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SUDAN: Church responds to new humanitarian crisis in Sudan borders
By John Newton
Bishop Daniel Adwok of Khartoum, who has drawn up emergency plans for the Parish of Singa where thousands of displaced people are gathering
The Catholic Church is offering emergency aid in response to a new humanitarian crisis in Sudan caused by a fresh outbreak of fighting in the Blue Nile State.
Conflict broke out in Damazin town on Thursday (1st September) between the Sudanese military, based in Khartoum, and soldiers aligned to the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) North, following armed attacks on government buildings.
Both sides blamed each other for the attacks and on Friday (2nd September) the Khartoum government declared a state of emergency in Blue Nile State, in Sudan, bordering the newly created South Sudan.
Khartoum relieved local governor Malik Agar (a member of SPLM North) of his duties.
Auxiliary Bishop Daniel Adwok of Khartoum, who is Episcopal Vicar for the Pastoral Region of Kosti which includes Damazin, has drawn up emergency plans for the Parish of Singa where thousands of displaced people are gathering.
Writing to Aid to the Church in Need on Saturday (3rd September), the bishop appealed for funds to assist those fleeing.
The charity has responded to Bishop Adwok's ugent plea for help with an initial grant of just over £13,000 to help the Church's work with the displaced.
Explaining the emergency aid that the Church will be providing, Bishop Adwok said: "The Parish Centre of Singa, as a Church-based organisation, can assist the victims of Damazin conflict by providing for them food, blankets and maybe transport money for those who wish to travel to Renk or to Khartoum or El Obeid."
Describing the humanitarian situation in the area, the bishop said: "Many civilians have left the town [of Damazin and are] moving in different directions.
"A good number of people however chose the route of the Damazin to Singa/Sennar road.
"Those who managed to reach Singa are now facing the problem of feeding themselves – and blankets, since they left Damazin in haste without taking anything along with them.
"At the moment there are people who have sought refuge in the parish centre in Singa.
"Others have gone to stay with some people in the town but it is becoming rather heavy for those families too to cater for all [of them].
"We hear that only the Sudan Red Crescent operates in the town but it seems their capacity is overwhelmed by the magnitude of the assistance needed."
He added: "Reports reaching us here say many elderly people who could not go far from the town have stopped about 10km from the town on the same road from Damazin to Singa.
"Others have stopped at Arun which is a bit further, Wad El Nail and Abu Naama."
The bishop told Aid to the Church that the Church lacked accurate information but knew that a significant number were also heading for the Ethiopian Border and the Ingassena Hills.
The UNHCR said it had received reports of at least 16,000 people having crossed the border into Ethiopia.
According to the Sudan Human Rights Organisation in Cairo, 17 people were killed, and tens of thousands are living in basic conditions outside Damazin.
The Blue Nile State is the third border region where fighting has erupted since South Sudan gained independence in July.