wfn.org | ACNS - New Zealand Church Leaders Statement on Sudan

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

ACNS 3866     |     NEW ZEALAND      |	   5 AUGUST 2004

New Zealand statement on the humanitarian tragedy in Sudan

We, Church Leaders in New Zealand, are gravely concerned at the terrible
tragedy developing in Darfur, Western Sudan; a disaster that the United
Nations has described as the worst humanitarian crisis in the world.
Over 1.2 million people have been forced to flee their homes and are now
internally displaced or refugees in neighbouring Chad. All are
completely dependent on international assistance for the basic
necessities of life - water, food, sanitation, shelter, and protection.

Conditions in the camps are harsh and people will need ongoing
assistance as they deal with the loss of family members, destruction of
homes and food crops, disruption of education, trauma of sexual violence
and torture, loss of belongings and a lack of health services and
infrastructure in their places of refuge - all amidst continuing fear of
attack. There are fears that the situation, if not urgently addressed,
will echo the Rwanda genocide with the elimination of African ethnic
groups by Sudanese government-backed Arab militias.

We commend the New Zealand government for its support towards relief
efforts and the people of New Zealand for their generous response to the
humanitarian appeals to date. The scale of the situation is such that
substantial funding is needed. Christian World Service and Caritas
Aotearoa New Zealand are jointly appealing for donations for ongoing
emergency assistance in Darfur and Chad.

The New Zealand churches, through Christian World Service and Caritas
Aotearoa New Zealand have for many years been actively involved in
supporting the activities of the New Sudan Council of Churches working
for peace, providing assistance to refugees and displaced persons and
reconciling war-torn communities.

The suffering and violence in Sudan has been going on for too long.
Effective international action is needed to support and advance conflict
resolution efforts. We call upon the New Zealand government to ensure
the Sudan crisis is addressed effectively at the international level,
through the United Nations and other international bodies, so that:

*The Government of the Sudan genuinely disarms the militia groups in
West Sudan and prevents attacks on innocent civilians
*The Government of the Sudan provides full access to humanitarian groups
into Darfur and makes Government resources available for the delivery of
aid
*The United Nations and/or the African Union considers all options of
providing protection for refugees and relief workers and monitors
ceasefire violations and human rights abuse
*The ceasefire in South Sudan holds and a permanent peace agreement can
be reached that is not at the expense of a just solution in Darfur.

We ask the people of New Zealand to show compassion and generosity
towards those in need in Darfur and Chad. Contributions to the joint
Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand and Christian World Service (CWS) appeal
can be made by contacting:

CWS
Box 22652, Christchurch, 0800 74 73 72

Caritas
PO Box 12-193, Wellington 0800 22 10 22
Signed 2 August 2004

The Most Revd Whakahuihui Vercoe
Archbishop and Primate, Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and
Polynesia

Kelvyn Fairhall
National Administrator, Baptist Churches of New Zealand

Lynne Frith
President, Methodist Church of Aotearoa New Zealand

Michael Thawley
Moderator, Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand

Thomas Williams
Roman Catholic Church, Archbishop of Wellington and Metropolitan of New
Zealand

Garth McKenzie
Territorial Commander, The Salvation Army - New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga

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