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Night Commuters in Northern Uganda Every night, up to 7,000 children stream into the northern Ugandan town of Gulu to seek refuge from the conflict that simmers around them. Walking as far as 10 kilometres from displacement camps, these children are the so-called "night-commuters". They are one of the most vivid symbols of the violence which continues to wrack the region. Fran Miller is a mental health specialist based in Gulu - Watch the audio slideshow to hear her describing her work. The "Lords Resistance Army" (LRA) has pitted itself against the government forces in a low intensity war for the past two decades. During that time it is reputed to have kidnapped over 20,000 children. Although its forces are small, regular and often gruesome attacks on civilians continue to instil fear in the local population. In addition, there is a general atmosphere of violence in the region. The fabric of society has been torn apart, alcoholism is rife and domestic violence is common. As the sun sets each evening, ragged children begin to arrive the Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) shelter. By 11pm, the huge plastic tents are filled with shapes wrapped in blankets, safe for a few hours at least. » Read about other featured projects
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