They Poured Fire on Us from the Sky

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Benjamin, Alepho, and Benson grew up in the Dinka tribe of Sudan, living in a close-knit community surrounded by cattle herders and tribal councils. Their greatest fears were the lions and pythons lurking beyond their village. However, everything changed when the government-backed Murahiliin began attacking their homes. In the chaos, 5-year-old Benson and 7-year-old Benjamin fled into the night. Two years later, 7-year-old Alepho was forced to escape as well. Over the next five years, thousands of boys joined this exodus, becoming known as the Lost Boys. Their harrowing journey spanned more than 1,000 miles through a war-torn landscape filled with landmines, crocodile-infested waters, and extreme hunger and disease. The refugee camps they reached provided little relief from the violence they were fleeing. In this memoir, Alepho, Benson, and Benjamin share their experiences of this unimaginable journey, recalling the family and tribal life they left behind and their efforts to stay connected. It is a poignant portrayal of war through the eyes of children and a powerful testament to the resilience of the human spirit, even in its youngest forms.