Adel Sarkozi, an Australian is a Communications Officer for World Vision’s West Africa Regional Office.
Based in Senegal, Adel has recently travelled to Mali, witnessing the desolate environment and desperation of mothers and fathers.
You travel through the countryside in Mali, heading to Tominian district – about 400 kilometres away from the capital of Bamako, towards the border with Burkina Faso. You have six to seven hours to take in the world unfolding around you. The baobab trees with tortured branches; the mango trees’ leaves heavy under the dust guarding the roads; the empty, yellow or grayish fields, thirsty for water. ‘If we only had water, we could grow vegetables, crops here….But in places like this, you would have to dig 12-13 meters to get to some. And even then, you might not find any,’ comments Abraham, our driver, as if reading your thoughts.
You pass by markets stalls – ...