Kassim’s Burial Journey

This flow follows a businessman’s attempt to bury two employees while Mogadishu’s streets remain dangerous.

increasingBearing stren­gth in each eventdecreasing

Seeking Shelter

A Businessman Takes Cover Gunfire Reaches the Garage Kassim Sheik Mohamoud's garage contained armed militiamen and came under attack. He fled to Digfer Hospital, believing it would offer protection. Waiting for News He remained there as the city filled with explosions and gunfire. His refuge could not shield him from the deaths that had occurred at his workplace.

Two Employees Dead

The Duty to Bury News from the Garage Kassim learned that Ismail Ahmed and Ahmad Sheik had been killed. His faith called for burial before sundown, so he left the hospital with men carrying their bodies. A City in Turmoil Blocked streets and helicopters made even a funeral journey hazardous. The dead could not wait for the battle to end, and the living had to move through it.

Burial after Midnight

Returning to the Cemetery Interrupted by Aircraft Helicopters passed close to the burial party, forcing the men to drop the bodies and hide. They returned to the task when the aircraft moved away. A City of the Dead Kassim returned again at 3 a.m. to finish the burial. The repeated interruptions show how ordinary obligations continued under the shadow of the battle.

October 3, 1993, afternoon

October 3, 1993, approaching dusk

October 3–4, 1993, night