Photos by Frits Eisenloeffel
In November-December 1980, Frits Eisenloeffel visited the border region of Sudan/Eritrea where he photographed the Eritrean refugees who had fled from an Ethiopian offensive. The camps in Umsagata and Solomuna were relatively well organized by the EPLF (Eritrean People Liberation Front) and accommodated sewing workshops, schools, clinics, the distribution of water- and food supplies, an orphanage and sport- and cultural facilities. The ERA (Eritrean Relief Association) even organized a rehabilitation clinic in Port Sudan for war victims.
In February 1985 he visited this region again and he now encountered a combined refugee/famine crises. His photos of the desperate circumstances in the refugee camp Wad Kawli proved to be his last. Wad Kawli was a village with a population of 2.000. After the stream of refugees from Eritrea the population increased to 84.000. Shortage of water and food was all over, often with deadly consequences.
This is part of an photo exhibition from the Frits Eisenloeffel collection.
