Seattle, U.S.A. — After qualifying Wednesday for this weekend’s final in the men’s 5,000 meters, former Sudan Lost Boy Lopez Lomong is ready to use his Olympic fame to help kids back home in Africa. After Saturday’s final, Lopez will focus on a partnership with international Christian charity World Vision, including a trip, tentatively planned for early next year to Kenya and South Sudan to help children living in poverty.

The trip is part of long-term partnership between Lomong’s non-profit, 4 South Sudan and Team World Vision, a program sponsored by World Vision. Lomong hopes to help raise $500,000 to provide access to clean water, health care, education and nutrition.

According to the latest United Nations (UNHCR) estimates, there are more than 660,000 displaced South Sudanese as fighting rages between Sudan and its neighbor, South Sudan. Malaria and diarrhea run rampant in the overcrowded refugee camps. Nearly three children die of preventable illnesses in the camps every day.

At the age of six, Lopez was kidnapped from his Southern Sudan village and held captive as he was being prepped as a child soldier. Too small to undergo training, his fate would most likely have been starvation. But after three weeks, he managed to escape with the help of three other captives. After running three days and nights, they were captured by Kenyan troops and brought to a refugee camp where Lopez lived for 10 years.

He was supported by a U.S. family and brought to this country where he soon discovered he was the fastest kid in school. At track meets he then discovered he was the fastest in the state. Soon he would become one of the fastest in the nation. In 2008, Lomong qualified for the Beijing Olympics in the men’s 1,500 meters. He was voted by his teammates as the flag bearer in the Opening Ceremonies.

Lomong has a new book entitled “Running For My Life” (Thomas Nelson Publisher) http://www.thomasnelson.com/running-for-my-life.html

For more info: 4South Sudan : http://lopezlomong.com/foundation/

Team World Vision: http://support.worldvision.org/site/TR?px=1209501&fr_id=1790&pg=personal

Image Courtesy of   Maxisport / Shutterstock.com

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With the proclamation of Mursi as the new Egyptian President, it seems that the revolution of the Egyptian Arab Spring has triumphed. For now it seems that everything is good. In fact, Mursi has promised to be the president for all Egyptians without an exception. His claims appear to be serious: a woman and a Christian man will be the vice-presidents of the newly formed government, something that was unthinkable few months ago. However, we will have to wait to see if this will become a real fact.

Even though not all Egyptians agree with the elections that have taken place in their country, Egypt is the quintessential example of the triumph of the revolution this Arab spring. There has also been some progress in countries like Tunisia, Libya and Yemen, where the authoritarian Presidents, Ben Ali’s, Gaddafi and Ali Abdullah Saleh fell respectively. On the other side of the coin, are countries such as Syria and Morocco that are still fighting to overthrow the established system, and have to fight against the silence that surrounds these revolutions.

An example of the revolutions that have recently started is the case of Northern Sudan, which has more press now that Egypt has achieved their first goal. It seems that what started off being a small movement, has crystallized into a bigger mobilization.

According to www.sudaneseonline.com, the trigger has been the cuts that the Sudanese government has executed after the former South Sudan achieved their independence. After this, the Sudanese Government has suspended the gasoline subsidies, taxes have increased and thousands of civil servants have been fired.

Therefore, the Sudanese have gone out to the streets to protest, under the slogan of “We want the regime out.” They are demanding the resignation of the National Congress Party, Al-Bashir’s party, to be replaced by a transitional government that should represent all geographical regions of Sudan.

In the meantime, the police remain loyal to Al-Bashir, and he has ordered all his forces to stop the anti-government protests. Therefore, police have responded with attacks and detentions, and three newspapers have been shut down. It seems that the Internet will be a blackout sooner or later. In the meantime, Saata Ahmed al Hajj, General Secretary of the Sudanese Commission for the Defense of Freedoms and Rights, has been arrested.

But the Sudanese case is not an easy one, since there are other open fronts, which actually are more important. First off, there is the genocide in the western zone of Darfur that has been plaguing them for the last two decades. Sudan president, Omar Al-Bashir, who has been in power for more than two decades, has been giving help to the Janjaweed, the Arab militians that are perpetrating these terrible acts, and the citizens from the other parts of Sudan are finally complaining about it with demonstrations.

Secondly, the armed conflict between Sudan and the new Republic of South Sudan for oil control is at risk of turning into an open war. In 2005, these two sides of the country signed a peace agreement that ended a civil war for 22 years, dividing the country into two: the south, where two thirds of oil reserves are, and the north, which is developed. Both sides agreed to split revenues from oil production by half, but not one of them are complying with what they agreed.

Will we have a new success story like this in Egypt? Time will tell, but we must not forget these more important issues in Sudan.

Image Courtesy of  Oxfam International

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Israel has begun an “emergency plan” to battle its illegal immigration problems that will involve interning and deporting thousands. So far authorities have arrested sixty-two African migrants in on-going raids. Most of the migrants are from South Sudan, with some from the Darfur region. The government hopes to repatriate 60,000 African refugees. The immigrants are being detained at the Red Sea resort of Eilat.

After two months of heated debate, the Israeli government has declared that the African migrants have become a threat to the Jewish character of the state and that they are here illegally. Many illegal immigrants have also caused problems with labor and work, similar to those in the United States.

The main area being targeted for removing these African refugees is in the poor area to the south of Tel Aviv. Israelis living in the south of Tel Aviv claim that the wealthy northern residents of Tel Aviv can afford to be liberal and support the plight of the African refugee because their jobs are not being threatened by these Africans.

The decision has also arisen after a wave of hostility has arisen against blacks in general. A recent opinion poll in Israel showed that fifty-two percent of Israelis think that Africans are a “cancer” according to the Times of Israel. According to Jacob Berri, a Sudanese refugee at a protest, the refugees are “being called a cancer and an AIDS virus on the Israeli people, by politicians.” Berri claims that many in the South Sudanese community recognize they are not wanted and will leave as long as they are guaranteed refugee status and are helped by the UN.

African migrants marched on Sunday to the UN Refugee Agency offices in Tel Aviv to protest the mistreatment of refugees. Several protests have occurred due to these decisions including one with five hundred Sudanese men. These men chanted “we are refugees, not criminals” due to allegations that Africans are preying on Israeli citizens and raping Israeli women.

The rhetoric used against these immigrants suggests some personal bias. Interior Minister Eli Yishai stated, “this is only a small group of infiltrators…I’m not acting out of hatred of strangers but love of my people and to rescue my homeland.” According to Reuters, “infiltrators” is the the same word often used to describe Palestinian militants.

Many Israelis are worried that the deportations could damage Israel’s international image; in previous years, Israel was considered a champion of human rights and protector of these African refugees. Israeli human rights and activist groups are on the side of the African refugees, whereas the right wing and certain religious parties are against them.

Some of these refugees have lived in Israel for years – some of their children only know of Israel as home and only speak Hebrew – but these individuals have lived in legal limbo for too long.

An Israeli court upheld the government’s decision of internment and deportation of all migrants of South Sudanese origin. The government and courts agree that although South Sudan is still at war with Sudan, the region is safe enough for the refugees to return. The government has also claimed that all of the immigrants are in Israel looking for work when many are there to escape persecution and violence. Israeli activists have urged the government to consider each case individually rather than indiscriminately sending people back.

The Israeli government has offered financial incentives to all of those who leave voluntarily. Since many refugees recognize that their deportations are inevitable, they have begun registering to leave. The Interior Minister Eli Yishai has claimed, “whoever comes forward will get his grant…from the moment you come to immigration authorities and say you will pack up, from that moment you will be given an opportunity to pack up, and the grant of 1,000 euros.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is completely behind the new immigration policy, although he has urged Israelis to not harm the African refugees. Netanyahu claimed, “we are a moral people and we will act accordingly. We denounce violence; we denounce invective. We respect human rights…[but] Israel cannot accept infiltrators from an entire continent.”

According to Reuters, migration into Israel from Africa has been increasing since 2006, but the past year has seen an incredible increase in the number of refugees. The revolution in Egypt has prevented the Egyptian government from policing the border of the Sinai peninsula which has allowed the Bedouin people-smugglers to increase their operations.

In response to these high levels of immigration, Israel has built a high fence along its border to Egypt. Netanyahu said in a May 29th speech, “my policy with regard to the illegal infiltrators seeking work is clear… first of all, to stop their entry with the fence and at the same time to deport the infiltrators who are in Israel.” Netanyahu also claimed that in transition the African refugees would be held in “detention facilities with thousands of units.” The prime minister justified his actions by claiming that these migrants are threatening “the character of the country.”

Image Courtesy of  John Kropewnicki / Shutterstock.com

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In yet another unwarranted act of aggression, South Sudan and its proxy forces again heinously attacked and occupied Heglig on April 10th, an area that is indisputably a Sudanese territory.

The assault comes in the midst of strenuous peace-building efforts exerted by the African Union High-level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) whose chairman recently visited with both countries to push for dialogue. This attack is in direct contravention of those efforts and therefore clear proof that South Sudan is neither serious nor interested in forging peace with Sudan.

This latest incident also reinforces the ominous culture of impunity, which enables South Sudan and its proxies to launch attacks in Sudan killing scores of innocent civilians and there would be no international reprimand.

There hasn’t been a single statement from those that are fond of wielding cameras to battle fields to capture the images of those massacred; nor was there a word from those with satellite imagery regarding the movement of thousands of SPLA troops invading Sudan with very visible tanks and heavy artillery. It is a glaring double-standard that speaks volumes to the Sudanese who as a result are increasingly growing cynical of all the talk of Humanitarianism.

The Government of Sudan reiterates its commitment to peace and opposition to aggression. However it will defend the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the country when war is imposed on it, as is clearly the case now. In accordance with the United Nations charter and the International Law, Sudan reserves its legitimate right to respond to this and any further aggression as it sees fit.

The international community is also called upon to bear witness to this provocation and forcefully condemn what is an obvious and blatant act of war. In this regard, it must be recalled that Sudan already has a number of complaints that it has previously submitted to the Security Council regarding South Sudan’s aggression and support of rebels, all of which continue to be ignored.

Sudan also urges South Sudan to realize that it isn’t in the interest of its citizens to wage a war that it clearly cannot win. Neither is this ill-conceived strategy of “attack and withdraw” prudent, as irreparable damage is caused to Sudan and its people whose patience is wearing thin. The Government of South Sudan must change course and shun this aggressive posture before it’s too late.

Image Courtesy of   babasteve

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The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has just completed a distribution of seed and agricultural tools around Agok, a town in the southern part of the disputed Abyei area, to approximately 15,000 people who were displaced by fighting in May 2011. The host communities are also being provided with the aid, which should ensure adequate harvests in August this year.

Since clashes broke out last year in Abyei, a border area claimed by both Sudan and South Sudan, thousands of families have been forced to flee, abandoning their homes and belongings. Many ended up in remote villages around Agok town, where they were taken in by the local communities. Most have yet to return home.

“The families left everything behind when they fled last year, including their crops, which had been their main source of livelihood,” said Katia De Keukeleire, the head of the ICRC sub-delegation in Wau. “Their arrival has placed a burden on host communities whose food resources were already limited.

With the rains approaching, it will soon become very difficult to reach this area. The aid we distributed, which comes in advance of the planting season, restores a level of self-sufficiency to these families who can now produce food to eat or to sell. They cannot afford to lose another harvest.”

The distribution of aid to families with some access to land took place from 12 March to 4 April. Each family received staples such as sesame, groundnuts and sorghum seed, tools for tilling and some food as seed protection. Ms De Keukeleire added that some families fear returning to their homes and land because of the presence of landmines.

Mawien Malith is the deputy chief of Abatok village near Agok, one of the villages in which the ICRC is providing aid. Abatok saw its population double with the influx of displaced people. “Families fled Abyei town with nothing, leaving their crops behind. Villagers here took people in as best they could and shared what little they had with them. This distribution helps us to help ourselves. We can now plant when the rains arrive and the tools will serve us for years to come.”

The host communities have also been affected by clashes. Many people fled south from their isolated villages in the Abyei area, making it impossible to sow in time for planting season. Scant supplies have made it extremely difficult for them to return home. Many people have to rely on fishing to survive. The influx of displaced people has put further pressure on food supplies.

Image Courtesy of   http://www.flickr.com/photos/un_photo/

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Actor and activist George Clooney was arrested Friday morning in Washington D.C. as he alongside other activists and members of Congress stood up against the atrocities and massacre of Sudanese citizens by their own government.

Clooney and 17 other people were arrested by the uniformed division of the U.S. Secret Service on misdemeanor charges of crossing a police line following a peaceful protest on the steps of the Sudanese Embassy, Secret Service spokesperson George Ogilvie said. He said the embassy is private property and security protection is provided by the Secret Service.

The civil disobedience act also led to the arrest of Clooney’s father Nick Clooney, Enough Project Co-Founder John Prendergast, Martin L. King III, NAACP President Benjamin Jealous, President of United to End Genocide and former Congressman Tom Andrews, Jewish Council for Public Affairs President Rabbi Steve Gutow, Religious Action Center for Reform Judaism Director Rabbi David Saperstein, Jewish World Watch Executive Director Fred Kramer, American Jewish World Service Associate Director of Policy Ian Schwab, Congressmen Jim McGovern (D-MA), Al Green (D-TX), Jim Moran (D-VA) and John Olver (D-MA).

All were later released after paying a fine and waving their right to a hearing. The protest was organized by the Enough Project and United to End Genocide, two non-profit organizations working to end humanitarian crimes worldwide.

Prior to the arrests Clooney, among others, spoke to the hundreds of protesters demanding humanitarian aid immediately be available to the Sudanese people living in Nuba Mountains, the Sudanese government stop killing, raping and starving its own citizens.

“We are just trying to bring attention to a government attacking its own people – innocent women and children. It is not a war when you are bombing innocent women and children,” Clooney said. He told MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell that he did not want to be arrested, but was proud to be standing on the right side of history.

The arrests came after police ordered the protesters to leave the premise and they did not. The protest continued as George Clooney and Prendergast formed a blockade about 10:45 a.m. in front of the embassy, symbolizing Sudan’s blockade of humanitarian organizations trying to provide support, food and medical supplies to the Sudanese people.

Six minutes later, Clooney and the other protesters were arrested.

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir’s government began bombing and raiding villages in the Nuba Mountains last June. Enough Project spokesperson Matt Brown said the locals are targeted as part of an ethnic cleansing because they are Christian, dark-skinned Africans and are sympathetic to the South Sudanese government, which borders their region.

US-Aid projects a famine affecting 500,000 women, men and children could begin this month in the region as international food supplies are blocked and crops have been destroyed by al-Bashir’s military forces.

Al-Bashir is a war-criminal who has terrorized and killed millions of his own people during his 20 years in power. He killed millions of Sudanese living in Darfur from 2003 through 2009. A peace agreement, the Darfur Peace Agreement, was later reached.

“It is unacceptable and inexcusable that Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir—an internationally criminal wanted for war crimes and genocide—is getting away with bombing, starving and displacing hundreds of thousands of innocent men, women and children in Sudan’s Nuba Mountains and Blue Nile State,” says United to End Genocide President Tom Andrews.

Twitter exploded when Clooney’s arrest was announced. Several people applauded his efforts to bring attention to the humanitarian crisis.

Other people joked about his arrest. Some called it a publicity stunt.

Ambassador Susan E. Rice, the permanent Representative of the U.S. to the United Nations, said she stands with Clooney on the crisis occurring in Sudan.

“I share George Clooney’s outrage at continued bombings, missile attacks & impending famine in Southern Kordofan. It must stop,” Rice tweeted.

European media personalities quickly also tweeted showing support for Clooney. Showbiz journalist, commentator and broadcaster Dan Wootton based in London wrote:

“I think you have to salute George Clooney. Finally a celebrity who’s been arrested because of a cause that he believes in.”

Ordinary American citizens also chipped in. Ohio resident Joshua White tweeted, “Love or hate George Clooney or his politics, but at least he backs it up. Dude got arrested today =)”

People who want to get involved in forcing the arrest of al-Bashir and alleviate the horrors being afflicted on the Sudanese people are encouraged to put pressure on national and international leaders.

Brown said western governments need to “…enact policies that would force the hand of the Sudanese government… Deal with him as a war criminal. Not a sovereign head of state. We want sanctions.”

Image Courtesey of  United to End Genocide

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Sudan condemns Congressman Wolf’s illegal entry into the country which he admits to and says specifically that he went through the “SPLM-N controlled areas of Southern Kordofan.” We have laws against such border crossings which deserve to be respected by foreigners just as the laws of the United States prohibiting illegal entries demand to be observed and require individuals to obtain proper visas.

Also, those journalists who illegally sneak into the country such as New York Times’ Nicholas Kristof and Ann Curry of NBC, jeopardize their own safety and that of others. It’s worth noting that both of these journalists were previously granted visas and Mrs. Curry in fact sat face to face with the president.

Moreover, in his report, the congressman quotes these very biased journalists to corroborate these fabricated and exaggerated stories he alleges to have been recounted to him in the camps; the same biased and inflammatory reporting which aims to create a new Darfur by playing the race card and appallingly framing the crisis as Arabs against Blacks.

There isn’t a single statement in his report that points to the root cause of the crisis, nor does it condemn the heinous acts committed by the rebels. There are also no statements that hold Southern Sudan accountable for its role in the conflict. And the fact is that the government of Southern Sudan is responsible for undermining the CPA.

Its troops are the ones invading Jau and infringing on the sovereignty of Sudan. They are the ones providing safe haven and arms to the rebels that have wreaked havoc on the residents of South Kordofan and Blue Nile.

To be an “honest broker,” as Secretary Clinton proclaimed the United States to be, officials and representatives should refrain from making baseless accusations against the Sudan government. Incendiary statements such as those made during her testimony that President Bashir is working to “undo the results of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement” and undermining the new state do not reflect the words of an honest broker. After all, if it weren’t for this Government and the leadership of President Bashir, there would be no CPA in the first place.

Furthermore, an honest broker needs to be impartial and apply pressure where it’s really deserved. The Southern Sudan government has not in any substantive form been pressured by the U.S. to cease its support of the rebels. Hence Sudan will continue to demand the constructive and honest engagement of the U.S. administration.

SOURCE Embassy of the Republic of the Sudan

Web Site: http://www.sudanembassy.org/

Image Courtesy of   http://www.flickr.com/photos/vaguardpao/

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The humanitarian situation in South Kordofan that has garnered international concern, and which some have now exploited to push an agenda of intervention, prompted the formation of a joint assessment team composed of UN agencies (UNICEF, WFP, WHO, FAO), the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and NGOs. Their report just concluded that the humanitarian situation in the region is at “Normal levels” and that food security is “good” and stable for the conflict-affected population of 53,220.

The survey covered a sample of 53 villages in the region and found the levels of malnutrition among children under the age of five to be at 4.4 percent, a figure that is far below 15 percent which constitutes the United Nation’s rate of emergency. These sobering findings emphatically refute and contravene the claims of imminent catastrophe claimed by scaremongers.

These encouraging statistics are a function of the humanitarian interventions dispensed by the Government and partners aimed precisely at mitigating the impact of the conflict on the population. The assessment further notes the need for coordination between the humanitarian actors and recommends an extension of the period of food assistance in order to avoid shortages while concurrently generating programs for supplementary and therapeutic diet.

It also calls for creating quick impact projects in host communities to support farmers, pastoralists and traders. While the government and partners continue to provide assistance, there ultimately remains a security threat posed by the rebels who continue to launch attacks against civilians and deliberately destroy their livelihoods. Still, this stresses the need on all stakeholders and the peace-loving to pressure the rebels to abandon this destruction and pursue peace.

Sudan continues to call on South Sudan to recognize its negative role in this crisis and cease its support to the rebels. And in order for the U.S. and those pushing for an intervention to play a constructive role, they must look at the facts on the ground not the exaggerated allegations.

Image Courtesy of   http://www.flickr.com/photos/sossaheluk/

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The first clinical trial of a new vaccine for visceral leishmaniasis (VL) has been launched by the Infectious Disease Research Institute (IDRI), a Seattle-based nonprofit that develops products to prevent, detect, and treat diseases of poverty. The Phase 1 trial is taking place in Washington State, with a companion Phase 1 trial planned in India, an epicenter of the disease.

Visceral leishmaniasis affects vital organs and bone marrow, destroying white and red blood cells. Because VL attacks the immune system, it has been called the parasitic version of HIV/AIDS.

“Visceral leishmaniasis is a persistent and deadly global health problem,” said Steve Reed, IDRI founder and Chief Scientific Officer, who led the over twenty years of preclinical vaccine work. “Our partnership with India will speed the development of an effective vaccine and accelerate its control.

Leishmaniasis takes several forms, all of which are caused by the Leishmania parasite and transmitted by infected sand flies. VL is most common in India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sudan, and Brazil and causes about 500,000 cases and 50,000 deaths each year.  Cutaneous leishmaniasis, the most common form of the disease, causes serious skin lesions and often leaves its victims permanently disfigured.  Leishmaniasis occurs in 88 countries, affecting 12 million people.

While the disease can be treated, current treatments are too expensive, difficult to administer, or toxic for widespread use in poor countries. Drug resistance is also a growing problem, particularly in India. Left untreated, VL has a 90% case fatality, and death can come within two years—much more quickly than AIDS.

Furthermore, scientists warn that the geographical range for leishmaniasis is expanding. Spurred on by global warming, mass migration and rapid urbanization, cases are being reported in previously unaffected areas. Given such challenges, a vaccine is considered essential to control and eliminate the disease.

“With this clinical trial, we hope to launch a new era in the fight against Visceral Leishmaniasis,” said Franco Piazza, Medical Director at IDRI and leader of the vaccine’s clinical development.  “For the first time, an advanced vaccine to prevent this devastating disease is being tested in people.”

The IDRI vaccine, known as LEISH–F3 + GLA-SE, is a highly purified, recombinant vaccine.  It incorporates two fused Leishmania parasite proteins and a powerful adjuvant to stimulate an immune response against the parasite.

The Phase 1 clinical trial will enroll 36 adult volunteers in Washington State.  They will be randomly assigned to receive one of three versions of the vaccine, which differ in the amount of adjuvant included. The trial will evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of each version.

A second Phase 1 trial will take place in India, where IDRI is transferring its vaccine technology to the Gennova Biopharmaceuticals. Last month, Gennova opened a vaccine formulation center that will be producing vaccines for neglected diseases in Pune, India, where the company is based.

In India, VL is known as kala-azar, a Hindi word that means black fever, named after the fever that ravages affected individuals, whose skin becomes dark gray.

“Kala-azar is a significant health problem across northern India and neighboring countries,” said Dr.Sanjay Singh, CEO of Gennova.  “Bringing a vaccine to India will not only end deaths and disease, it will also help many of our poorest citizens to lead more productive lives and move out of poverty.”

Beginning later in 2012, the Indian biotherapeutics and vaccine manufacturer will produce the LEISH-F3 + GLA-SE vaccine.  It will be then tested in healthy Indian adults, in collaboration with the Banaras Hindu University in Varanasi, India.

“We are very pleased to be working with IDRI on this vaccine, which is critically important to the many people who suffer from this disease in India as well as to the millions of people who are infected around the world,” said Dr. Shyam Sundar, Professor of Medicine at the University’s Institute of Medical Sciences.

Subsequent clinical trials will involve larger numbers of people who are at high risk of developing VL during their daily lives, because they are frequently bitten by sand flies. Only such large trials, conducted in real-life situations of disease exposure, will determine the full effectiveness of the LEISH-F3 + GLA-SE vaccine.

“Vaccines can do what medicines can’t – prevent the disease from even occurring,” said Dr. N. K. Ganguly, a highly distinguished biotechnology professor and advisor in India, and former Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), New Delhi.  “Only with an effective vaccine can we expect to control leishmaniasis in South Asia.”

The Phase 1 clinical trials are being funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which also recently announced a global partnership with the World Health Organization and 13 pharmaceutical companies to control or eliminate 10 neglected tropical diseases, including leishmaniasis.

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