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Baby Jamal lay quietly by his mothers side. Slowly, his eyes filled with tears, and trickled down. Critically ill, he barely had the strength to cry. His mother,
desperately worried about him could offer comfort, but nothing in the way of food.
Even if it was in plentiful supply, Jamal would still require specialised care to allow his fragile
body to recover from the devastation wreaked by severe malnutrition. Jamal was starving to death and his mother was forced to watch him die, powerless to prevent it.
Like most
parents, Jamal’s mother would have done anything to help him. She had taken him to the hospital in the nearest town to try and get him help, but lacking money to pay for treatment, was
turned away.
Hearing her situation, we couldn’t help ourselves. We broke all the ‘rules’ of emergency relief and took him to get the emergency care he needed. Had we not
intervened, Jamal would not be alive today. $8 was all it cost to save his life. Jamal was only one child, but we had to do something – it’s the basic human response.
This was
just one experience from my recent trip to Darfur in the Sudan. In the Kalma camp 70,000 other people like Jamal and his mother all live in cramped conditions, with limited access to food,
water, shelter and healthcare.
 There are more than 100 ‘Kalmas’ across Darfur, where an estimated 1.2 million people
are living after fleeing their homes. A further 200,000 have crossed the border into neighbouring Chad.
All tell similar stories. Armed militia – janjiweed - have come to
their village and killed, raped, stolen and burnt. Adults and children alike are being targeted. It is organised. It is systematic. It is absolutely terrifying.
Although most of Sudan
is at newfound peace, there are areas of instability, and Darfur is the biggest – more than ½ the size of South Australia.
Essentially, an ethnic conflict over land and water has
exploded into wide spread violence and lawlessness with African farmers seen as prey for the predominantly Arab militia.
Nothing I have seen in my life could have prepared me
for the experiences of this visit to the Sudan. It prompts memories of the famine in Ethiopia and echoes of the genocide in Rwanda. In other impoverished places I have visited I have been
struck by the joy and sense of community. Here there was no joy, only terror.
Thankfully, the world is now starting to focus on what is happening in the Sudan. International
attention has helped establish aid pipelines. Delivering aid is incredibly difficult here but finally it is starting to get through.
The international community is also
increasing pressure on Sudan to ensure peace and security in Darfur. Both the United Nations and the African Union are the bodies best placed to ensure Sudan’s commitment to stop the
janjawid is fulfilled so people are safe to go home.
Sudan is a crisis that will not be fixed overnight. Much more aid will be required and that aid needs support. Firstly, it
needs funding from the international community. The Australian government has given a very welcome $20 million, but the UN desperately needs more funds from countries around the world.
Secondly,
we need to ensure we don’t allow Sudan to slip from view. Without continued scrutiny the situation will go unresolved. The UN have given Sudan 30 days to deliver on their promise and their
continued attention is essential to ensuring peace in Darfur.
Thousands of people have contacted World Vision to ask how they can help. I would encourage all Australians to do
what they can for the people of Sudan. Every little bit helps and as I saw with Jamal, it actually cost very little to save a life.
People can support World Vision’s Sudan Appeal by calling
13 32 40 or visiting www.worldvision.com.au
Reprinted with permission of World Vision Australia.
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