Thursday, 30 October 2008

En Route to Abeche

At last we’re on the plane flying out to Abeche on the Chad/Sudan border. Air France it certainly is not, but then they didn’t, like Air France, tell us that “You are being upgraded, but, sadly, to a worse seat.”

It’s all one grade on World Food Programme planes – cattle-class, but frankly, you’re so relieved to be on board, no-one complains.

This morning was typical. Up before five, to arrive at the airport by six, they then decide that we’re only allowed fifteen kilos of luggage each – including hand-baggage.

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Tuesday, 28 October 2008

Bullets in the Bath

Today was all about admin. If international flight bureacracy is a nightmare, then it's nothing compared to getting anything done in Chad. Firstly, we have to register with the Police on arrival - failing to do so results in all sorts of trouble when you try and leave the country. So our friendly crew from UNHCR guide us through the process, involving a visit to the Police compound in N'Djamena. This is a frantic, noisy, heaving mass of humanity all getting permits, paying fines, getting motor bike licences etc etc. Besides which it's 10.15am and already 40 degrees. I am not looking my best when we are ushered into a side room to have our permit photos taken, and as such the photographer even offers me his comb. I must look dreadful...

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Return to Chad

I'm sitting in the lobby of the Meridien hotel in N'Djamena, capital of Chad, where we arrived last night. This trip is the culmination of a lot of hard work by SPANA in drawing up proposals at the request of UNHCR regarding refugees from Darfur who are sheltering in the East of the country, and the IDP's (Internally Displaced People actually Chadian villagers) who have themselves left their homes as a knock-on effect from the problems in Darfur.

But first of all we had to get here...

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Monday, 13 October 2008

In the Capital of Cool

It’s always difficult visiting a place that’s highly recommended. I know, I know. Barcelona is currently the capital of cool. But frankly, it’s not doing much for me.
For a start, most of it is brand new. Trendy architecture – rusting metal sculpture all over the place – it looks like Birmingham or Milton Keynes. And Gaudi’s famous ‘Temple de la Sagrada Familia’ always looks like something out of a Disney cartoon – all those funny little turrets with curly bits and knobs on, in a sickly brown, diarrhoea colour.

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