many people but I wasnt quite sure what it was exactly. This post totally cleared that up for me, I really like your blunt way of putting things its refreshing.
ReplyDeleteExcellent post. I think even when people know about cholera, they don't realize how quickly it can kill.
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