The black market is going white.

"As many as 10,000 albinos are in hiding in east Africa over fears that they will be dismembered and their body parts sold to witchdoctors, the Red Cross said in a recent report." Scores of albinos are in hiding after attacks in Tanzania and Burundi. The fate of albino people born in Africa is like a double-edged sword. Because of their appearance they are terribly discriminated against and alienated in society. Yet also they are prized as being seen as having special powers because of their skin color. This is in a very literal way like keeping a lucky rabbits foot in one's pocket. In some regions of Africa it is thought that the body parts of albinos will bring good luck and wealth. This may be all well and good, but the people who believe this do not intend to leave the body parts on its owner...Attackers chop off limbs and harvest organs in order to sell them to witchdoctors. Since 2007 over 50 albinos in Tanzania and 14 in Burundi have been killed because of these superstitions.

This is quite the terrible trend. If you are familiar in any way with the "witch" slayings in Nigeria, all sorts of terrible incidents are happening across the globe and quite under the radar. People, even children, are pointlessly being murdered due to the superstitions of witchdoctors. These albino slayings are happening in rural areas where police force is limited, but authorities are doing what they can now that the issue has been brought to their attention. Aid shelters are educating the refugees on proper skin care due to their high risk of skin cancer, and also with finding indoor employment.



"Even before the killings began two years ago, albino people in tropical Africa suffered an array of afflictions that made physical survival a desperate struggle," said Salif Keita, a Malian albino singer and human rights activist. Albinism is a little known aside from its physical attributes. Aside from being a genetic condition that leads to little or no pigment in the eyes, skin and hair, it is also a lifetime battle. There's the constant heightened risk of skin cancer, irregular eye development and even blindness. Not to mention the social implications of often looking completely different from family members.

The good news on this heart-breaking issue is that so far 7 people have been convicted and hanged as a result of illegally murdering and selling Albino body parts. As of right now dozens more are awaiting trial and hopefully will soon be convicted. The Red Cross continues to help aid the thousands that have made their way to the shelters that have been set up in both countries. Hopefully now that this issue is out in the open, more people will be able to saved from this dangerous trend.