Famine strikes Bor County, Quick action needed.

Appeal by Dr Akec Khoc

Dear brother, sister, friend, Good Samaritan. I greet you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Reliable yet consistent information out of Bor County ( Sudan ) is that last year's crop failed and the food reserve was inadequate to pull the population through the usual food deficit period (May - August). Famine is looming over Bor County . Euphoria over the recently signed Peace accord has pushed many Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to prematurely return to the area without prior arrangements for their reception and smooth resettlement. This has unfortunately aggravated the situation. The returnees have had to depend on their kins and community folks for food provisions, tradition obliges. Those receiving the new arrivals are themselves not fully resettled in that they have just returned to the area or have already shared what they had with earlier arrivals.

Circumstances seem to be as dangerous as in 1988 famine where many people lost their lives

From hunger. This time though, the situation may be slightly different from then. In 1988, late alarm drums/bells were sounded. However, there were too few sons & daughters of Bor County in the Diaspora to heed & react to the alarm. This time, early warning drums have been sounded in the area & echoed in USA , Canada , Europe and Australia . In addition, a good number of sons & daughters of Bor County are there to recognize the special character of the message and share it amongst themselves and with host communities. This year's famine impact on the people will largely depend on our capacity to react to it. Personal & collective willingness to help relatives and community members currently in the area or who might soon return there will change famine's impact on them.

My opinion ( hopefully shared ), is that this Famine situation is a cause meriting immediate concern, swift positive action in Fund Raising and the full participation of Bor County Youth. "Harambe, Harambe, Harambe ", & "All for one and one for all" should be our motto in the fight against this famine threat. We must bring food to the population in Bor County . We can and must win this fight. Remember brother & sister that it could have affected you or me if we had remained in the area. We ought to react in the way we would have expected others to react to our plea. Those people are in the same situation as you have been at Kakuma refugee camp, in Cairo , in Kampala and elsewhere. Remember the long march to safety in Ethiopia , on your way to Kenya . Your gratitude to Governments & people that have received, protect and help you will be similar to that of the community under famine threat and even more. Can you give them hope for a better future and the opportunity to improve their lives after having survived the famine threat. Should anybody loose his/her life now, it will be helas, a regrettable " death too many " to a potentially preventable cause.

Brother & sister, Dinka culture teaches us to listen to everybody, big or small, man or woman and to seriously evaluate the message conveyed. Listening is learning and the art of giving back to the community through action. Have you & I heard the voice shouting out of Bor County ;

"Help, help "before it is too late. What action have I, you, we taken???

As we cherish our rich cultural heritage, we keep drawing lessons & strength from it. During such times, the youth (pride of the community), have to travel far and wide to bring food, save lives. The youth are the force of the weak, the ears of the deaf and the eyes of the blind. Are we fulfilling our traditional obligations or do we consider ourselves out of that community & are therefore responsible for ourselves only?

The same cultural values have taught us that the best human qualities are summed up in generosity, empathy and optimism. Each family and the entire community has given various aspects of these qualities. The need to help is a universal force of particular significance in Bor County . When one person needs to build shelter for family, the community lends a helping hand in many different ways. When another member's farm is seen to lag behind, or overwhelmed by weeds, people decide to help out that family, not expecting reward. Harambe.

The community members who have remained in the area are nice people who have sacrificed themselves and interests to uphold our culture, protect ancestral land. To them our gratitude is due. Nice people deserve nice services from nice people world-wide. Are we really grateful to those community members???  One hand does not clap but two hands do. Can we clap our hands to our community in the area?

Your survival has turned to be the hope & strength of your community, thanks be to God. Actually, you have become the real ambassadors of our community. You are effective first-class ambassadors, hope you realize that.

The recently signed Comprehensive Peace Agreement does not mean much to anybody whose survival is at stake. Can we help him/her survive to enjoy the essence of peace and stability in the area? Can you & I be the true Freedom givers?

The 1990's saw America 's best basket-ball team named the Dream Team. The team members, all great & generous people, gave the best of themselves, individually and collectively, in team spirit. The dream coaching group and really each American gave them undivided support. Their families, friends and world-wide anonymous well-wishers also supported them. Recall also that Bor County generations are named after events. Your generation has acquired the name of "lost boys & girls ". Some of you may like that, others would prefer a more cool name. Dream boys & girls is being contemplated. Dream Ambassadors would be an equally appealing title. Are these together or any of them not a real cool title to carry?

Would you energetically lead us to overcome the looming famine in Bor County ? Can you effectively pass the word to well-intending people, brothers & sisters in Christ in USA , Canada , Europe and Australia , indeed world-wide?  Allow the rays of hope shine over Bor County . Actions speak louder than words. Will we act in unison now?

I will end this appeal by advising ourselves to get properly organized, so that another similar situation does not find us unprepared, un/disorganized. May God give us the wisdom to fully understand His desire and gifts.

Thank you for your time. 

 

Dr Akec Khoc

11845 Jonquil St NW

Coon Rapids , MN , 55433

E-mail akecka@yahoo.com