|
| About Us | Our Work | Get Connected | How to Give | Resources | Mission News |
|
    |
||||||||||||
|
Darfur Peace Step Evokes Cautious Optimism from Mission Leaders |
|||||||||||||
Ground rules to resolve three years of conflict in Darfur, Sudan’s troubled western region, have drawn “cautious optimism” from United Methodist mission executives. The rules were announced on July 6 in Abuja, Nigeria. “We are cautiously optimistic that a major step has been taken today in the cause of peace and stability in Sudan,” said a joint statement from the Rev. R. Randy Day, chief executive of General Board of Global Ministries, and the Rev. Paul Dirdak, director of United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), a board unit that is the Church’s humanitarian aid agency. UMCOR is working in Darfur. The talks were organized by the African Union and took place over a four week period among representatives of the Sudanese government and two groups opposed to government policy. The clash has resulted in the displacement of more than two million people and the deaths of about 180,000 in an area about the size of Texas in western Sudan. “We are grateful to the African Union for its persistence in working toward a political solution in the face of formidable challenges,” the Day-Dirdak statement said. Negotiators indicated that many hurdles were still to be crossed before peace is won in Darfur. The preliminary rules call for democracy and economic justice for all the people of the region. UMCOR opened operations inside Darfur earlier this year. Aid workers are constructing a reception center, family shelters, and sanitation facilities at a 200,000-resident displaced persons camp at Al Ferdous, south of Nyala, the regional capital of South Darfur. The agency expects to be named overall manager of all the nongovernmental organizations providing services at the camp. In addition UMCOR is offering an agriculture extension program to 250 beneficiary families in Al Daein, near Nyala. The locations were among recommendations of an investigative team, which spent three weeks late last year in the region for the agency. UMCOR workers also have distributed essential emergency supplies such as buckets, plastic sheeting, cooking utensils, and soap. Common Ground The two anti-government groups, the Sudan Liberation Movement and the Justice and Equality Movement, are apparently not of one mind on how the peace process should unfold. International press reports indicate that the two were encouraged to find common ground before they meet again with Sudanese officials and African Union officials. As peace and stability slowly return to Darfur, Mr. Dirdak said he expects the Darfur project will have a long lifetime. “UMCOR made a commitment to the region before formal peace agreements were reached,” he said, “and we expect to provide recovery and relief efforts for years to come.” Darfur has three regions: north, south and west. The displaced population within South Darfur—estimated at around 530,000—is scattered around rural villages. Residents of these host communities feel the impact of increased stress on local resources, land, and food. A large number of refugees are also in the neighboring country of Chad. The work in Darfur has so far been funded by Neighbors in Need, a donor group; a food security bequest; a UMCOR Sudan Emergency Advance. Ginghamsburg United Methodist Church, a congregation in Tipp City, Ohio, pledged a significant gift for UMCOR’s Sudan start-up from special 2004 Christmas offerings. “We are committed to continue our humanitarian work in Darfur as long as there is need and we have resources,” the Day-Dirdak statement said. “The hundreds of thousands of homeless people will need our assistance far into the future. Let us not assume that peace—even a secure peace—relieves us of the duty of helping to provide for secure social and economic futures for the people of Darfur.”
United Methodists wishing to provide gifts by credit card may call toll free, 800-554-8583. Checks may be mailed to UMCOR, P.O. Box 9068, New York, NY 10087-9068. United Methodist Committee on Relief follows the professional accounting and auditing regulations of The United Methodist Church. It is exempt from tax under section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code of the United States and qualifies for the maximum charitable contribution deduction by donors. The full text of the Day-Dirdak statement follows: Statement on Peace Moves in Darfur We are cautiously optimistic that a major step has been taken today in the cause of peace and stability in Sudan. We are heartened that the parties to this protracted conflict have signed rules that could pave the way toward an end to more than two years of warfare. The announcement by Africa Union negotiators, meeting with combatants in Nigeria, does not end the conflict; it does point toward a resolution of differences between the Sudanese government and two organizations opposing government policy. We are grateful to the African Union for its persistence in working toward a political solution in the face of formidable challenges. We in the church hope the outcome will be that one day all parties will agree that violence against unarmed civilians must stop. We are committed to continue our humanitarian work in Darfur as long as there is need and we have resources. The hundreds of thousands of homeless people will need our assistance far into the future. Let us not assume that peace—even a secure peace—relieves us of the duty of helping to provide for secure social and economic futures for the people of Darfur. The United Methodist General Conference of 2004 charged us with the responsibility of monitoring the conflict in Darfur, reporting on it and acting to foster peace and humanitarian service. We are faithfully following that mandate and invite all United Methodists to join us. R. Randy Day Paul Dirdak
Date posted: Jul 07, 2005 |
|||||||||||||
