One Voice: Fatna’s Story
Widowed, Mother of 7
I was walking with my husband in the market very early in the morning.
First came the airplanes that dropped bombs. Then Arab tribesmen, riding horses and in the backs of pick-up trucks, rode into town shooting.
They killed my husband in front me.
Gunfire was coming from planes in the sky, and the Janjaweed chased my through the burning homes.
There was not time to bury my husband. There were 60 others killed. No time to bury anyone.
I walked 20 days with my seven children with no food, no water, nothing. We walked at night, stopping only to make a small fire to warm up from the harsh chill.
We hid from the militia during the day. Attacks from above and bullets from the surrounding area chased us across the border this camp, in Chad.
I am suffering. I am suffering here in this camp.
We only have one tent for us to share with two small beds. When it rains, the water comes in. When it is windy, no one can sleep. I had to cut part of the tent off to use for a blanket.
Without peace, I will not return to Darfur. I want to, desperately.
My children are my only hope. With education, they can return to Darfur and make a difference. We wait for peace so we can all go back.
Fatna’s story is part of One Voice: Testimonies of Darfurian Mothers.
Mother’s Day Actions
Mother’s Day is a day we honor the mother’s, especially our own mothers, for their love and devotion to their children, and in many cases to the community around them. For the past six years the mothers of Darfur have struggled to remain strong in the face of violence, towards them and their families. Many have survived and many others have died. Many have lost children, and many carried children on their backs across the desert with little to no food or water. Today, as the situation worsens, they face death by starvation and disease.
This Mother’s Day, take action to honor the mothers of Darfur, and keep consistent and public pressure on the administration:
1. Families: write an open Mother’s Day Card to Michelle Obama. When describing herself, she says, first and foremost, she is Malia and Sasha’s mom. The mothers of Darfur need our support, and Mother’s Day is the perfect day to honor their strength and advocate for their freedom to live their lives in peace.
Send a copy to the editor of your local paper and ask them to publish it, and one to the First Lady. If you want the card to go to a mother of Darfur, send the original to Stop Genocide Now. Here are a few examples for cards and open letters.
Addresses:
First Lady Michelle Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington DC 20500
Stop Genocide Now – The Mothers of Darfur
1732 Aviation Blvd #138
Redondo Beach, CA 90277
2. Mothers, sisters, daughters: In solidarity with Darfur survivors, read one or more entries from the collection One Voice: Testimonies of Darfurian Mothers at your place of worship or Mother’s Day celebration, with your family, or perform it on a street corner.
3. Everyone: On Mother’s Day participate in a global day of Fasting – water only or refugee rations.
Example Open Letters to Michelle Obama
These are example letters from mothers, daughters and sisters from around the country. Keep in personal. If you want to refer to specific things that the Obama’s can do for Darfur, please use ENOUGH Project’s recent President Obama and Sudan: Blueprint for Peace.
From a Mother, Grandmother, Sister and Daughter in Tuscon, Arizona:
Being a Mother is one of the most magical experiences. Somehow a great outpouring of love is created in your heart for this little helpless human being who you don’t even know. Somehow your child is beautiful and brings your pleasure and a most intense desire to protect and care for this little one.
The emotional pain of not being able to feed your child, get water for your child or protect your child from abuse and violence is devastating. Gut survival issues and in Darfur, many children do not survive, and some Mothers do not survive.
Mostly here in the United States we worry, but about lessor things like a crib, a stroller or later will my child have good playmates, or a good teacher. Quality of life issues, not survival issues. The difference between our living standards is great but the Mother feelings are the same. I send my blessing and my love to Mothers all over the world. I feel a kinship with all of you from Michelle Obama to the Mothers in Darfur refugee camps.
From a Mother of two beautiful boys living in Portland, Oregon:
Dear Michelle,
As a mom I’ve come to realize that children truly are our most precious resource to be protected. A loss of innocence is heartbreaking, the loss of opportunity for a fulfilling future is a distressing, and the loss of a child is a tragic. With heavy hearts
This Mother’s Day, please remember the women and children of Darfur.
From my own mother:
On the Front of Card: “Raise HOPE for Darfur Mothers”
Inside: “Demand AID and JUSTICE for Darfur Children”
and add a handwritten note about what they see as Aid and Justice–for example:
“Enough food and water now, but help them go home to peace, education, and a voice in their government.”
“Let them know we have not forgotten them”
“We will not give up until every mother knows their Darfuri child is safe”
Written and sent to the Oregonian by a Mother and Teacher:
Dear First Lady Obama,
I still cannot believe, when I see you and your husband, our President, on television, in the papers, on the radio, that the dream has come true. Indeed, there is so much work to be done, yet hope is back for me, as a mother, that my children will be raised in a world that will be more tolerant of diversity, more peaceful, more caring, more giving, and more nurturing to the people, near and far who need basic sustenance to survive. As a mother living the American dream, I am lucky. I have a fulfilling job as a teacher, a house, a car; I have time to give to my children, time to play with my children, time to love my children. I sometimes take for granted that I am also able to house my children, feed my children, tuck them soundly into bed at night, lock the door, and sleep soundly myself knowing my children are full, safe, and happy.
I have a friend who works for Stop Genocide Now. I am sure you are aware of the political and humanitarian crisis
that has plagued this part of the world. She has told me of her visits to the refugee camps in Chad. I am amazed and awed by her personal efforts to do SOMETHING. Her stories of the people, the despair, and the struggles have opened my eyes to a world so beyond my reality that it is almost too difficult for me to even imagine. Her last report, however, was one that I can’t shake; I can’t imagine having seen it first hand. She spoke of the mothers. The mothers who were holding their children, babies who had become more emaciated since her last visit. I think that as Americans viewing this situation from afar, we tend to think of the crisis in terms of a people, a country, and a unit. Maybe we have to in order to cope with the great injustices that exit in this world. But now, as a new mother of two, I look at the injustices differently, from a mother’s eyes. These countries, this unit, these people, are also mothers. Mothers who are fighting an uphill battle to keep their children alive each day in the face of unspeakable violence, unspeakable terror, unspeakable loss and poverty. No one can truly understand the love a mother has for her children, until you are a mother yourself. Michelle, you understand. You have the power to make a difference.
On this Mothers’ Day, as a mother, and as the First Lady, please bring the message to the powers that be to help these mothers protect their children, keep them safe, keep them warm, keep them fed, keep them alive. On this Mothers’ Day, help mothers across the globe to fulfill their innate mission, to complete their hearts, to nourish their children. On this Mothers’ Day, give the gift of your voice, your action to Mothers’ across the world. Demand AIDE and JUSTICE for Darfur Children. Please do not give up until every mother knows their Darfuri child is safe.
Darfur Fast for Life: Excerpts
Below are a few excerpts from participants of Darfur Fast for Life. Please consider joining the hundreds of fasters around the world this Mother’s Day, May 10th to honor the survivors of Darfur.
I awakened from a light sleep feeling somewhat faint but I drank water and am better now.
People have asked how my children feel about my fasting for such a long time. Initially they were worried and opposed to it but I have been successful in assuring them I will end the fast if anything goes wrong. They phone me every day and they support me. One of my sons, Fletcher lives next door with his little daughter and wife Gillian who is one of my closest friends. They are here for me.
My 17-year-old son Isaiah is at a nearby boarding school. This is part of an email from his teacher and advisor.
” A couple of days ago, Isaiah announced (in a very mature and professional manner) that he was going to join you for one day on a hunger strike to bring attention to Darfur. As promised, he went for 24 hours without eating, and he did it very stoically. “
I am a very proud mother.
Stephan and Alysha from Oregon:
Couragous, Strong, Empathy, the adjectives are ongoing……There is no way in which I will ever truly understand, but in saying this I have a glimpse, a connection – howevver small. I am sick and I am hungry but I have a home, freedoms and an end…….I watch my husbands moods level and spike and it is continuous, he is hungry and he wonders how; it hurts my heart…..and yet this is not my child. I watch him -my son- eat, run, play and learn and wonder how the mothers in Darfur sustain a strength I could never know, watching their own children suffer. I am constantly asked why, who, what, where and I wonder how they answer the same questions when asked. My beautiful son “Mama we have to do something”, how does a six year old understand this and our leaders do not? I watch the videos, and all I see is hope, fearlessness and again, again strength amazing strength. I feel a connection to this community, the other fasters help to give me strength and courage, when right now I am sick and want to stop. The refugee’s give me tremendous reason, these beautiful people and their ability to give, smile and see hope. I am commited, connected and will not accept inaction, that is not a possibility. The questions that are ongoing in my head the faces that I see when I am hungry, they give the strength to continue….
Lisa Goldner from San Antonio, TX:
In several ways, I found my “water only” fast was easier to face than the “refugee rations” days. Initially, the rations were a novelty in the challenge of finding alternative means of preparing them (grind wheat into flour for bread or boil like rice), but all results were bland. I’m not feeling too hungry this morning knowing I must, again, face the preparation of the boring grains and dried split peas for a mid-day meal. My daughter and I plan to use a solar cooker to prepare a meal, but today it’s too overcast. We can cook in comfort with a gas range, conventional oven and microwave — no dangerous, exhausting trek through the desert for firewood. Our clean water is easily accessible, we don’t have to stand in line for hours at a pump for a limited supply which must be hauled long distances in jerry cans. As we say a blessing before we eat, we will be praying for those who are sharing similar rations in conditions we can’t adequately duplicate and living with fear of the aid supplies running out.
Leslie Thomas:
Our family has decided to fast together this week in solidarity with people who have no choice. Our son, who is three years old, is going to participate by giving up those “extra things” that he loves so much. When he saw his parents prepare dinner for him but not eat ourselves he asked if we could give our food to the Darfuris instead.
I told him that a lot of people are trying to do just that.
