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I’m in Khartoum, Sudan, in a shabby hotel room with Idriss Anu and Daoud Hari. Their eyes are wide with fear. They want to be anywhere but here. Idriss is a driver and Daoud, an interpreter-guide. The two have just spent five weeks imprisoned in Darfur with Paul Salopek—the writer who hired them while on assignment for National Geographic—because they illegally crossed the border from Chad to Sudan. After intense negotiations, all were released from jail; now Paul is on his way back to the United States. But what about Idriss and Daoud? I’ve promised Paul I’ll get them home safely, but it won’t be easy.
Daoud Hari (left) and Paul Salopek (center) were imprisoned in Sudan.
The Sudanese rebels who arrested them confiscated their identity papers. A U.S. Embassy official explains that a diplomat from Chad will arrive to help with the papers. We’ll need more than that, I think. We’ll need a miracle. That miracle appears in the form of dedicated diplomats from Chad and the U.S. Embassy. Two days later Idriss and Daoud fly home.
Paul took a risk when he crossed Sudan’s border. He paid dearly. He didn’t want to break the law, but felt there was no other way to tell this story, because the Sudanese authorities keep Darfur and its war off-limits to journalists. Those who help and guide us in dangerous, unfamiliar places are the often unsung heroes behind the work of any writer or photographer. Idriss and Daoud also took a risk and paid the price. They, too, wanted the story told.
Photograph by Candace Feit
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Comments
Mar 17, 2008 7PM #
Hola mi nombre es Jorge Alcala tengo 14 años y me gusta mucho tomar fotos de animales peligrosos como ustedes lo hacen pero yo vivo en San Miguel Allende Guanajuato en Mexico y pues aqui no hay de esos tipos de animales entonces aqui yo me dedico a tomar fotos de la nauraleza que hay en San Miguel Allende como:rosas,arboles,perros,gatos,etc.
Ojala algun dia puedas comunicarte conmigo sale hasta luego.
Mar 17, 2008 7PM #
Good thing some are courageous or we would never know.
Mar 17, 2008 7PM #
It is the eoorf of such people that keeps the hope of Darfur people for a better tomorrow a life.
Mar 17, 2008 7PM #
Hi Chris and friends of NGM,
I was reading about the pilgrims progress and I would liked to invite you and all readers to look a little bit about a big photo documentary project of Camino de Santiago: One Way, 12 looks. (Un Camino, doce miradas). This is a porject that I began in 1999 as my own project of pilgrimage in the world. It is working today and I invited photographers from Galicia,Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Latvia and Spain.
The exhibition is running actually in Alicante. We ahve a book and we are preparing the next one. Our sponsor and supporting is Xacoboe and Direccion Xeral de Turismo of Galicia Government. This is the bigger photo project of Camino and in 2008 we are walking from Le-Puy to Santiago in the stages.
Welcome and Buen Camino
Delmi Alvarez
www.delmialvarez.com/camino
Mar 17, 2008 7PM #
I found the story by Paul Salopek fascinating, wonderfully written, and expertly reported. In fact, I was so impressed I posted an item on my blog recommending it to my readers: sullivanwords.com/journalism . It's this kind of work that makes NatGeo great. Thanks.
Mar 17, 2008 7PM #
Paul Salopek's story was one of the most poignant pieces I have read in a long time. His words painted such a vivid picture in my mind, I found myself reading pieces of the article aloud to my husband. I applaud his bravery, and I applaud all those who aided in the efforts to make sure his story was heard.
Mar 17, 2008 7PM #
Regarding National Geographic April 2008 “Changing Climate Special Report” From the Editor note “Why We Care”
If scientists are really serious about the urgency to eliminate fossil fuel burning carbon dioxide pollution of our atmosphere, then they must make every effort to use our best, immediately available technology to end the era of fossil fuel burning power plants and begin building nuclear power plants immediately.
Combining nuclear power plants with desalination plants along our coasts would also be a solution to providing clean water, especially in California where current water sources are increasingly limited and polluted.
Mar 17, 2008 7PM #
I wish there was a better way to communicate directly with the Editor of “Changing Climate” but this Chris Johns Blog seems to be my only option.
While reading the ad on the back cover of the Changing Climate Special Report it dawned on me that the Chevrolet Tahoe ad illustrated one of the greatest credibility problems our scientific community has today, the fact that America’s most respected scientific organization publishes ads for fossil fuel burning special interests such as Chevrolet. In this case the ad claims that they are producing a “Green Car,” which when reading the small print at the bottom of the ad turns out to be their newest “hybrid” dinosaur that only gets “EPA est. MPG 14city/20 hwy”! And if you read Consumer Reports 2008 Annual Auto Issue you will discover that the Chevrolet Tahoe has ratings that rank it at the bottom of the SUV class, which is at the bottom of all classes.
However I must also admit that my own alma mater Berkeley has been a role model for lost integrity for over half a century, continuing to produce Hydrogen Bombs for profit that can only destroy Humanity, and selling out the last of their scientific/academic integrity most recently for $500 Million to BP oil.
If we are going to prevent catastrophic climate change tipping points from occurring, the American scientific community must do better, a lot better.
Mar 17, 2008 7PM #
The emotional tone which seeps through, surrounds and engulfs the words written by Paul Salopek is heartbreaking. Such an extraordinary journalist, writer and warrior. You have profoundly touched us, your readers, as have photographer Pascal Maitre, interpreter Daoud Hari and driver Idriss Anu. Thank you for risking everything in sharing the truth regarding humanity's condition, and allowing us to feel it through your eyes, your pen, your body and your heart. We are indebted to all of you.
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