"Everyday Life in a Fractured Land," Photographs from Darfur

Involved in humanitarian relief efforts in Darfur over the past three years, Mercado attempted to capture elements of "ordinary" life among internally displaced persons and other war-affected populations. "Civilians in Darfur bear the brunt of the brutality, their lives torn asunder. They embrace or confront the new reality of their lives with remarkable courage and strength. In many ways, they are people no different than you or I. But unlike us, they must construct their lives against the backdrop of extreme cruelty and bewildering uncertainty."