Sudan
(MNN) — Not all countries think harsher sanctions will work toward resolving Darfur's troubles.
According to published reports, Egypt, like most of Arab nations,
opposed the move. They believe sanctions
will likely complicate efforts toward peace, disagreeing with the notion that
sanctions are effective measures to bring a rogue state back into line.
The unchecked Darfur crisis
has spawned a humanitarian catastrophe in the region. Compassion Radio's Norm Nelson says they're
working through the Sudan Council of Churches and through local pastors based
in Khartoum. "We are reaching out to those who have been displaced by the terrible
attacks that have been going on in Darfur and
are living in United Nations' refugee camps."
Sudan's
leadership approved a U.N. support force of 3,000 troops into the country–the
second phase of U.N. peacekeeping efforts in Darfur. But on the reluctance of Sudanese President
Omar al-Bashir to stop attacks by the Janjaweed, steps toward corrective
measures began.
On May 25, the United Nations Security Council approved
plans for the third phase–the deployment of 22,000 U.N. and African Union
peace-keepers. Assets were frozen to
three key Sudanese, along with those of 31 companies.
In the meantime, the humanitarian plea grows louder. Aid worker evacuations have become more
frequent, restricting the massive humanitarian response in a region where
nearly four million people are now dependent on aid agencies for essential
services such as food, water and health care. Humanitarian agencies in eastern Chad are also
finding it increasingly difficult to operate.
However, there are still indigenous agencies who are working
amongst crippling conditions to be the hands and feet of Christ. Aside from humanitarian assistance, Nelson
says the partnerships allow their teams to tell the real story of what's going
on behind the scenes of the crisis.
As a result of their work there, "not only do we have
the joy of helping these people who are in dire straits, but also a church has
been planted. In fact, members of the African Union military force, which is
there to keep the peace, have actually come to faith in
Christ as a result."
Compassion Radio is part of a series of planned reconciliation conferences this summer
in the three refugee centers of Darfur –
Nyala, El Fasher, and El Geniena. Compassion Radio listeners and partners are
urged to pray that these "grass roots"
conferences will contribute to a breakthrough. Click here if you can help.
