For the last 5 years we have been confronted with horrific reports of the devastating civil war in Darfur, western Sudan. The UN estimates 300,000 have fled Darfur this year alone, and about 2.5 million since February 2003 when the conflict started. It is hard to estimate the number of deaths, but it is in the hundreds of thousands. There is no end in sight and, although the UN aims to increase the number of peace-keepers, the World Food Program and aid agencies are under increasing risk of attack and struggle to provide services where needed most.
Southern Darfur borders on Aweil North and while Joseph and I were in Aweil earlier this year the tragedy of Darfur became more personal. Every day we saw Darfurians walking past our house – they were easy to notice with their bright clothing, head-dress and jewellery. We met them in the markets, ate their produce, saw their children playing.
Now its hard enough hearing about a genocide at any time… but when I met the victims – saw their faces, met their children – you can imagine how my feelings of helplessness and anger compounded.
Then I met a Christian leader who told us about the way their churches are caring for the Darfurian refugees. They help them settle in huts where they are fed by the World Food Program. They treat their sick and injured and share with them stories about Jesus and the grace of God.
I was overwhelmed. The people of Aweil know about refugees. As one of the hardest hit regions of South Sudan they have seen thousands of their own community flee before the Janjaweed, the “demons on horses”. Now the Christians of Aweil who have been persecuted by Islamic extremists are caring for Moslems from Darfur who face the same enemy. I was told they are also planning ways of channelling help to those remaining in Darfur.
I said we would help – that I would ask our churches in Australia to make a financial gift to help care for the people of Darfur. When he thanked me I said it was a relief to know there was something we could do, that for so long we have heard the news and felt helpless and how reassuring it is to know there are people caring for the victims of this genocide. I asked the team to tell the people of Darfur that they have brothers and sisters in Australia who know about their suffering and pray for them. But now there is something more we can do…
So now I am doing what I promised. I am asking you to make a donation that will be used by the team to care for the people of Darfur. Donations can be sent to Global Mission Partners by credit card (phone 08 8212 4446) or cheque (written to Churches of Christ Global Mission Partners, with a note to identify it for Darfur, and posted to Global Mission Partners, 33 Sturt St, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000).
If you would like to know more about the ongoing genocide in Darfur I recommend a hard-hitting documentary made last year featuring Don Cheadle (Hotel Rwanda) and George Clooney called Darfur Now. I don’t think it has been released yet in Australia, but contact me if you are interested and I will arrange for you to borrow a copy of the DVD. For those who live in South Australia we will be showing it at Magill Church of Christ on Sunday 16th November at 6 PM and Wednesday 3rd December at 7.30 PM. I also have a DVD of an interview I filmed in Awiel. Perhaps you would like to arrange an event where you can show the DVDs.
If, like me, you thought the situation in Darfur is too big, too hard, too far away and there is nothing you can do about it... well now there is!
In memory of Daniel Awak - one amongst countless thousands of young Sudanese who have died a violent death – rest in peace. And to the Sudanese community, may God’s peace, which passes understanding fill your hearts and minds, enabling you to offer the gift of peace to others.
