Sudan's long civil war and government repression have pushed some 70,000 Sudanese refugees into neighboring Ethiopia during the past dozen years. Many of the refugees languish in remote refugee camps in western Ethiopia, with no prospect of returning home in the near future.

The U.S. Committee for Refugees (USCR) publishes an annual report, the World Refugee Survey, that regularly monitors conditions facing the Sudanese refugee population in Ethiopia. A USCR site visit in May 2001 to camps in Ethiopia housing Sudanese refugees produced the following photos and refugee stories.

The following profiles indicate that many refugees are eager to improve their lives by learning new skills and organizing their refugee neighbors. Budget constraints on aid programs often undermine their efforts, and government officials sometimes limit refugee activities. Basic needs for water, soap, and clothes often go partially unmet.

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