Youths torn from camps, forced to fight

From Nic Robertson
CNN

N'DJAMENA, Chad (CNN) -- Children as young as 13 are being forced into combat by Sudanese rebels who take the youngsters from squalid refugee camps in neighboring Chad, CNN has learned.

In some cases, Chadian guards look the other way as rebels make children join their ranks, local people say.

Abdul, 16, told CNN he had no choice: "When I saw them beating some of the people, I was afraid. That's why I couldn't refuse to go.

"I'm not a volunteer -- I was forced," the boy said, visibly scared. (Watch children tell how they were coerced into combat -- 9:35)

The camps are supposed to offer shelter from the conflict across the border in Sudan's Darfur region, where 180,000 people have been killed and 2 million others forced from their homes in fighting between rebels and the Sudanese government-backed Arab militias known as janjaweed.

Fighting has continued despite a peace agreement earlier this month between Sudan and Darfur's main rebel group.

Read more at the link above.

Mission Leader is Cautiously Optimistic on Changes for Peace in Darfur Region of Sudan

New York, NY, May 6, 2006—The head of The United Methodist Church’s international mission agency says he is cautiously optimistic that a significant step has been taken toward peace in the Darfur region of Sudan.

The Rev. R. Randy Day, chief executive of the General Board of Global Ministries, responded to reports of the signing of a peace agreement between the government of Sudan and the Sudan Liberation Army. Civil conflict in Darfur, a region of western Sudan about the size of Texas, has left two million people homeless—many as refugees in neighboring Chad—and caused the deaths of some 180,000 people over the last three years.

However, as Rev. Day pointed out, several smaller groups opposed to the government have not yet signed the agreement, which was brokered by diplomats from the United States and the United Kingdom. He thanked the negotiators and urged the hold-out groups to enter the peace process.

Day also called upon the nations of the world to step up their contributions to the World Food Program’s efforts in Darfur. The food agency related to the United Nations in early May announced it was cutting back on food allotments to Darfur because of inadequate contributions from governments.

Lost Boys: FOUND

Come Hear the Lost Boys of Sudan’s Response to Darfur At George Mason University July 7-8

Why: To bring together the voices of the Lost Boys to bring advocacy and hope to the current humanitarian crisis in Sudan. This crisis is historically at a critical juncture as the peace process in the South is foundational to resolve the genocide in Darfur.

When: July 7-8 – The conference begins at 9:00am on July 7 and ends at noon on July 8.
(Conference schedule coming soon... )

Where: George Mason University in Fairfax VA

DarfurIsDying

Sent by Rev. Bert Cloud, pastor of Trinity United Methodist Church in Disputanta, VA. This is the best Sudan-related I have ever seen. Recently featured in Time Magazine, it allows you to play a "game" to help you better understand what life is like in Darfur right now.

DarfurIsDying

Now is a Great Time to Shout

Now that the rally in Washington had increased awareness for Sudan, there is no better time than now to write to your representative about taking action. You can use the links to the right to locate your representatives, and you can sign a postcard to go to the President here:

The postcard reads:

Dear President Bush,

During your first year in the White House, you wrote in the margins of a report on the Rwandan genocide, "Not on my watch."

I urge you to live up to those words by using the power of your office to support a stronger multi-national force to protect the civilians of Darfur.

Sudan: Continuing the Work

UMCOR workers in Sudan are providing humanitarian assistance in South Darfur. The UMCOR board of directors recently approved funds to extend the work into a second year. This work includes child protection, camp management, micro-credit, health, skills training for young adults, and agriculture programs.

Last fall the result of seeds and tools program was an abundant harvest. Peanuts, millet, sorghum, watermelon, and okra were harvested. Good rainfall, new agriculture techniques such as planting several crops together in the same plot, and adequate food to eat during the growing season have yielded this bountiful harvest in the Al Daein region of South Darfur, Sudan. This sustainable ministry continues with your generous donations.


Please give to Sudan Emergency, UMCOR Advance #184385

At Church: Put your gift in the offering plate on Sunday.

By Mail
Make your check to UMCOR and mail to

UMCOR #184385
PO Box 9068,
New York, NY 10087

By Phone: Call toll-free (800) 554-8583

Online at http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umcor/give/manyways/

New Peace Proposal for Sudan

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) -- Mediators from the African Union joined by senior U.S. and British officials were preparing a substantially changed Darfur peace proposal, two Sudanese close to the negotiations said after seeing the new document Wednesday.

Rebels had rejected the original draft and questioned whether the AU was the right body to oversee the peace process.

The two sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the new proposal was not yet official, said it was aimed at meeting rebel demands for a greater share of power and wealth.

Earlier the AU extended the Tuesday midnight deadline for a peace pact aimed at resolving violence in Sudan's Darfur region that has claimed tens of thousands of lives.

You can read the rest of the article here:

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