Of Beetles and Angels

by Mawi Asgedom

Of Beetles and Angels

by Mawi Asgedom

Background to his memoir…

Background to his memoir…

Mawi was born on September 29, 1976

in Adi Wahla, Ethiopia.

This is a small town

on the

border of Eritrea and Sudan.

Mawi was born on September 29, 1976

in Adi Wahla, Ethiopia.

This is a small town

on the

border of Eritrea and Sudan.

In 1980 his family was “relocated” to a refugee camp

in Sudan.

In 1980 his family was “relocated” to a refugee camp

in Sudan.

Fighting between Ethiopian soldiers and Eritrean guerillas

forced many families into

Sudanese refugee camps.

Fighting between Ethiopian soldiers and Eritrean guerillas

forced many families into

Sudanese refugee camps.

"And the way you do it is

that you just pack your

stuff up and if you are lucky to

have some camels and mules, and

maybe some donkeys, you ride on them."

"And the way you do it is

that you just pack your

stuff up and if you are lucky to

have some camels and mules, and

maybe some donkeys, you ride on them."

He fled the fighting in Ethiopia with his family when he was three years

old.

He fled the fighting in Ethiopia with his family when he was three years

old.

Sudan is host to many refugee caps because of its size and

location.

Sudan is host to many refugee caps because of its size and

location.

For the next three years, 1980-1983, the Umsagata refugee camp in Sudan became his family's home.

For the next three years, 1980-1983, the Umsagata refugee camp in Sudan became his family's home.

“The refugee camp was in Umsagata,

Sudan. I don’t know if

it would come up on any map. Another

name it’s known by is Semsem.”

“The refugee camp was in Umsagata,

Sudan. I don’t know if

it would come up on any map. Another

name it’s known by is Semsem.”

Refugee Camp Statistics:- 100% said they had been captured by government troops

and forced to resettle. - 10% reported that they witnessed people being killed who

tried to escape.- More than 40% said they were beaten. - More than 70% were separated from all members of their

immediate family.

Refugee Camp Statistics:- 100% said they had been captured by government troops

and forced to resettle. - 10% reported that they witnessed people being killed who

tried to escape.- More than 40% said they were beaten. - More than 70% were separated from all members of their

immediate family.

According to MawiAccording to Mawi

“It was safe to assume that 25 percent--or 125,000--of the settlers had died.”

“It was safe to assume that 25 percent--or 125,000--of the settlers had died.”

By mid 1980, the refugee crisis in the Horn of Africa

was the world’s worst.

By mid 1980, the refugee crisis in the Horn of Africa

was the world’s worst.

2.5 million people abandoned their homes and sought asylum in neighboring countries.

2.5 million people abandoned their homes and sought asylum in neighboring countries.

Causes of the Refugee Crises:Causes of the Refugee Crises:

Mengistu Regime killed thousands while fighting Eritrean insurgents

Famine -- by 1973, famine had killed 300,000

Drought -- In 1987, drought threatened 5 million

Mengistu Regime killed thousands while fighting Eritrean insurgents

Famine -- by 1973, famine had killed 300,000

Drought -- In 1987, drought threatened 5 million

More than 1 million Ethiopian Refugees

relocated to Sudan, Somalia, and Djibouti in the 1980s.

More than 1 million Ethiopian Refugees

relocated to Sudan, Somalia, and Djibouti in the 1980s.

Life in a Refugee Camp:Life in a Refugee Camp: Absence of sanitation Inadequate medical assistance Food shortages Lack of clean water Disease Overcrowding

Absence of sanitation Inadequate medical assistance Food shortages Lack of clean water Disease Overcrowding

Mawi's family came to the U.S on a World Relief ticket. World Relief sponsors refugees from different

countries to America. http://www.wr.org/whatwedo/refugeecare.asp

Mawi's family came to the U.S on a World Relief ticket. World Relief sponsors refugees from different

countries to America. http://www.wr.org/whatwedo/refugeecare.asp

- Every year, World Relief helps up to 10,000 refugees fleeing persecution and war in their homelands.

- Every year, World Relief helps up to 10,000 refugees fleeing persecution and war in their homelands.

- Since 1979, World Relief has embraced over 200,000 refugees, welcoming them at the airport, helping them find jobs, and extending the hands of friendship.

His family settled in Wheaton, IL. Wheaton is located 30 miles west of Chicago.

His family settled in Wheaton, IL. Wheaton is located 30 miles west of Chicago.

Now you will read Of Beetles and Angels and learn more

about Mawi’s experiences in America.

Now you will read Of Beetles and Angels and learn more

about Mawi’s experiences in America.