Sudan a Focus of Church and State

As the chief U.S. diplomat arrives in Sudan today to press government leaders to resolve the Darfur crisis, a Christian group at home is working to raise awareness of the suffering of the people there.

As the chief U.S. diplomat arrives in Sudan today to press government leaders to resolve the Darfur crisis, a Christian group at home is working to raise awareness of the suffering of the people there.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice is calling on Sudan government leaders and surrounding African nations to end the "genocide" taking place in the war-scarred western region of Darfur.

Already more than 2 million people have been forced from their homes by widespread violence during the past 2 1/2 years between government sponsored militias and rebel forces.

It is believed that anywhere from 180,000 to as many as 400,000 people have been killed by ethnic violence, hunger and disease.

Echoing the words of former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell last year, Rice said that "The United States believes that by our accounts it was and is genocide."

Rice said she expected action on the part of the government to end the fighting in Darfur.

"We don't rely on words, we rely on actions. We have gotten some help from the Sudanese government but by no means enough," she said.

Rice will visit a camp for displaced people and meet women victimized by violence in Darfur, according to Reuters.

"The United States cannot do this alone ... We need everybody to make a maximum effort, including the AU (African Union) and including other members of the (U.N.) Security Council,"

The visit coincides with an effort by Church World Service on Wednesday to promote nationwide grassroots awareness and fundraising to provide aid to victims. American Jewish World Service is also working with CWS to advance the cause.

The focus of the "Dear Sudan" campaign is to alert Americans to the suffering of the people stricken by violence in Sudan's western region of Darfur as well as other parts of the nation.

The campaign has just launched a website with background information about Sudan's conflicts, humanitarian accounts and emergency response reports regarding the Darfur region. North and South Sudan also appear on the CWS website.

Offline, the "Dear Sudan" campaigns have been held in California's Marin, Contra Costa and Santa Rosa Counties. The nationwide effort hopes to engage 5,000 communities in the drive, according to a statement from CWS.

"Dear Sudan" began in the fall of 2004 and is beginning to expand nationwide.

CWS reports that its teams in south Sudan have been supplying aid to displaced people traveling back from the north to the south, following a recent peace agreement in a separate conflict that ended nearly 30 years of civil war.

CWS has focused on providing reconstruction assistance, seeds, agricultural tools, household and other supplies. The displaced are arriving at the rate of 1,500 per day in southern Sudan, mostly without a means of assistance or support, according to CWS.

Church World Service includes 36 member denominations. Those specifically supporting the "Dear Sudan" campaign include the United Church of Christ, One Great Hour of Sharing; Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) - Week of Compassion; United Methodist Church; American Baptists Churches USA; Reformed Church in America.

Individuals can contribute to the Sudan fund through the "Dear Sudan" website (www.dearsudan.com) or directly to Church World Service, P.O. Box 968, Elkhart, IN 46515, attention "Dear Sudan." Credit card contributions can be made at www.churchworldservice.org or 800-297-1516, ext. 222.