Damanga Newsroom

Daily Record - Morristown, NJ

A Plea From Darfur

December 15, 2006

African music filled the room as he sat behind a desk, eyes closed, face free of emotion. Just before speaking he remained motionless, his thoughts as unknown as the conflict he described.

When Daowd Salih spoke at West Morris Central High School in Washington Township, a survivor stood before hundreds. His strong but gentle voice described how he survived the Darfur conflict, what the United Nations calls the greatest humanitarian crisis on earth.

The U.N. estimates the ongoing conflict in western Sudan has claimed the lives of 200,000 people and displaced 2.5 million. Some 2,000 villages have been completely or partially destroyed. It is the holocaust of the 21st century, but the conflict is mysterious to millions of Americans.

A New Jersey resident and vice chairman of the Damanga Coalition for Freedom and Democracy, Salih promotes awareness of human rights through his presentations at schools and institutions nationwide. He spoke before the United Nations and was among the first to write an open letter to the international community. He is one voice among millions affected by the crisis.

"He made me realize that I should put my spare time to better use," student Samir Kabir said.

Salih fled Darfur in 1990, when the genocide began. His village was destroyed, remnants of his childhood erased. He has not seen his family since, and he does not know if his father is alive.

He persevered and earned a degree in communications in Egypt. He now works as a physical therapy assistant and is devoted to improving lives through the Damanga Coalition.

Salih's presentation touched on the history of the conflict and the situation on the ground. He described how mothers preparing dinner might be killed, raped or kidnapped when gathering firewood. He cited the rape of light-skinned children and the constant violence that has shaped the region.

"Are we just going to keep quiet or are we going to do something?" Salih asked.

Hundreds of students embraced presentations throughout the day. Those in attendance pinned on green ribbons, and teachers wore green clothing to represent hope.

A video played prior to Salih's appearance, put together by high school students from another district. Touching upon the Holocaust, it urged students to learn from mistakes. It said, "The future of man rests with our children, and the children of Darfur are waiting for the promise of 'Never again.'"

The presentation came on the same day that the Sudanese government agreed to allow a joint United Nations-African Union peacekeeping force into the region. While the international community was doing its part, West Morris proposed its own steps to peace.

"Hatred that springs only stops when we look within to see that we are linked," principal Michael Reilly said. "We are all neighbors in humanity."

"There is no justification for the genocide taking place in Sudan. People need to be tolerant," student Alex Borbely said.

In an interview separate from the presentation, Mohamed Yahya, founder and executive director of the Damanga Coalition, said: "If most of American citizens knew about this genocide, our U.S. government and the U.N. would do something immediately. The public will make a decision and say, 'Do it now. Stop the killing, rape and bombings now.'"

As for Salih, he urged students to speak to family and write elected officials.

"Our support is helping make change. You can do something to help tomorrow," he said.

Jesse Regis is a senior at West Morris Central High School.