Thousands living in a mountainous desert region of northern Afghanistan endured a days-long journey over rocky terrain as they fled a conflict in late June between a local Taliban leader and government forces. The names of some interviewees have been changed for their security. "We were hungry and thirsty in the sun, you could see that the skin of those kids was ripped off because of the cold," says one dispaced resident, "Our only crime was that we had no other option but to go on." IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES