Darfur Report

[Gtmalacd]

Well, I tried and connecting online, but the signals are not great and slow. Since my arrival, its been non-stop. However, my work has been cut short due to the increasing violence. We have been asked to pack up and go by next week. Way too dangerous. I will try and log in tomorrow. I have seen the most horrific settings. I cried my first day here. Most tribes have lost hope.

[SamSagnella]

I'm just glad that the publicity for this horrific situation is FINALLY becoming common. With this being one of (if not the most) unstable political environments in the world, with an unfathomable death toll already, and millions more at risk, we ALL need to be doing everything we can to helf the people of Darfur. There have been several highly-publicized events in recent weeks, including one where nearly one thousand people walked from Norman to the Capitol in OKC (~20 miles) to raise awareness for the crisis. What I would suggest is donating what money you can to relief organizations, such as UNICEF's Sudan Campaign, SaveDarfur and World Vision. And if we want the government to really step up the aid, we all need to constantly bombard our congresspersons with e-mails, especially in this election year when the public voice can actually get loud enough to be heard.

Gtmalacd, you are truly a hero.

[Janice]

God help those people and I hope the UN or all countries get in there and do what is necessary. This should not be happening and I do not know why we let it go on this long. Thanks from me too.

[alicia-w]

this is not the only country where these atrocities occur.

[Miss Mary]

I'm just glad that the publicity for this horrific situation is FINALLY becoming common. With this being one of (if not the most) unstable political environments in the world, with an unfathomable death toll already, and millions more at risk, we ALL need to be doing everything we can to helf the people of Darfur. There have been several highly-publicized events in recent weeks, including one where nearly one thousand people walked from Norman to the Capitol in OKC (~20 miles) to raise awareness for the crisis. What I would suggest is donating what money you can to relief organizations, such as UNICEF's Sudan Campaign, SaveDarfur and World Vision. And if we want the government to really step up the aid, we all need to constantly bombard our congresspersons with e-mails, especially in this election year when the public voice can actually get loud enough to be heard.

Gtmalacd, you are truly a hero.

I completely agree and thank you for saying it so well.

[Janice]

Yes, but Alicia, these are the people who need it most. They deserve it too because they have never asked anything from anyone, just took all the pain and grief. This is the worse present day tragedy of mass torture and poverty, as far as I can see.

[alicia-w]

i dont know that they need it "most" but i certainly believe that folks should help those who dont have the resources to help themselves (and that doesnt include paying my kid's rent when she cant keep a job...)

my point is that the world continues to allow these things to happen. it's the nature of the beast to exploit the weak and history is FULL OF IT.

[SouthFloridawx]

Well, I tried and connecting online, but the signals are not great and slow. Since my arrival, its been non-stop. However, my work has been cut short due to the increasing violence. We have been asked to pack up and go by next week. Way too dangerous. I will try and log in tomorrow. I have seen the most horrific settings. I cried my first day here. Most tribes have lost hope.

Please be safe and I hope you have lots of stories to share with us to create more awareness of what is going on there. We'll be praying for you to come back safe.

[sunny]

Well, I tried and connecting online, but the signals are not great and slow. Since my arrival, its been non-stop. However, my work has been cut short due to the increasing violence. We have been asked to pack up and go by next week. Way too dangerous. I will try and log in tomorrow. I have seen the most horrific settings. I cried my first day here. Most tribes have lost hope.

Please be safe and I hope you have lots of stories to share with us to create more awareness of what is going on there. We'll be praying for you to come back safe.

DITTO

[Janice]

I have often thought it was just a pick of the straws where we landed in life. Some of us came from good homes and comfortable while others were abused as children and lived in starving countries. Was it just luck? I somehow think animals fare better.

[Gtmalacd]

Okay, I am back. Getting online is tough. Anyways, the past two days have been rough. Besides being within 100 yards of some UN members getting beaten up and almost killed, I reluctantly witnessed the almost killing of a interpreter mistaken for a government worker. You see, if you ask questions, you are automatically targeted as a government worker. I don't say a word, but do my job. Today (Wednesday) was a rough day. I had to let to two kids who died because of dysentery and lack of proper medicine, hygeine, and the bare essentials to keeping good health. That is why I am here, but my group cannot help everyone. There are some that we just have to let go because they are beyonf help. Today, I witnessed two children die, an elder man stomped to death, two men beaten with sticks, and a woman raped at night (Tuesday), by the junjaweed. Mentally, I am exahausted, physically, I am weakened, and spiritually stregnthened that I am doing the big man's work. TODAY, I grew up, TODAY, I have lost my emotions over unnecessary dying, TODAY, I have lost total respect for the Sudanese government, TODAY, I will see many more dies because lack of food. And TODAY, I know that I will be going home soon because TODAY, I have taken an emotional and mental beating. Okay, gotta go, there is another that needs to get online. I hope the weather is fine, that is the whole reason why I joined this site, but thanks for letting me write my feelings.

[SouthFloridawx]

Thanks from all of us for doing that work there. God bless you and all the people that are suffering.

[GalvestonDuck]

The interpreter was killed in Nyala, not Darfur. He was killed by refugees from Darfur because they thought he was with Janjaweed, not the government.

[Lindaloo]

Okay, I am back. Getting online is tough. Anyways, the past two days have been rough. Besides being within 100 yards of some UN members getting beaten up and almost killed, I reluctantly witnessed the almost killing of a interpreter mistaken for a government worker. You see, if you ask questions, you are automatically targeted as a government worker. I don't say a word, but do my job. Today (Wednesday) was a rough day. I had to let to two kids who died because of dysentery and lack of proper medicine, hygeine, and the bare essentials to keeping good health. That is why I am here, but my group cannot help everyone. There are some that we just have to let go because they are beyonf help. Today, I witnessed two children die, an elder man stomped to death, two men beaten with sticks, and a woman raped at night (Tuesday), by the junjaweed. Mentally, I am exahausted, physically, I am weakened, and spiritually stregnthened that I am doing the big man's work. TODAY, I grew up, TODAY, I have lost my emotions over unnecessary dying, TODAY, I have lost total respect for the Sudanese government, TODAY, I will see many more dies because lack of food. And TODAY, I know that I will be going home soon because TODAY, I have taken an emotional and mental beating. Okay, gotta go, there is another that needs to get online. I hope the weather is fine, that is the whole reason why I joined this site, but thanks for letting me write my feelings.

Do they actually have mindspring cable over there? Imagine that!

[nbean]

The interpreter was killed in Nyala, not Darfur. He was killed by refugees from Darfur because they thought he was with Janjaweed, not the government.

This thread caught me eye, as well as the "Compassion" one started by Janice. Compassion does play a significant role in helping these people, as well as people around the world. However, the government backed Janjaweed, have commited atrocities for years. While, Gtmalacd, is correct that there was an incident in Darfur, Nyala is a small town in Darfur. There might have been two incidents in Darfur. However, violence there has escalated and I am surprised that Gtmalacd is even there, since the danger is so high.

Lindaloo, there are many DSL, Cable, T3 ISP providers where Gtmalacd is at, but the connections can be slow. So while your response to Gtmalacd's internet connection sounded sarcastic, there is access there.

Otherwise, keep up the good work...

[senorpepr]

Lindaloo, there are many DSL, Cable, T3 ISP providers where Gtmalacd is at, but the connections can be slow. So while your response to Gtmalacd's internet connection sounded sarcastic, there is access there.

Yes, but do they ping back to Mindspring Cable in Tampa Bay, FL?

[nbean]

Lindaloo, there are many DSL, Cable, T3 ISP providers where Gtmalacd is at, but the connections can be slow. So while your response to Gtmalacd's internet connection sounded sarcastic, there is access there.

Yes, but do they ping back to Mindspring Cable in Tampa Bay, FL?

Oh, I have no idea. Don't know if that is possible. I will as a friend, he knows about that stuff..

[mf_dolphin]

If he's within 1000 miles of Darfur I'm Bugs Bunny. The one thing I can't stand is a liar. Consider his account terminated permanently.... and his new identity as well.

[JTD]

Shouldn't this thread be locked and or deleted?

[george_r_1961]

Shouldn't this thread be locked and or deleted?

nah lets enjoy it for awhile lol. Good job Marshall