Dear friends, the field team was scheduled to be on a flight bound for Goz-Beida, but it got cancelled due to the fighting there. They now remain safely in Abeche as the situation unfolds. The rebels attacked and briefly occupied Goz-Beida, but later withdrew. At least 24 people were injured. Aid workers were evacuated to the EUFOR base. Later they found that many of their compounds had been looted - by who, it's not clear. And what of the refugees, having fled brutal violence only to find themselves in another insecure environment? Where even the provision of basic services -- food, water, sanitation, medical care, schooling -- is ever at risk despite the best efforts of aid workers? Visiting Kounoungo camp last year, when there was relative stability, I learnt that the camp's clinic was not equipped to handle complex medical cases. But when medical staff are prevented from visiting the camps due to insecurity, what happens to even the simpler cases?
We must see the inter-connectedness in all things. As activists, we may sometimes not see far enough beyond the boundaries of our current thinking. For example, we may think only about Darfur and not about Sudan as a whole, and Chad. Or we may focus so much on the peacemaking power possessed by our leaders, our communities, our organizations -- that we forget about the considerable peacemaking power possessed by Sudanese leaders, Sudanese communities, Sudanese organizations. Just as there is a spectrum of views and actors in the US, there is a spectrum of views and actors in Sudan. Some of them are very much aligned with the cause of bringing peace to Darfur.
Friends, it is no secret that despite our best efforts, the people of Darfur are a long way from safe return. I humbly suggest that we continue doing what we do, but also expand our reach to new places and new avenues. Let us find and reach out to peacemakers in Sudan, in Chad, in Darfur. In Sudanese society. In the Sudanese government. In the Janjaweed. Let us not just seek for change from beyond, but also change from within. Let us not restrict ourselves to the policy actions, the military actions, but also open ourselves to those actions that create mutual trust and understanding on the ground in Darfur.
Today's action:
Your voice is Their voice - today they need you to stand up, stronger then ever, and tell their story.
For the past month and a half, violence throughout Sudan towards Darfuris has increased significantly with Darfuris in the capitol being pulled from their homes and executed in the street or arrested and taken to undisclosed locations, learn more at Reporters without Borders. Join Amnesty International in urging leaders to take action to release Darfuri prisoners NOW.
Tell the Media it needs to stop: write a letter to the editor or article for your local paper! Use the points included in this sample letter to a leader. More importantly, urge the media to bring attention to the voices of those who need our help!
How to Distribute a News Story for Maximum Media Exposure (This is a great starting point)
Links to newspapers, TV stations, radio stations
Believing in you,
Yuen-Lin, for the i-ACT team
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5:03(2/5)- Inside Sudanby VBSdotTV32,884 views
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