Increasing instability in Darfur…

On this morning’s news it was reported that 13 children have been killed in Darfur and another 9 wounded. 2 UNMIS workers have been abducted and UNHCR has announced its evacuation. President Bashir has announced they will not be allowed to return, which will leave those living in refugee communities even more vulnerable and desperate than before. The number fleeing to IDP camps in Aweil North and even as far as Kakuma Refugee Camp on the Kenyan border is increasing.

This morning I have met with our mission partners who care for the victims of the ongoing conflict in Darfur. They risk their lives to express God’s love for those fleeing the terror. We will meet again soon to discuss the resources we can provide them with to make their work more effective and to demonstrate the caring support of Christian sisters and brothers in Australia.

The thought which is with me constantly in Sudan rises to the surface again: “The need is so great, and our resources are so small.” If you would like to contribute, please contact Global Mission Partners: (+61) 08 8212 4446 / info@gmp.org.au

Mission in Gok Machar...

Since peace has come to South Sudan countless thousands of Darfuris have sought refuge from the ongoing conflict in Darfur. Gok Machar in Aweil North has been a gathering point because of its proximity to the border with Southern Darfur and many have then been transported to the Kakuma refugee camp on the Kenyan border.

Recently there has been a new wave of Darfuris arriving, and they are being settled in IDP settlements just south of Gok Machar. Christian leaders from various churches in Aweil travel to Gok Machar to care for these new arrivals.

For those who have faced the trauma of war and fled their homeland, it is a great comfort to be welcomed and cared for by people who have experienced the same suffering.

The Political Situation in Sudan...

Several people have asked me if our work will be affected by the Sudan Government’s expulsion of aid agencies. From reports I have been given the Government’s policy will not be implemented in the South. Even if it were, we have not established an organisation in Sudan, so effectively there is nothing to be evicted. In fact we are working in the manner the Government is advocating Ie resourcing local leaders to deliver the required services.

There are however some indirect consequences for our work. One is that MSF (Doctors Without Borders) are in the process of leaving Aweil. I am told this is in response to the abduction of three of their doctors in Darfur. They have been the only ones providing quality medical care in the region. The other obvious impact will be on the increase of Darfuri refugees fleeing south into Aweil as the situation in Darfur deteriorates.

Rather than being an obstacle to our partnership with Christian leaders in Aweil, the expulsion of Aid Agencies has brought a greater urgency in both areas where we have commenced work - our support for those ministering to Darfuri refugees, and the development of the Aweil Civic Hospital. However the situation is volatile and future developments are hard to predict.

A gift for Darfur...

Today we have sent $1500 AUD to Pastor Yournew Wol Kuot which will be used by a team that have been caring for the Darfurian refugees in Aweil. While Joseph Mawien and I were in Aweil last year we met people from Darfur who had fled the genocide. And when we visited Malual Kon in Aweil East we visited the refugee camp (pictured) where the Darfurians were being fed by the World Food Program. For the past six years we have heard of the ongoing civil war in Darfur and the devastating impact it has had on the African tribes. But hearing about it on the tv news is very different to being there and meeting the victims face to face.

What touched me most was hearing Rev Angelo describe the way the churches in Aweil were caring for the Darfurian refugees. They provide them with food, shelter and clothing and with their limited resources were providing care for the sick and wounded. I was impressed with the way Christians were caring for Moslems. Angelo told me "now they have become our brothers".

I had no hesitation in telling Angelo we would support him. For so long I have felt totally helpless in the face of this disaster and it was a relief to know there was something we could do. I asked Angelo "Please tell the people of Darfur that they have sisters and brothers in Australia who know about their suffering and pray for them."

$1500 isnt a large amount of money, but a dollar can go a long way in Sudan. As well as being very compasionate, Rev Angelo is a discerning man and will enusre the money is used for the maximum benefit. And as he provides for their physical needs, he also shares the gospel of Christ. It's nice to know we can be a part of this wonderful ministry.

Let me know if you would like to get involved...

Darfur: There is something we can do...

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!

A Prayer Request...

I introduced Lino Adub earlier (see blog entry on August 19), and his work as Director of Peace for Northern Bahr Al Ghazal (Aweil State). Adub has asked for the church in Australia to pray for a peace conference he is sponsoring between the Dinka and Missiriya tribes.

The Missiriya are Arab graziers from Southern Darfur. I am told they have been armed by the Khartoum Government and function as a militia in the northern regions of Aweil State. While Joseph and I were in Aweil we were told we couldnt travel north without a UN escort because of the regular attacks in the region.

Of course there is always potential for conflict over traditional grazing land and tribal boundaries, but this dispute is much more volatile because of the sponsorship of the government and their call for Jihad against the African tribes. People from Aweil who are now scattered around the world are being invited to this conference - including a representative of the Adelaide Aweil Community - and this demonstrates how important the issue is.

Adub works hard for the peace of his region, and this is one way we can support him. Please pray for him as he seeks to negotiate a peaceful resolution to this conflcit.

Darfurian Refugees in Northern Bahr El Ghazel

From Joseph...

Darfur conflict has caused about million refugees to flee their homes and their houses which have been destroyed by the Arab militia who are accused by the international community as ethnic cleansing.

Some 200,000 have also sought refuge in neighboring countries like Chad.
These people have seek refuge in northern Bahr Al Ghazel in places like Awiel East county towns like Waynjok. Others camp along the border about 600 km stretch of the border between Chad and Sudan.

It is a wide area which cannot be helped by international NGOs. These Darfurian refugees need more help in terms of food, for short and long period. This period of the year is a period of farming which is started towards the end of May up to the harvest time in the end of October. (And there is a shortage of food at this time)

They also need, shelter, medication as well as the local community in Awiel. These people which took refuge during the civil war in Northern Bahr El Ghazel now are the ones who are helping their brothers from the Darfur region. They settle among themselves, they receive them as brothers and sisters.

These settlements need help from the government, need help from local communities, the conditions which they have experienced are the same as the Darfurians themselves.

Many Darfurians during the conflict have died of war, diseases, as well as hunger in the last 3 years. Many international humanitarian organizations are trying to solve some of their problems but unfortunately they are denied access to the region by the Sudanese government.

Imagine the situation the Darfurians are experiencing – it is like the southern Sudanese themselves in the last two decades.

Christian leaders are working hand in hand with these refugees inside northern Bahr El Ghazel with his limited resources they have decided to give some medication to these refugees, as well as food. After Steve John Blacket hear this he realized this mission needs help and he put his hand and heart that people in Australia should also put some assistance to the mission among the Darfurian refugees.

The situation needs a long term solution. But the resources are so limited. We need support from our friends in Australia. We have been hearing problems and crisis in Darfur. This is the time we should put our hands together to help these brothers reach our Moslim brothers in Darfur.