What a difference a day makes

After receiving our suitcases, we have put on a new set of clothes for the first time in 7 days (cue the girl from the Ring). At present, we are preparing for the influx of refugees. In addition to the administrative work that must be done; calls to Geneva, conversations with various embassies and finalizing the budget, travel documents must be processed.
Often as a refugee, legal passports have never been processed. In Eritrea for example, unless one has served their mandatory military term, they can not receive their travel documents. This military commitment, which is supposed to last 6-months often exceeds 3 years, is done under terrible conditions; beatings, little food and with minor remittances. One of the main sources of refugee generation from Eritrea are those avoiding this harsh commitment. Women with children are typically not granted passports.
This creates a bit of a problem, especially in the post 9/11 travel world. It is often difficult to procure birth dates, and other pertinent information such as country of origin. Because again, given in a country like Eritrea, the boarders are constantly changing.  Refugees working with the UNHCR are given a refugee certificate and this then becomes their main source of identification. Now they are ready to travel. Assuming that they pass the medical health checks, security screenings and are physically able to leave the camps or prisons they are waiting in.
The additional preparations at the camp include bed prepping, retrieving of clothes and shoes — most of those arriving have nothing and shifting the security precautions. Yesterday was the calm before the storm, today the energy within the camp is pouring down like the rain that greeted us when we woke.