A prominent member of the Islamic Council in Aweil Town in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, Sheikh Adam Deng Dau, has invited all interested well-wishers to raise funds and assistance to support Sudanese refugees at a settlement in Aweil West County.
According to the government, the Wedwil area in Aweil West County is now home to more than 8,000 Sudanese refugees in dire need of humanitarian assistance, especially food and sheltering materials.
The cleric, who doubles as the Imam at the Aweil Main Mosque, also asked people to pray for peace in Sudan during Tuesday’s Radio Tamazuj’s Peace and Reconciliation Program.
“To everyone in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State who has the capacity, we shall raise donations to support Sudanese refugees at the Wedwil Refugee Settlement so that their hope is re-established,” he stated. “If we create hope in them, this will create love and peace among the refugees and host community.”
Sheikh Deng also prayed for peace and reconciliation in the Republic of South Sudan, the well-being of the Sudanese refugees, and permanent peace in the Republic of Sudan.
“My special prayers are for peace and reconciliation in the Republic of South Sudan and we also pray that the refugees stay safe until they return to their families in Sudan and peace prevails in their country,” he said.
The ongoing Sudanese war broke out in Khartoum between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on 15 April 2023. Conservative estimates put the number of dead since the war erupted at 15,000 people and more than 8.2 million displaced from their homes, giving rise to the worst displacement crisis in the world momentarily.
Although local, regional, and international bodies have repeatedly called for the silencing of the guns and a peaceful resolution of the conflict, the belligerents have ignored the pleas and the war rages on.