Ruth Asks About Humanitarian Aid To South Sudan
Ruth asks…
Why was the migration of The Lost Boys of Sudan important?
Why was the migration and the humanitarian aid efforts to help The Lost Boys of Sudan important?
Cee Harmon answers:
Hi Ruth,
In 2001, as part of a humanitarian aid program established by the United States Government and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), approximately 3800 Lost Boys were allowed to resettle in the United States. They are now scattered over at least 38 cities.[1] Halted after 9/11 for security reasons, the program restarted in 2004. As of 2006, the largest population of Sudanese refugees in the United States is in Omaha, Nebraska, which hosts about 7,000 people.[2] Numerous humanitarian aid and resettlement agencies, such as Catholic Charities, Lutheran Social Services, the IRC, World Relief and others assisted in the resettlement process. A variety of programs have been initiated to help these displaced people, in areas of education, medical assistance, reconnecting with families in South Sudan and in rebuilding efforts and providing humanitarian aid in Southern Sudan.[3]
Most of the boys were orphans separated from their families when government troops and government-sponsored militias systematically attacked villages in south Sudan, killing many of the inhabitants. Many avoided capture or death because they were away from their villages tending cattle at the cattle camps (grazing lands located near bodies of water where cattle were taken and tended largely by the village children during the dry season) and were able to flee and hide in the dense African bush. Presumably orphaned, they traveled by foot for years in search of safe refuge, on a journey that carried them over a thousand miles across three countries to refugee camps where they resided in Ethiopia and Kenya and in various villages where they sought refugee in South Sudan. Over half died along their epic journey, due to starvation, dehydration, sickness and disease and attack by wild animals and enemy soldiers.[3] Experts say they are the most badly war-traumatized children ever examined.[1]
Some of the unaccompanied male minors were conscripted by Southern rebel forces and used as soldiers in the rebel army, while others were handed over to the government by their own families to ensure protection, for food, and under a false impression the child would be attending school
Courtesy of wikipedia.org
Also, check out this featured Lost Boys of Sudan video:
Profile on Sudanese civil war survivors, Simon Deng and Peter Nyok.
Social Media Comments ::>
“Hamad has been invited to negotiate humanitarian access… when (#Sudan) is using denial of aid as a weapon of war.” http://t.co/hDslL3YOEi
Russia ships 30 tons of humanitarian aid, including portable generators and tents, to flood-hit #Sudan.
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apleaforbrandon January 22nd, 2013 at 4:31 am
I’ve found it almost comical the Catholic Chapel condemns hoarding wealth if this has stored billions away as the flock suffers all over the world. Just when was the final time that Rome contributed almost anything to poor people. Catholic Non profit organizations comes from the congregations not mom chapel. The current proceed to close a lot of schools and places of worship also demonstrates the possible lack of concern for that fans by Rome. After half a century like a Catholic I’ve quit onto it. The failure of Rome to recruit honorable males for that local clergy demonstrates the mismanagement from the trust of those.