Camillo Lonyia's Story
Story and photograph by Anna Kilkenny
Camillo Lonyia's last memory of his youth in South Sudan is the morning he awoke in a hospital missing his right leg.
Camillo was a young herder, like many of his tribal kinsmen, and while grazing his animals he came across a metal object on the ground. The area close to his home was a military post, and a site of conflict between the Government of Sudan Soldiers and the Sudan People's Liberation Army throughout the Civil War. Unaware this object was an exploded remnant of the conflict, he began tampering with it to extract the metal. It exploded and blasted shrapnel in all directions, and he suffered severe wounds to his right leg. By the time he reached health facilities in the nearest major town, they were forced to amputate. Recognising the extent of his injuries and the need for rehabilitation support, he was later transported to Kenya for further medical attention.
Comillo Lonyia and MAG Community Liaison Officer, Rebecca Alek
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