June 11, 2007

Blankets bring comfort

“You have done good for us, we send our regards to you who sent us the blankets.”

By Charlotte Brudenell, ACT-Caritas field communicator

The Mennonite Central Committee, a long-standing partner of ACT-Caritas, sent over 40,000 blankets to the Darfur Emergency Program (DERO), to assist conflict-affected communities in the province. But these are no ordinary blankets - they have been individually hand-made by members of the Mennonite community in the U.S.

The first batch arrived in Darfur in November 2005, and the second consignment in May 2006. Since then, thousands of the blankets have distributed to those in need.

Bilel: Internally Displaced Southerners and Darfurians

Bilel camp is home to some 5,000-6,000 people. It is unique in so far as people from South Sudan and Darfurians from both Arab and African tribes, all of whom have been affected by conflict, live side by side in one camp, although not always peacefully.

Ayak: “You have done good for us, we send our regards to you who sent us the blankets.”

Ayak and her family left their home in South Sudan twenty years ago when she was just eight years old.  “I was little like my daughter here when we left our original home, but I want to return back there. I hope to be able to work and cultivate there. I am afraid to go and cultivate here; I could be shot at by the people who have camels”. Ayak has moved from camp to camp and came to Bilel last year due to fighting inside the camp where she was living. "The fighting occurred on two occasions, after the second time we left. I had some money from making local things and we paid for a lorry to transport us here. The blankets we received are useful as we had to leave many items behind, we just came with a jerry can, cooking set and two blankets, and there are eight of us in my family.”

                                                                     (Photo by Charlotte Brudenell, ACT-Caritas)

                                                                          (Photo by Charlotte Brudenell, ACT-Caritas)

Ashingam Kiir: “Thank you. How will I get a new one for the winter of the coming year?”

Ashingam doesn’t know how old she is but she is old enough to remember a life before the last twenty years during which she has lived as an internally displaced person. “I came to Darfur due to the war between north and south Sudan; there was a lot of destruction in our area. There was a drought too and all our cows were stolen. However, life in Darfur is very difficult; you have to strive hard to even just find something to eat. Since the beginning of the conflict in Darfur, the circumstances have become so difficult; we depend on aid organisations for everything. The blanket I received from you protects me from the cold during the winter nights, I would like to know how I can get another one next year.”

                                                                           (Photo by Charlotte Brudenell, ACT-Caritas)

Alnur Khareif Abakar “I send my thanks”

Alnur and his family fled an attack on their village by armed militias in May 2006. They are now living in Bilel temporary IDP camp. “We came to Bilel on foot. We left most of our belongings behind as there was no means to carry them, and some of our possessions had been burnt and destroyed during the attack″. Alnur and his family were given two blankets which they use to sleep on. “The condition of life in the camp is very poor and it is difficult to find money, so I send my thanks to the people who sent the blankets."

Hadilla “Thank you. My four children sleep on the blanket you sent”

“I came to Bilel a year ago because an armed militia came to our village and burnt it and killed people. We are suffering here in the camp due to a lack of money and poor houses. I ask God to help us repair the house as the circumstances outside the camp, the current war, is forcing us to stay here.  “My four children sleep on the blanket you sent. Before we received the blanket they used to sleep on plastic grain sacks.”

                                                                                        (Photo by Charlotte Brudenell, ACT-Caritas)                          

Conflicted-affected community of Shegei: Due to fighting in their village between the rebels and the government, the residents of Shegei were displaced from their village in November 2004. Although the men had been armed by the police to fend off the rebels, few of the villagers had received any training in how to use the weapons. Subsequently, 37 men died in the battle, with many more being injured. Those who managed to escape went to Ta’asha, a nearby village. In late 2006 the community returned home, under the premise that since the Darfur Peace Agreement had been signed their place of origin is now safe. “In Ta’asha there was no suitable housing and no farming so we wanted to return back home,” says Sheikh Sulieman. However, the people of Shegie returned to nothing. Everything had been destroyed; their homes, the school, the mosque. Everyone now has to juggle priorities: building basic shelters, collecting water, firewood and trying to earn money or restart farming activities. The latter is proving particularly difficult due to a lack of water supply as the village handpump is no longer working.

Conflict-affected Arab and nomadic communities have suffered from increased isolation and neglect. It is vital to assist these communities to avoid polarisation between communities in Darfur. DERO has distributed basic households items such as plastic sheets and mats, blankets, containers and cooking sets to help those returning to Shegie.

                                                                         (Photo by Charlotte Brudenell, ACT-Caritas)

Fatima Ousman: “God is great”

Fatima Ousman says she is ten, but she looks a lot older, her hands and feet appear to have already carried out a lifetime of hard manual work. Fatima’s home, is a thin collection of sticks and branches that barely offer any protection from the sun and the strong wind that carries the sand in it, or rain (when it comes in May/June). “Before the fighting started I went to school. Then we went to Ta’asha because of fighting between the torobora (rebels) and the janjaweed. Now I stay at home.” Today she is cleaning her house and waiting for her mother to return from Ta’asha where she is grinding grain into flour. Fatima sleeps alone in her small home. Her mother and grandmother share another shelter near by. “My father died fighting, a long time ago in the Jebel Marra mountains. Fatima’s only possessions are the clothes she wears and the blanket which she received in January. “I use it to cover myself.". And before you received the blanket? “I used these clothes,” she says, pulling at the dress she is wearing.

                                                                         (Photo by Charlotte Brudenell, ACT-Caritas)

Fatima Yusef, “I am suffering, God is generous. Thank you for spending the time to make this blanket, thank you.”

Fatima Yusef is 30 and has eight children to care for and support. “My husband was in the Police, when the rebels came here the government gave him a gun and he died during the fighting. We left our home and ran. Our house was burnt and nothing was left. Since my husband died life has been difficult without him. My husband was farming but now we have to buy our food. I collect firewood and make charcoal to sell at the market to get money to buy food but this family is big and I have no husband and nobody to help me. Before the fighting we had beds to sleep on, now just grass mats. The children sleep on this mat and use the blanket to cover themselves. I just use my toub.”

                                                                           (Photo by Charlotte Brudenell, ACT-Caritas)

Samia: “At night I use it to cover myself and my sister Halima”.

Samia is 15 years old. This is her home and her brothers and sisters. Their father died seven years ago and they are looking after the house whilst their mother collects firewood. “During the day we can sit on the blanket and at night I use it to cover myself and my sister Halima who is six years old. But it is not big enough for all of us.”