At 70 years of age, Aliou Djima walks painfully. Due to a disability, his strength is not what it once was. Four years ago, he left his village of Gadeye when conflict erupted in northern Mali to seek refuge with his wife and eight children in the south.
After several weeks of wandering, the ten family members were at last hosted by one family where "everything was lacking" he says. When insurgents were dislodged from the north, they decided to return to their home village, the family among the thousands which have been gradually returning home. Like Djima, most are facing hardship in rebuilding their lives as they have lost their livelihoods and many are returning empty-handed to damaged homes.
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