Lost Boys of Sudan The Lost Boys of Sudan is the name given to the groups of over 20,000 boys of the Nuer and Dinka ethnic groups who were displaced and/or orphaned during the Second Sudanese Civil War (1983–2005) About 2.5 million were killed and millions were displaced. The name "Lost Boys of Sudan" was colloquially used by aid workers in the refugee camps where the boys resided in Africa.

Sudan is located in north-eastern Africa, bordering the Red Sea Sudan is located in north-eastern Africa, bordering the Red Sea. Egypt and Libya are on the north; Ethiopia and Kenya, destinations of the Lost Boys’ long walk, are to the south-east. The Lost Boys are from the southern regions. The capital city of Sudan is Khartoum. It's area is 2,505,810 sq km, slightly more than one-quarter the size of the United States. It is the largest country in Africa, and is dominated by the Nile

Refugee A person who flees (leaves) his/her country for safety

Dinka Man Fighting Buffalo Painting by Simon Mac Anyuat, aged 17, Sudanese, Kakuma refugee camp. "My picture shows a man from my tribe, the Dinka, wearing traditional clothes and fighting a buffalo to prove that he is a man."

Lost Boys A group of more than 27,000 boys from Sudan who became refugees and/or orphans as a result of the war. - many died during their journey to seek safety - the USA eventually allowed 3,600 of them to move here

My Village in Sudan Painting by Bor Alier, aged 17, Sudanese, Kakuma refugee camp. "In my village in Sudan, people would come and take photographs of us and ask about our terrible life. We would tell them how we had lost our cattle, how we needed help. Then they would go away. Again and again. We thought they would help. Then one day we had to run. We had nothing. Nobody came back to help. Don't ask me about my problems. You will just go away too."

Who were the perpetrators? The Second Sudanese Civil War was a conflict from 1983 to 2005 between the central Sudanese government and the Sudan People's Liberation Army, the latter fighting for independence of the southern Sudanese provinces. It was largely a continuation of the First Sudanese Civil War of 1955 to 1972

The Walking of the Many Painting by David Kumcieng, aged 15, Sudanese, Kakuma refugee camp. "We wanted to run, but we had to walk because we were tired and so hot and hungry. In my picture the people are wearing clothes, but of course we didn't have any clothes. We saw people dying, it was always the young ones, the hungry ones, and the old ones."

Ethnic Conflicts- in Sudan History of Religious Influence in the Region Nubia was converted to Christianity in the 6th Century. Islam begins to enter the north in the 7th Century Islam takes hold in the south in the 15th Century. Sudan is the size of the US from the Mississippi River to the east coast

Ethnic Conflicts- in Sudan When the British colonized the Sudan, they divided the country and ignored tribal boundaries, and religious differences. When the British withdrew from the Sudan, they favored Arab Sudanese. This set the stage for Civil War which has lasted for fifty years.

The Lost Boys Survive to Tell the Story Ethnic Conflicts- in Sudan The Lost Boys Survive to Tell the Story 1987 – Khartoum Government begins major campaign to destroy the South. Tens of thousands of boys (and some girls), ages 6-10 flee to Ethiopia. Thousands die on the way Settled in refugee camps and begin some level of education

Ethnic Conflicts- in Sudan 1987 – 1992 Ethiopia Refugee Camp 1991 – Khartoum pays Ethiopia to capture the Lost Boys The Lost Boys flee back into Sudan They are pursued and attacked by the Muslim North and eventually flee to Kenya for safety

Crossing the River Gillo Painting by Mac Anyat, aged 17, Sudanese, Kakuma refugee camp. "It was terrible. People shouting, screaming: 'Run, swim, go, go!' Where was my friend? He was taken by the river. Nobody was anybody's friend. How can you be a friend when people are shooting at you and the river is going whoosh — and you have to go in that river? The bang, bang and the whoosh, whoosh made my mind go dead and I don't remember who was there, who dies, what happened."

Refugee Camp A camp built as a temporary home for people escaping danger in their country.

Ethnic Conflicts- in Sudan There are Thousands of Widows and Orphans who have no clothes or homes to sleep in, or schools to go to… 90% of Sudan is Illiterate There are no medical services in most of the villages