While the genocide in Darfur was in vogue only a couple of years ago, it has since trickled out of the media, with a consistent loss of popular interest despite the unmitigated violence.
On Tuesday, Sunday Andrea Ladu, ALARM’s Regional Coordinator for Khartoum in Sudan, visited SMU, eager to talk to students and elucidate the current and complicated situation in her country. ALARM is a faith-based, regional 501c3. It was started by a Rwandan man whose Hutu family was massacred in a backlash of Tutsi violence. He believes in the power of the local individual to affect change. In fact, this is the only effective agent for change.
Despite the good that external aid can do, it is only the local person who truly understands the culture, customs and needs. Furthermore, by actively working to improve the situation in one’s own country, both the individual and the society are positively affected. The result is cathartic and self-perpetuating, as the individual is positively motivated by his contribution and continues to work towards this end.
Specifically, ALARM provides workshops about conflict resolution and reconciliation, teaching mediation, forgiveness and communication. While these are skills that we often take for granted, a human being who has never know peace and lived only in a society of hatred and anger benefits from the instruction. It may seem counter-intuitive that Ladu and her colleagues teach women forgiveness as the violence rages on around them, but in reality, she describes it as a survival mechanism. The burden of anger, hurt and resentment is too much to carry. Either one feels these intense emotions, or one focuses on surviving. In this way, ALARM’s profound lessons are essential basics.
Ladu is also spear-heading efforts to teach micro-financing classes to women who are interested in beginning their own small businesses. The training sessions are beyond their capacity, with approximately 50 women attending each. As Ladu explained, “Everybody wants to come!” With the $100 loan that they are given, Sudanese women have opened small-scale tea shops, stands in local markets and beaded jewelry businesses.
Ladu explained that in addition to the genocide in the Darfur region of the country, the less popular north – south conflict has been escalating, leading to additional displaced persons from the south of the country.
These internally displaced persons (IDPs) seek refuge in the UN run IDP camps in the north.
When I heard this, I could not help but feel some sense of comfort. At least the UN has a presence in this war torn region. Yet, Ladu’s pictures of the overly-crowded, under-staffed and resource depleted camps were a less than encouraging reality.
Despite the optimism of Ladu’s endeavors, I was shocked by the contrast of the destitution in which many Sudanese are living. A stick hut with a coat of plastic for protection is home to six people. There is half of a water jug with some dirty water that serves as the sink. Occasionally there are mats on which the residents sleep, but this is not always the case. And this is in a UN-run camp for internally displaced persons. Clearly, my sense of hope was based on an idealistic perception of the UN, not the reality on the ground.
Today, the tension in the country has escalated to such a drastic degree that on January 9, 2011 there will be a referendum held in the Southern region of the country to determine whether secession is the best alternative. Ladu emphasized that everyone in the South wants to secede. Separation from the North should, idealistically, guarantee the elusive peace and stability that the country has not been able to obtain. However, this is not the case either. Again, my idealism prohibited me from understanding why.
Ladu was clear: “Everyone is preparing for war.” Yet, the people are tired of war: “We don’t want war! Enough!”
I could not believe what I was hearing. Despite being a conscientious political science major, I was shocked at the desolation of this country. The Sudanese people truly feel abandoned. They are alone, suffering grave abuses including hunger, thirst, injustice, homelessness and torture. There is not enough food in the IDP camps; often 4,000 people are getting water from the same insufficient source; people are still being hung for felonies committed; homes are made of sticks; and people are witnesses to rapes and beatings.
I am not writing this to guilt trip anyone. It is not my intention to make any one person feel culpable. But, in this case, some discomfort may go a long way. We should hold ourselves accountable for not only that which is happening in our immediate geographical vicinity, but also for the well-being of our neighbors on the other side of the world. Ladu left instructions about the best means through which we can provide effective aid. These include writing letters to government officials and fundraising. If you are interested in helping, please contact me. We should respond to this plea.
Adriana Martinez is a political science, public policy, French and history major. Adriana can be reached for comments or questions at [email protected].
