Sudan: Bringing Hope to the "Least of These", Page 2

Bringing Hope to the "Least of These"

     International Christian Concern (ICC) completed another trip to Southern Sudan in November 2002. Once again, ICC teamed with ministry partner Faith In Action. This was the 7th time we have worked jointly on a project to assist the people of Southern Sudan since September 2000. Also assisting us on this trip was Samaritan's Purse, the ministry of Rev. Franklin Graham. Together we were able to personally deliver and distribute 22 tons of crisis relief aid. The items delivered consisted of food, blankets, water cans, cooking pots, plastic sheeting (to protect from rains), mosquito nets, fishing line and shovels.

     The conditions in Southern Sudan were much the same as with past trips. There are severe food shortages in many places. Signs of malnutrition were seen in many children and diseases, especially those caused by unclean water, are on the increase in many areas. People still have to live as internal refugees in their own country. In many areas there was very little to no rain during the normal rainy season. This drought is going to cause more displacement and possibly catapult parts of Sudan into a famine situation. However, one element that was present on all of our past trips was noticeably missing. The tensions and threats that come with operating in a war zone were absent due to a cease-fire agreement between the Government of Sudan (GOS) and the Sudanese People's Liberation Army (SPLA).

     Altogether we were able to deliver aid to four villages. To be there without the direct dangers of a war zone caused us to feel out of place and not needed at first. However, this feeling of not being needed didn't last long. After meeting with village leaders and getting first hand reports, it was obvious that the needs of the people were as acute as ever. It was an answer to many years of prayer to finally be in Sudan during a cease-fire. On past trips we had gone into Sudan to deliver aid under what was supposed to be a "cease fire". Upon landing we would learn that the GOS had either broken the agreement or had not honored it at all, so we expected this to be the case once again. We thank God that it wasn't. This was the first trip we had taken that we did not see or need to evacuate any war-wounded people.

     Although the war is on hold for the time being the suffering of the people continues. There are severe food shortages everywhere. Because of past GOS attacks on civilian villages, large areas of land are left unplanted. Additionally, the lack of rain and high heat have destroyed the few crops that were planted. It is common in these areas for daytime temperatures to exceed 115 degrees.

     The absence of clean drinking water is creating more problems than we have seen in the past. It is reported that guinea worm is on the increase as well as other water borne diseases that cause blindness, severe skin infections, and death. Guinea worm is a horrible way to die. It is caught by drinking water containing a parasite which begins to feed on the internal organs and grow. The person is actually eaten to death by this worm. We heard stories of worms as long as 3 feet being removed from people. This and many other diseases are easily prevented by the use of special cloth filters. As with everything else in Southern Sudan, there are very few of these filters. ICC will add this to the items we deliver on our next trip.

     During the trip we were informed about a village in Eastern Equatoria that had approximately 24,000 people living out in the open. These people had fled from a nearby village which was the scene of especially bloody attacks by the GOS. As we had seen so many times, the survivors escaped with only the clothes on their backs. We were also told that a large percentage of these people were widows and orphans. Since it was about a one-hour flight from the border we were able to take 6 tons of supplies to this area. What we found was heartbreaking -people living in the open, surviving as best as they could. Their main diet consisted of leaves. There was a noticeable lack of men in the two areas we visited.

     One of the highlights of the ICC trip was the opportunity to show the Jesus film in the middle of the African bush. Three to four hundred villagers viewed the film. This village was located in an area that has been in a no fly zone for years. If conditions were "normal" for us while we were there it would have been impossible for us to show this film. The lights at night would possibly cause an attack from the GOS. When the part of the movie came up where Jesus raises from the dead, the entire village erupted in shouts and applause!

(Click here for more information on Sudan.)

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POSTED:  January 28, 2003