Damanga Advocacy

Reaching Out to Sudanese Children

(January 2004 - UJA-Federation ) Beginning January, humanitarian aid from UJA-Federation of New York is helping educate thousands of orphaned and vulnerable Sudanese children living in refugee camps in Chad. The campaign is the latest initiative in a Jewish effort to respond to the genocide in Darfur.

More than $100,000 has been earmarked for the Sudan Refugee Children’s Education Project in Chad. UJA-Federation of New York’s partners in the coalition are the State of Israel, American Jewish World Service, the Jewish Coalition for Sudan Relief, the Union for Reform Judaism, and United Jewish Communities of MetroWest, New Jersey. The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee serves as the coalition coordinator.

A Reminder of Jewish History
“UJA-Federation of New York's belief in tikkun olam is the reason why we are here today to create public awareness surrounding these treacherous acts and to announce the support of this grant,” said Liz Jaffe, chair of UJA-Federation's Commission on the Jewish People, at a December 15 conference to announce the grant.

“Coming together with the State of Israel is a declaration of our joint concern for the welfare of the people of Sudan and the refugees forced to flee to camps in neighboring Chad, further affirming the global link between the Jewish community of New York and the people of Israel,” Jaffe added. Also on hand for the announcement were Israeli Consul General Arye Mekel and Ruth Messinger, president and executive director of American Jewish World Service.

Since 2003, approximately 1.6 million African tribal farmers have been forcibly displaced, raped, and murdered in Darfur by the Sudanese government-backed Janjaweed. More than 200,000 refugees are now living in Chad where the program will be launched. The funds will provide formal and informal education in the Kashuni refugee camp, which was built and is managed by the International Rescue Committee.

Mohamed Yahya, a founder of the Representatives of the Massaleit Community in Exile and Liz Jaffe, chair of UJA-Federation's Commission on the Jewish People

Sudanese Exile Speaks
Speaking on behalf of the Sudanese community and offering his gratitude was Mohamed Yahya, a founder of the Representatives of the Massaleit Community in Exile. His group has been documenting human rights violations in Darfur for more than ten years. After being exiled by the Sudanese government for criticizing the persecution of the Massaleit tribe in Darfur, Mr. Yahya spent eight years in Egypt before coming to the United States as a refugee two years ago.

“All my life I was taught that Jews are the enemy, but when I came here I saw that you are a passionate, kind, and supportive people,” Mr. Yahya told an audience of Jewish supporters. “My own people are killing us, but it is the Jews who are working to save us. From today on, you are our best friends. When one is killed in Tel Aviv or Darfur, you will hear our cry.”

Ambassador Arye Mekel, Consul General of Israel in New York said, “As a people who have suffered from ongoing persecution, we will not let ourselves sit idly by on the sidelines, watching this horrific humanitarian tragedy unfold. We hope that we will help to alleviate the suffering of these victims of violence - in particular the children.”

To date the Jewish Coalition for Sudan Relief, which is comprised of over 20 Jewish local, national, and international Jewish organizations, has raised more than $250,000 for Sudan relief. Combined with the appeals launched by American Jewish World Service and the Union for Reform Judaism, close to $1 million has been raised for humanitarian relief by the organized Jewish community. Additionally, several of the groups are involved with interfaith coalitions on fund relief and advocacy efforts on behalf of the people of Darfur.