|
|
|
|
|
|
Sudan is currently ruled by the world’s most ruthless dictator, according to a recent article in Parade magazine. Thuch's homeland of Ayual, in the southern region of Sudan, was once described as a Garden of Eden, boasting fertile soils for growing crops and providing forage for livestock. Life was good near the headwaters of the Blue Nile…before 21 years of civil war. In the late 1980's, Sudan's government, controlled by Arab Muslims in the North, unleashed a relentless genocide offensive against its southern population of Christians. Ground and airborne militia forces were dispatched to destroy villages without mercy. Women and young girls were raped and taken as slaves. Orders were given to kill all males - even young children. Almost one half of the Ayual population died. Three quarters of the survivors remain in exile. Eden’s garden is defoliated.
Thousands of boys, ages 2-12, were able to escape this terror by fleeing from their villages without the barest of essentials, just ahead of the carnage. What began as a brief evacuation, became an epic journey of danger, starvation and thirst. Pursued by lions, hyenas, crocodiles and militia forces, the mortality rate was extreme. Meals if any, typically consisted of grass soup. The Lost Boys’ first refugee camp was in Ethiopia for 2 years. A change of government forced them to leave. They continued a walking journey to freedom, finally arriving in northern Kenya, where they became residents for 9 years. In the camp, food was always scarce. Sanitary standards were abysmal. But they received an education, including courses in English. Thuch was one of fortunate 2,000 young men selected to go to America. The chosen Lost Boys feel an obligation to help those left behind in the camps and in their villages of southern Sudan. Sudan's western region of Darfur is currently experiencing similar atrocities as those suffered by Thuch's home region. Additional information about The Lost Boys of Sudan: Book: They poured fire on us from the sky Deng, Deng, Ajak www.theypouredfire.com Documentary:Lost Boys Film Documentary: God Grew Tired of Us Website of another Lost Boy, an artist : Awer Bul
|
