Equatoria Relief Fund (South Sudan)
Our family's heart is breaking. Not withstanding their denial, the South Sudanese Army burned and looted the village where members of my extended family live, because they resisted the incursion of armed Dinka herdsmen into their land. We have not been in contact with our family because they have fled into the mountains, and the government soldiers knocked over and burned the local cellphone tower.
This atrocity happened despite the current peace accord the army has signed on to.
At the beginning of this summer students from Wesleyan University and the University of Vermont received funding to build a women's maternity clinic in the village. However, our hopes for the village are put on hold by this recent illegal attack by the South Sudanese Government.
The Moru have been peaceful and uninvolved in disputes between the northern tribes; and now the army is bringing their atrocious war to Equatoria.
It is currently estimated that over 1,000 families are hiding in the jungle to protect themselves from the army.
Today I am asking YOU to raise funds for the people of Mundri Western Equatoria so that when come out of hiding, they can afford to rebuild their homes, afford to buy blankets and bedding that was stolen, and most importantly, so they can afford to buy food.
The following pictures are pictures of the children from Buagji, including a picture of me with my cousins, as well as a picture of some of the school children during a school meeting we held.
I will be posting updates as my family receives them from the family we have in the capital city of South Sudan, Juba. Please stay posted and sign our petition to the United Nations:
https://www.change.org/p/ban-ki-moon-samantha-power-prince-zeid-bin-ra-ad-urge-the-united-nations-to-take-action-against-the-government-of-south-sudan
The money will be sent to the Moru Community Foundation which has a US office in Kansas City. The funds will only be distributed when the situation becomes more stable. I will be visiting South Sudan in December and will be happy to share pictures of how the community benefits from this fundraiser.
This is the same foundation that we have been working with to build a maternity clinic in Western Equatoria.