AfricaTrip08.com

So, by now, you know that we weren’t able to visit any refugee camps. To echo the chorus, obviously it’s extremely disappointing. Colin and I were both looking forward to meeting the people that we, and thousands of students, had been working for, and bringing their stories back to inspire and inform our activism. But, I will be back. This cause means to much to me to abandon the people.

It would be a mistake, however, to cast the entire experience as a failure. Despite the fact that a large majority of our time was spent in a fitness center, I do feel like I learned a few lessons that can help inform our actions in the future.

The first is one that Colin touched on his last post. When I first got involved in this conflict, it was all about Darfur. All we talked about were the dreadful statistics coming out of Darfur, and analyzed what we could do to improve the situation for the Darfurians. We can’t continue to think of the conflict like that. The rebellion and unstable situation in Chad directly impacts the situation in Darfur, just like the problems in South Sudan. The Central African Republic is similarly unstable. In order to successfully improve the lives of millions of Darfurians in the long-term, we must also seek to address the conflict in Chad. The Sudanese government funds the Chadian rebels, and hundreds of thousands of Darfurians are stranded in Chad. They’re tied together at the hip.

I think it’s also important to recognize the importance in dealing with the structural problems that have formed this conflict. Humanitarian aid is extremely important to immediate refugee survival. Protection will allow many to return home in peace, but similarly, is a band-aid solution. In order to secure long-term peace, we need to recognize the rift between the Sudanese and the Darfurians, the Chadian rebels and the Chadian government, and the Chadians and the Sudanese. There are a lot of unhappy, conflicting parties at the table, and we need to recognize the importance of all of their needs, or this conflict won’t go away anytime soon.

This trip also demonstrated the difficulties in working in this region. While we were in Abeche, most humanitarian flights stopped, and a lot of UNHCR staff was pulled back from the camps. Thus, the refugees weren’t getting the care they deserved because of the conflict in Chad. Additionally, the rebels looted several camps, destroying rations and supplies, putting the refugees in peril as the rainy season approaches. The rebel movement greatly impedes the work of humanitarians, which in turn, makes the job of helping refugees even harder.

Again, the fact that we didn’t meet any refugees is disappointing. But the trip, in a way, strengthened my resolve to fight on during this conflict. I do so, however, knowing that my efforts must encompass the entire region. I also do so knowing that change will not occur quickly. We must appreciate the small steps along the way; money appropriated towards humanitarian aid, protection officers on the ground, peace talks amongst the rebel groups. Solving this multi-country conflict won’t be easy, and it won’t happen tomorrow, or the next day, or the next day. But if we keep up our efforts, we can achieve peace for Sudan, Chad, and the rest of the region. It just will take time, energy, and a little bit of patience. After all, this is Africa.

We’ve been writing a lot about what goes on in Chad this trip, and many of our readers are primarily focused on resolving the situation in Darfur. I hope this hasn’t disappointed anybody, but one thing this trip has emphasized for me is how much of a regional conflict this is. When I first started as an activist, I tended to isolate the conflict to just Darfur. As I learned more, I started to think of it in terms of an “all-Sudan solution.” Being in Chad and learning about refugee camps, funding, rebels and the Central African Republic has drove home how important it is to think of this as a regional conflict.

The relationship between Sudan and Chad has gone from precarious to officially severed in recent months, and this is a dangerous situation for the thousands that are still fleeing from violence in Darfur. What happens if Chad suddenly refuses to accept any more refugees? I’m not sure that the government has the capacity to enforce this, but it would certainly make the work of UNHCR harder because they have play by the Chadian government’s rules while here.

Refugees from the Central African Republic are flowing into southern Chad, stretching UNHCR resources and creating a belt of camps that circles nearly half of the country. UNHCR efforts in the south are poorly funded, in part because the side of the conflict receives less attention. I should note that this is no criticism, but should be taken as a reflection on what it really takes to get adequate funding for these efforts. Because the camps cover such a large area in Chad now, it is harder for EUFOR to protect all the refugees at once.

Rebels in Chad and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) in Darfur are constantly clashing with their respective governments, but their relationship is not easy to understand. Irish forces were taking gunfire from rebels in refugee camps outside of Goz Beida recently, and it’s difficult to make sense of why the camps would be a target. What may be even more dangerous for the refugees is the reality that aid workers are often evacuated if there is danger to their life. Without flights to the camps and aid workers operating on the ground, refugees can’t get food, water or medical supplies.

It still isn’t easy for me to wrap my mind around the entirety of this conflict. There are so many different players, and it seems like their relationships are always in flux. However, I feel like my understanding is deepening the more I try to understand what’s going on in Darfur in the context of the entire region. A true solution to this problem will undoubtedly encompass more than just this relatively small region. Now we just have to hope that instability throughout the region doesn’t hurt Darfur any more than it already it is.

Despite waking up today to a phone call that we would be heading out to Goz Beida within hours, we soon learned that rebels had attacked the city and we’d be stuck in Abeche until at least Monday. We’re living in a small room in the UNHCR fitness center, which is well equipped with AC, a toilet and 3 mattresses. Compared to most of the UNHCR workers who had to evacuate their homes last night, we’ve got it pretty good here. Needless to say, it’s going to get old pretty quickly, but we could be a lot worse off.

The idea of looking forward to something has been on my mind a lot today. Personally, I’m looking forward to getting out of Abeche, to eventually spending some time in Tanzania at the end of the summer, to seeing my family in August and to getting back to Brown again. I am almost completely certain that all of those things are going to happen. I’m trying to imagine the kinds of things that I would be looking forward to if I were a refugee.

I imagine that fleeing Darfur to go into Chad, I would be looking forward an end to violence. Irish EUFOR troops had to defend refugee camps in Djabal today, because they were under attack from armed soldiers in the east. Violence, it seems, is ubiquitous in the region. I think I would be looking forward to educating my children and regaining some sense of normalcy. But, with insufficient resources and constant violence, it’s difficult to establish a reliable infrastructure in most refugee camps. I would certainly be looking forward to returning to my home, whatever was left of it. For refugees that have been in camps for 4 or 5 years, this hope would certainly be hard to hold onto.

Looking forward to something that you know is going to happen is a real comfort, one that I think many refugees can’t enjoy. The international community seems unable to make any real promises to the refugees that they can uphold. Without the promise of peace or a safe return home, what is there to look forward to? Although I’m not sure when, I know that with enough pressure on our governments, we will be able to finally make these promises and start giving the refugees something to look forward to

Another day, another day slightly stuck. Frustrating has become the word of the week, so I’ll try to refrain from using it here. And today, like basically everyday since we’ve been here, was up and down. We woke up pleasantly surprised that we were booked on a flight out to Goz Beida to finally get to a refugee camp. Hours later, we were back in our fitness center, which has doubled nicely as our home. It’s actually quite nice to work out on the bike, and then be able to lie in bed minutes later The reality is, however, that we’re in the midst of a situation that carries great ramifications for the entire region. Undoubtedly, the rebels currently ransacking the region and heading for the capital of N’djamena are, in part, armed by the same Sudanese government carrying out the genocide in Darfur and threatening to engage in another war in the South. As a BBC article pointed out, this is a war being waged between Khartoum and N’djamena, and fought by proxies. It’s scary, not for us, but for the innocent people being exposed to this sort of violence through no fault of their own.

The coming days will demonstrate the extent of damage these atrocities will cause throughout the region. If the rebels are fought back, then Sudan and Chad will continue their hostile behavior towards each other, which has led to a cessation of all diplomatic relations. And if the rebels somehow take over the country, there will be deep ramifications for the Sudanese refugees harbored inside of Chad. I wish I could say it was exciting to be in the middle of this important situation, but we’re basically getting our news from the same place that you all are.

The saddest part about the whole mess is the individuals it affects. Every Chadian we talk to is saddened by the situation, and claims to want peace. The conflict is being perpetrated by a few power-hungry individuals that will stop at nothing, including killing and harming individual civilians, in order to fulfill their desire to wish the top. I feel that oftentimes, when the international community sees a situation like the current one in Chad, they remark that it’s “another African disaster.” The problem is that this does not reflect the majority of the African people; it reflects the power-hungry few. It’s a perception we need to shake.

So, another day of disappointments, but we are safe. Please monitor the unfolding events in Chad, not just for our purposes, but for the sake of the hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians in harm’s way. And remember, this isn’t another African hopeless situation. It’s one that the international community can play its part in helping to rectify.

Scott

It is disappointing that we haven’t seen any refugees yet, but the interviews with UNHCR officials and local Chadians have been informing. I also am grateful that, despite the instability throughout the region, we are all safe here. All is peaceful from our small resting facilities in the UNHCR gym; it doesn’t seem like any unrest is occurring throughout the rest of the country. I hope that it stays that way; both for our sake and for the many innocent Chadians throughout the region.

Please keep posted both through the news and the site. I am sure everything will turn out alright, but we appreciate all of your good thoughts as we wait for further moves on our end.

Colin

As you probably know by now, the day did not unfold in the ideal manner. Our plane didn’t leave, and despite the fact that we quickly made alternate plans to visit the Farcihana camp tomorrow, rebel movement in the East looks to have further complicated our trip. While we talked about sugar-coating the news, we decided to give it all out; I’m writing this from the gym of the Abeche UNHCR, where we’ll be spending the night. We have better accommodations than most people; I actually just used some of the gym facilities and took a quick bucket-shower, and feel great. We don’t know what next steps will be. But I feel safe.

It’s a weird feeling right now. We’re hearing reports of rebel activity throughout the East, but here, it’s mostly peaceful. There’s no sounds in the air, we’re all relaxing.

I talked to several Chadians throughout the day in my high-school level French; while all expressed concern that the rebels would be coming, none seem too worried. It’s a little sad that this insecurity has become such a part of their lives that they seem largely oblivious to any further activity. It’s just part of life at this point. It’s interesting, because as Americans, we frequently hear about the politics of fear, and how it can be used to exploit us. There is no politics of fear in Chad; the people are used to it. UNHCR representatives even refer to the rebels as “visitors.”

Obviously, I’m pretty disappointed that we didn’t see refugees today, and there’s a pretty distinct possibility it won’t happen this trip. The fact is, however, it’s out of our control. We knew we’d have to take chances in coming to an unstable region like Chad. And while I’m hoping against all hope that something finally breaks our way, I know I’ll be back. This cause means too much for me to leave it behind.

At the same time, however, I do feel safe. We’re in the UNHCR gym, close to the airport. I don’t think it’s a question of whether we’ll be safe; we will be. We’re being taken care of. The refugees, however, are still stuck. They don’t get preferential treatment when insecurity hits the region; they’re forced to stay where they are. Not only are they stuck in refugee camps, but they’re stuck in refugee camps in one of the most unstable countries in the world. If the UN pulls out its staff, it is only the refugees that suffer. But I’ll be heading home comfortably soon.

It’s really hard to describe how I feel right now, because it’s such a conglomeration of everything. I’m disappointed, but relieved that we’re safe. I’m exhausted, but raring to go. I’m concerned, but hopeful. We’ll keep you all posted. In the meantime, don’t worry about us, we’ll be fine. But do worry about the refugees. Because their safety is much less guaranteed.

Although we weren’t able to actually talk to refugees today, we did have one powerful experience that is worth noting. We found out that our fixer in Abeche held on to some panels for Tents of Hope that were left behind in January. One side of the panels was decorated by an elementary school in the US, and the other side by refugees in the camps. Once completed, the panels will be put together to make a tent.

Although we had heard that refugee children had painted war scenes before, seeing these panels made it real for me. The juxtaposition of one side of the panel, decorated with peace signs and hearts by US children, to the other, decorated with guns, bombs and helicopters by refugees, was shocking. Gabriel and KTJ simply asked these kids to draw, and the first things that they put together were scenes of their family running from soldiers and being shot. This is a depressing reflection on the emotional state and mental heath of these children.

If grade school students are more inclined to draw death than anything else, there is surely some significant emotional damage that needs to be addressed. Even more upsetting than the fact that this damage exists is the glaring lack of therapy or counseling. When aid organizations evacuate all “non-essential” personnel, social works or psychiatrists that work with children do not make the list. In my opinion, those that can work with the future leaders of Darfur and help resolve emotional damage are essential. But as refugee camps slowly turn into semi-permanent establishments, important services like schools and counseling are slow to develop. Food, health care and protection should always come first, but the services that make up a functional social fabric must not be forgotten. This is vital for nobody more than the children who are spending some of their most crucial years in camps.

Colin

One of the things I’ve been asking myself a lot, as we get ready to meet refugees, is the ramifications of meeting Sudanese refugees in Eastern Chad. I think this is something that we have a tendency to gloss over; it’s easy to throw out the statistics that 2.5 million Darfurians have been displaced, and 90% of villages in the region have been destroyed, but those numbers carry far deeper ramifications.

It’s astonishing if you think about it for a second; 250,000 Darfurians are now living in Chad. Obviously, this is difficult for the Sudanese, who must leave everything they know behind them and embark for a foreign land. Furthermore, despite the brutal treatment they’ve gone through, many of them still carry nationalistic pride towards their native home. But it’s also hard for native Chadians; all of a sudden there are a quarter of a million people in your backyard, sharing your resources and occupying the attention of the entire international community. That’s not an easy thing to deal with, and I hope we can talk to some native Chadians about this situation, in addition to the Darfurian refugees.

The other problem lies with the “permanency” of the camps. When there’s not protection, the refugees are forced to stay in Chad, rather than risking everything to return home. Organizations like the UNHCR have done an admirable job in keeping people alive and stable. Problematically, however, if the refugees aren’t returned home, they can develop a dependency on the aid organizations. We’ve seen this over and over again throughout recent history; Somalia in the ‘90’s provides a good example.

I don’t think this is the fault of the humanitarian organizations; they are set up to focus on immediate refugee needs, not structural problems, like a lack of protection. But this also links to the lack of developmental and institutional infrastructure that Colin mentioned. While refugees in Chad require more than basic needs, in the form of services like counseling and basic institutional building, I can see why developmental groups would be apprehensive to go into an area that is defined as temporary. And W\without infrastructure and institutions, you get the problems of dependency; it’s a vicious circle.

The circle, however, can end with a viable protection force. As a conclusion to the North-South Civil War in Sudan, a robust international protection force accompanied the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. As a result, developmental groups flooded the region. I interned with an organization, the National Democratic Institute, last year that fit this mold. They now have a huge presence in the South, building up democratic institutions from the bottom up. This will be necessary in Eastern Chad, and in Darfur. But in order for any sort of development to occur, there needs to be a viable protection force. And it’s absurd that it still doesn’t exit.

Fortunately, we’ve had a bit of internet access here so we’ve been keeping ourselves busy. I stumbled across an op-ed in the New York Times today by Madeleine Albright in which she commented on the Burmese government’s “criminally neglectful response to last month’s cyclone.” Albright, however, clearly recognizes that the Burmese government’s actions are part of a disturbing trend worldwide including Sudan and Zimbabwe among many others.

She points out three distressing realities of today’s world: “totalitarian governments are alive and well; their neighbors are reluctant to pressure them to change; and the notion of national sovereignty as sacred is gaining ground.” Sudan’s government is certainly alive and well, with a GDP that has actually risen since 2003. Sudan’s neighbors have been relatively quiet (many are silent) in pressuring for change. I consider the US a global neighbor in that we still maintain political ties to the government, and despite our declaration of genocide, have failed to take a strong enough stance against its behavior. And finally, and perhaps most importantly, its national sovereignty is putting the lives of millions of Darfuris at risk. UN resolutions regarding Sudan have given the government far too much say in how and when a peace force should be deployed. The stipulation that they must agree to the force in the first place, along with the toleration of the government’s refusal to accept non-African forces are just two examples.

Albright concludes by asking if the international community is “just a collection of legal nuts and bolts cobbled together by governments to protect governments? Or is it a living framework of rules intended to make the world a more humane place?” The truth is, the international community, be it the UN, AU or NATO or any other body, is only as strong as the countries that make it up. That’s where all of you come in. We need to force the US government to become a real player in international community, to set precedents, take risks, and make a stand. Otherwise who knows how long it will be until we can tell the refugees in Djabal that they can safely return home.

Check out the article!

Looking forward to giving you some of the thoughts of Darfuri refugees in the coming days, rather than just my political rants

One thing I do want to comment on, though, is that our trip to visit and hear stories from the refugees is but one part of the puzzle. To be trite, this conflict is incredibly complex, spanning decades and now encompassing much of the horn of Africa region. Even when peacekeepers hopefully are capably and fully deployed to permit the safety and repatriation of refugees, we’ll need a long-term peace agreement, as well as a solution that involves the entire Sudanese country, made apparent by the recent strife in the South, and specifically, in the oil-rich area of Abyei. We need to keep up the urgency, but at the same time, we need to realize that even when protection exists, this conflict is not going away in the very near future.

The reason I say this is not to diminish the stories we will be sharing in the coming days. We’re here for these refugees, and we need to increase our urgency in order to provide for their long-term safety and livelihood. But if we’re serious about this endeavor, we need to tackle the issue from a multi-faceted angle. We need to educate ourselves on the complexities of the larger Darfur and Sudan situation, the strengths and limitations of the United Nations force, and the overall environment of the international community. Engaging in a serious dialogue about these difficult questions will allow us to come closer to peace in the region. But we’re not there yet.

So I’m excited to meet the refugees because it’s a piece of the puzzle that has been desperately missing from my advocacy. I read up on the issues, but have been unable to engage with the actual people being affected by the crisis. I hope to gain some perspective from them, and pass it on to the larger community to enhance and improve our larger advocacy. And I encourage you to read these stories and learn from them, but at the same time, educate yourself further on the Sudan conflict, ask the tough questions, and connect all the dots. We’ll be telling the human story, but we need the other chapters in order to provide a peaceful ending.