IN THE NEWS - Sudan Conflict

IN THE NEWS - Sudan Conflict
By Cynthia Kirk

Broadcast: Saturday, May 22, 2004

This is Steve Ember with In the News in VOA Special English.

Sudan has had conflict throughout its history. The country gained its independence from Britain in nineteen-fifty-six. The current war in Sudan began twenty one years ago. Black southerners rebelled against their treatment by the Arab government in the north. At that time the government ordered non-Muslims to honor Islamic law.

Sudan has about thirty-million people. Most in the north are Muslim. The south is mostly Christian¹ or animist. Rebels of the Sudan People's Liberation Army want greater self-rule for the south.

Two-million people have died in the war, mostly through hunger and disease. Four-million others have been displaced. Disputes over oil, ethnicity and differing cultural beliefs have added to the conflict.

 
Graphic² Image
The current peace talks began eight months ago in Kenya. A cease-fire is supposed to remain in effect during the talks. The government and the rebels have been attempting to settle final disputes. They have already signed agreements to divide state and religion, form a new army and share oil profits after the war ends.

But the agreements do not cover the conflict in the Darfur area of western Sudan. Violence has continued there for more than a year. The United Nations calls the situation in Darfur one of the worst humanitarian³ crises in the world. Many people have been killed. Many more risk starvation. And, more than one-hundred-thousand people have fled to Chad.

The people in Darfur are black Muslim farmers. They rebelled in February of last year. They said the government did not care enough about them. They demanded the same compromises offered to Christians⁴ in the south. Since then, armed Arab groups known as janjaweed have burned villages and towns in Darfur. They are also accused of widespread sexual attacks and murder.

The Sudanese government has faced criticism for not stopping the violence. The government in Khartoum has denied any involvement. It has offered to cooperate with the United States, the United Nations and international aid groups to help the displaced people.

Under pressure, Sudan invited a U-N human rights team and the head of the World Food Program to visit the area. And late this week Sudan said it suspended the need for travel permits for aid workers to visit Darfur.

Sudan still has other problems in the south. In recent days, fighting re-started in the Upper Nile area. The Sudan People's Liberation Army controls that area. The fighting has forced thousands of people from their homes.

And, on Friday, the World Health Organization reported ten cases of what it called an Ebola-like infection in southern Sudan. It said four people in Western Equatoria province had died from the virus.

In the News, in VOA Special English, was written by Cynthia Kirk. This is Steve Ember.

1 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

2 graphic   

adj.生动的，形象的，绘画的，文字的，图表的

参考例句：

• The book gave a graphic description of the war.这本书生动地描述了战争的情况。
• Distinguish important text items in lists with graphic icons.用图标来区分重要的文本项。

3 humanitarian   

n.人道主义者，博爱者，基督凡人论者

参考例句：

• She has many humanitarian interests and contributes a lot to them.她拥有很多慈善事业，并作了很大的贡献。
• The British government has now suspended humanitarian aid to the area.英国政府现已暂停对这一地区的人道主义援助。

4 Christians   

n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Christians of all denominations attended the conference. 基督教所有教派的人都出席了这次会议。
• His novel about Jesus caused a furore among Christians. 他关于耶稣的小说激起了基督教徒的公愤。