My Recent Trip to South Sudan – Part 3

There is a very limited number of medical doctors available in Africa—and Dr. Jon Fielder is one of them.

He’s been a medical missionary in Malawi and Kenya since 2002 and co-founded the African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), a charity that supports mission hospitals in Africa. I had the pleasure to meet with him during my visit to Nairobi, Kenya, where he directs AMHF and sees patients at Maua Methodist Hospital.

Twice a year, Dr. Fielder visits our partner and great friend Dr. Tom Catena at Mother of Mercy Hospital. It’s one of the only hospitals available in the remote, war-torn Nuba Mountains with a population of 750,000 people. From amputations to cancer, Dr. Tom treats every illness or ailment imaginable without running water, and with limited supplies. His work is nothing short of a miracle, and without the generous support of our donors, Dr. Tom wouldn’t have the medicine or medical supplies needed to heal his patients.

To truly prepare for a sustainable future, AMHF will be coordinating with Dr. Tom by ordering medicines for Mother of Mercy Hospital, ensuring that he receives more access to lifesaving aid. Because of your charity, our organization was able to commit to funding medicine and provide logistical assistance to help with their efforts. Dr. Tom often works from sunrise to sunset, seven days a week, and desperately needs this medicine to help treat nearly 500 patients per day! Your kind donations are helping not only to sustain this hospital and provide a consistent supply of emergency aid, but also save thousands of lives.

We will never abandon those who are suffering, and we can’t thank you enough for your unwavering generosity and your continued support!

Sincerely,

Neil A. Corkery

President

SRF Director of Operations David Dettoni honored by Westmont College

Sudan Relief Fund’s Director of Operations was honored in September by his college alma mater. David Dettoni won Westmont College’s prestigious Global Service Award. Each year the Santa Barbara, California school “honors an individual who demonstrates devoted service to God’s kingdom through international, missionary or non-profit work by living a faithful Christian life in a diverse, complex and quickly changing society as a citizen and servant of the world.”

Mr. Dettoni is well-deserving of this award. He has spent much of his adult life in tireless service to others. Prior to taking on the position of SRF’s Director of Operations five years ago, he served in Germany with TSA Stiftung fur Afrika, was Director of Operations and Outreach at the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), and a Senior Legislative Assistant to Representative Frank R. Wolf.

Congratulations David! SRF is blessed to have you directing our efforts us to improve the lives those suffering in the Sudan region.

My Recent Trip to South Sudan – Part 2

Among the 275,000 refugees living in Bidi Bidi, the majority have helplessly watched their families, neighbors and friends be shot and killed by armed forces, have become a victim of sexual violence, and have witnessed some of the most horrific events that are too cruel to even describe.

So many of these innocent families have lost more than just their loved ones—they’ve lost everything.

Their homes, jobs, and freedom have been taken away.
Their safety, security, and dignity have been stolen.
Every morning they wake up in fear because their hope has been destroyed.

Life is hard for these refugees, and living in Bidi Bidi doesn’t make it easier.

During my visit to the camp, I met some graduates of a trauma healing program on-site. Since despair is one of the biggest problems in the camp, providing long-term support is critical to helping refugees heal.

The violence often brings vengeful habits; many young boys will join gangs and get involved with drugs and sexual violence. But through counseling, these victims are learning to cope and are slowly recovering from the abuse and trauma they’ve experienced. Many of these young refugees say they are now hopeful about the future and have made significant improvements in their lives.

In the face of poverty, death, and violence, these victims also rely on the clergy to protect and bring stability into their lives. Here, dozens of churches spread across the camp to provide emotional healing. I stopped by two of the nine churches built by Samaritan’s Purse and met with Fr. David Ebuale and Fr. Robert Ayokio—the only two Catholic priests working full-time in the camp.

Fr. David begged for help and said all he needs is housing for priests, which has been a major challenge. Bidi Bidi doesn’t have secure shelter for priests when they visit, so they are unable to stay full-time and assist Fr. David and Fr. Robert.

But with your kind gifts, the Sudan Relief Fund has agreed to fund a house, so priests will finally be stationed nearby to lend their support. Your generosity is the only reason this was made possible!

Because of you, these traumatized victims will receive much needed healing after experiencing unimaginable pain.

Neil A. Corkery
President, Sudan Relief Fund 

My Recent Trip to South Sudan – Part 1

Each time I visit the Uganda refugee camps, I am always struck by the extraordinary resilience of South Sudanese families as they find new beginnings in this neighboring country.

The last five years have not been easy for South Sudan. Violence from a bloody civil war continues to spread, creating one of the world’s worst humanitarian disasters. Tens of thousands of people have been killed, 2 million have been displaced in South Sudan, and another 2 million have crossed the border seeking refuge.

Although South Sudan is still in the grip of a catastrophic crisis, I can tell you, change is happening and people are getting stronger.

David Dettoni, the Sudan Relief Fund Director of Operations, and I began our 10 day visit in Koboko, a small town outside the largest refugee camp in northern Uganda—Bidi Bidi. We met with several bishops of the Sudan Catholic Bishops’ Conference, including the President of the conference and one of our key partners, Bishop Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala. We were joined by Fr. George Hume of Tombura-Yambio, who is currently based in Kampala, Uganda working with Sudan refugees. Fr. Hume explained the increasingly difficult conditions among the 275,000 people who now call Bidi Bidi home– making it the world’s largest refugee camp. Unfortunately, funding hasn’t been entering at the pace at which refugees are arriving, and the settlement is struggling to host the influx of new refugees. Food, water, medicine, shelter and other basic needs are very scare and difficult to come by.

We stopped by Samaritan’s Purse offices outside of Bidi Bidi and met with the Deputy Country Director, Ryan Lane. Our team has been working closely with the nonprofit organization to assist in their water and sanitation projects within the camp. Together, we visited a bore well in Zone 1 of Bidi Bidi that was funded by our organization. Given the severity of the humanitarian crisis, so many families seeking refugee walk for days before arriving here starving, thirsty, sick, and in desperate need of assistance. And the young are being impacted the most. There are so many weak children who die from dehydration or water-borne illnesses because they have no choice but to drink from filthy, bacteria-ridden mud holes and rivers.

With the refugee situation worsening, we knew the importance of providing clean, safe drinking water to these suffering people in Bidi Bidi—something most of us take for granted here in the United States. Our team has committed to help provide more sustainable water sources inside the camp, which has been a huge undertaking.  However, the good news is that with the help of our generous donors, the Sudan Relief Fund was able to partner with Samaritan’s Purse and provide $100,000 towards their water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) program in the community. Because of you, we were able to meet immediate lifesaving needs inside the camp by contributing to the drilling of boreholes, building of latrines, and training on sanitation and hygiene.

Refugees often travel for hours or days before reaching water that is often contaminated. But now, thousands of families have access to safe, flowing water whenever they need it.

These efforts have given so much hope in a desperate situation—thanks to your kind gifts.

Neil A. Corkery
President, Sudan Relief Fund 

Sudan Relief Fund on Voice of America 9-18-18

In an interview with VOA’s South Sudan in Focus, Neil Corkery, President of The Sudan Relief Fund, discusses why South Sudanese refugees will not leave the camps and return to their homeland, regardless of the latest signing of the peace deal agreement by South Sudan’s warring parties. Plus, Neil explains what needs to happen for long-term stability in the country and why he remains hopeful.

Listen to the full interview here: