An inspiring story of one doctor’s struggle in a war-torn
village in the heart of Sudan
In 2007, James Maskalyk, newly recruited by
Doctors Without Borders, set out for the contested border town of
Abyei, Sudan. An emergency physician drawn to the ravaged parts of
the world, Maskalyk spent six months treating malnourished
children, coping with a measles epidemic, watching for war, and
struggling to meet overwhelming needs with few resources.
Six Months in Sudan began as a blog that
Maskalyk wrote from his hut in Sudan in an attempt to bring his
family and friends closer to his experiences on the medical front
line of one of the poorest and most fragile places on earth. It is
the story of the doctors, nurses, and countless volunteers who
leave their homes behind to ease the suffering of others, and it is
the story of the people of Abyei, who endure its hardship because
it is the only home they have.
A memoir of volunteerism that recalls Three Cups
of Tea, Six Months in Sudan is written with humanity, conviction,
great hope, and piercing insight. It introduces us to a world
beyond our own imagining and demonstrates how we all can make a
difference.