Civilians are terrorized by the LRA. If individuals are suspected of sympathizing with the government, the LRA uses brutal tactics such as cutting off of 

  hands, ears or lips, to intimidate them.

   Kony creates his army primarily through the violent abduction and forced enlistment of children.

   Children are forced to be soldiers, laborers and, in the case of girls, sexual slaves. More than 25,000 children have been kidnapped by the LRA. These

  rebels, based in southern Sudan, are reportedly being sheltered and armed by extremists in Sudan's government.

   According to the United Nations, more than 1.5 million people have been forced from their homes, into displacement camps. These people are unable to

  farm due to war and international food assistance is inadequate. Illness is rampant because the country is too insecure for humanitarian aid agencies or the

  Ugandan government to provide regular health services.

   To make matters worse, the LRA attacks displacement camps to abduct children. Because the camps are not secure, parents often feel that they have no

  other choice but to send their children to walk ("commute") for several miles to the nearest town, where it may be safer.
 

As many as 25,000 children travel each night to seek safety. On their journey, the children sleep out in the open,

 unprotected from the LRA or others who want to kidnap them:

Uganda's 'Night Commuters'

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