Albinism is a range of disorders varying in severity. They are all caused by a reduction or absence of the pigment melanin, often causing white skin, light hair and vision problems.
The condition affects an estimated 1 in 17,000 people globally. However, its prevalence varies by region.In sub-Saharan Africa, the rate of albinism is around 1 in 5,000 but, in Europe and America, it is closer to 1 in 20,000Albinism affects the sexes evenly, and all ethnic groups are susceptible.
Albinism is a congenital disorder affecting about one in 20,000 people worldwide who lack pigment in their skin, hair and eyes. It is more common, however, in sub-Saharan Africa. There are an estimated 10,000 people with albinism in Malawi - a country of 16.5 million people.
Some people believe that body parts belonging to people with albinism have magical powers, leading to those with albinism being targeted and sold on the black market run by criminal gangs
across southern and central African countries.According to the Red Cross, witch doctors in Tanzania will pay as much as $75,000 for a complete set of albino body parts - including all four limbs, genitals, ears, tongue and nose.
"Albinism is one of the most unfortunate vulnerabilities and it needs to be addressed immediately at international level," Bekele Geleta, from the Red Cross, said.Attacks against people with albinism this year have also been reported in Burundi, Mozambique and Zambia.
Ikponwosa Ero, United Nations independent expert on human rights and albinism, said last week following a visit to Malawi that even "wildlife gets more protection than people with albinism".
"The atrocities in Malawi render persons with albinism an endangered people group facing a risk of systemic extinction over time if nothing is done to stem the tide."
According to (CNN) Malawi's albinos are at risk of "total extinction" amid escalating attacks against them for their body parts, the United Nations warn. South African nation has about 10,000 albinos, according to the U.N.
In some African countries, albinos' body parts are believed to bring wealth and good luck. As a result, attackers chop off their limbs and pluck out organs, and sell them to witchdoctors.
Even after albinos are killed, some attackers go a step further and steal their remains from graveyards, said Ikponwosa Ero, the United Nations' expert on albinism.
She said, the persecution 'constitutes an emergency, a crisis disturbing in its proportions.Her call for action came as a court in Malawi jailed two men for 17 years after they murdered a 21-year-old albino woman because they had been told to do so by 'Satan'. After a 12-day assessment of the treatment of albinos in the country, Ms Ero said the crisis required an 'emergency response' from the Malawian government. She said she was 'particularly alarmed' by reports that people with albinism are being called 'money' passers-by on the street.
'Malawi is one of the world's poorest countries and the sale of body parts of persons with albinism is believed to be very lucrative. It is thought that albinos can increase wealth, make businesses prosper or facilitate employment.
Ero urged the government to step in to protect albinos and go after their killers more aggressively.
"It is clear that an urgent and coordinated response from the government, civil society and development partners working in strong partnership with each other is required," she said.
The condition affects an estimated 1 in 17,000 people globally. However, its prevalence varies by region.In sub-Saharan Africa, the rate of albinism is around 1 in 5,000 but, in Europe and America, it is closer to 1 in 20,000Albinism affects the sexes evenly, and all ethnic groups are susceptible.
Albinism is a congenital disorder affecting about one in 20,000 people worldwide who lack pigment in their skin, hair and eyes. It is more common, however, in sub-Saharan Africa. There are an estimated 10,000 people with albinism in Malawi - a country of 16.5 million people.
Some people believe that body parts belonging to people with albinism have magical powers, leading to those with albinism being targeted and sold on the black market run by criminal gangs
across southern and central African countries.According to the Red Cross, witch doctors in Tanzania will pay as much as $75,000 for a complete set of albino body parts - including all four limbs, genitals, ears, tongue and nose.
"Albinism is one of the most unfortunate vulnerabilities and it needs to be addressed immediately at international level," Bekele Geleta, from the Red Cross, said.Attacks against people with albinism this year have also been reported in Burundi, Mozambique and Zambia.
Ikponwosa Ero, United Nations independent expert on human rights and albinism, said last week following a visit to Malawi that even "wildlife gets more protection than people with albinism".
"The atrocities in Malawi render persons with albinism an endangered people group facing a risk of systemic extinction over time if nothing is done to stem the tide."
According to (CNN) Malawi's albinos are at risk of "total extinction" amid escalating attacks against them for their body parts, the United Nations warn. South African nation has about 10,000 albinos, according to the U.N.
In some African countries, albinos' body parts are believed to bring wealth and good luck. As a result, attackers chop off their limbs and pluck out organs, and sell them to witchdoctors.
Even after albinos are killed, some attackers go a step further and steal their remains from graveyards, said Ikponwosa Ero, the United Nations' expert on albinism.
She said, the persecution 'constitutes an emergency, a crisis disturbing in its proportions.Her call for action came as a court in Malawi jailed two men for 17 years after they murdered a 21-year-old albino woman because they had been told to do so by 'Satan'. After a 12-day assessment of the treatment of albinos in the country, Ms Ero said the crisis required an 'emergency response' from the Malawian government. She said she was 'particularly alarmed' by reports that people with albinism are being called 'money' passers-by on the street.
'Malawi is one of the world's poorest countries and the sale of body parts of persons with albinism is believed to be very lucrative. It is thought that albinos can increase wealth, make businesses prosper or facilitate employment.
Ero urged the government to step in to protect albinos and go after their killers more aggressively.
"It is clear that an urgent and coordinated response from the government, civil society and development partners working in strong partnership with each other is required," she said.
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