What's the inference for a long walk to water chapter 2

Southern Sudan, 2008: Nya has to stop her walk to remove a large thorn from her foot.
Southern Sudan, 1985: Salva continued to run away all day and night. There were many people, including some from his village, but he could not find his family. The people walk until they reach a rebel camp. There they are asked to sort themselves into two groups: men, and women and children. Salva joins the men but is then sent back with the children. The men are forced to go with the rebels but the women and children leave. They fall asleep in a barn but when Salva wakes up he realizes he has been left behind.