Saba Recalls Life "Before"
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Saba, one of 4 million persons displaced in Sudan by civil conflict, recalls life "before."
Credit: Linda Beher/UMCOR |
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In quiet Arabic Saba recounted her story of life before the war to a visitor at the Khartoum office of United Methodist Committee on Relief. By "before" she meant before men on horseback plundered and shot up rural Zallingi in West Darfur, Sudan. Some of Saba's family fled eastward on foot, and by lorry when they were lucky.
One of Four Million Displaced
For Saba the gunmen put a face on the war that over decades has displaced millions like her-at the United Nations some say as many as four million, the largest number of internally displaced people in the world.
Making the near-thousand-mile trek to Khartoum were Saba and her three sons, ages two to seven, and her two brothers. They faced dangers of banditry and mechanical breakdowns on the road. Now they live in Mayo, one of several camps for displaced persons in the capital. Saba hunts for work by going door to door. She earns a few dinars as a domestic or laundry worker.
A member of her extended family introduced Saba to UMCOR. Since February 2005 UMCOR's new office in Sudan has implemented agriculture programs in South Darfur, helping people like Saba's parents to regain their self sufficiency. As part of its normal practice UMCOR staffs its headquarters in Khartoum and its field operations in South Darfur with local workers.
Home Still Calls
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As the rainy season got under way in South Darfur, UMCOR helped keep hope in the future alive by providing seeds and agricultural tools to displaced families. Here Adel Dut planted sorghum on land outside the camp.
Credit: Paul Jeffrey/UMCOR |
Saba recalls a vastly different life on the family land. Before the war blew up in Zallingi her father was a traditional farmer there. He raised goats and cows not for the market but to meet family needs. When Saba left, four sisters stayed behind to care for the parents. Not much remains of the old ways. The animals were stolen or run off by the gunmen, wells were polluted, houses burned, people killed. Still, Saba's wish is to return home.
UMCOR is working on assisting displaced people in Sudan to find their way home, to return to peaceful farming or work. United Methodists can get involved in these ministries through giving to UMCOR Advance #184385, Sudan Emergency. United Methodist Committee on Relief is a 501(c)(3) charity and all contributions are fully tax deductible. Checks may be mailed to UMCOR, PO Box 9068, New York, NY 10187-9068. Donors using a credit card may call toll free 800-554-8583.
Part 4
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