Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Roma (Agenzia Fides) – “For 21 years the rebels of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) have been spreading violence, sacking, terror among the people, using children a preys of war ”: with these words Sr Rosemary Nyerumbe, Sudanese Sister of the Congregation of the Sacred Heart, directress of Saint Monica Centre in Gulu, Uganda, described the dramatic situation in northern Uganda and southern Sudan. “Our religious congregation was born because of this tragedy of poor people living in this land where civil war sows death, horror and suffering in every family. We were born to help these children, to help them recover from a terrible experience: taken hostage as young as 5-6 years and trained to be soldiers and servants for guerrilla leaders.”
The Community of S. Egidio has worked for years here in these lands supporting schools, centres of assistance, and all kinds of structures necessary for the rehabilitation of the poor victims. The work of reinserting the children in not easy for the children who suffer from deep psychological wounds, or for the family and the village people who think the children are “branded by evil” and therefore dangerous. The Community helps 35,000 children all over the world in what are called "schools of peace" . The role of religious organisations was underlined recently by Mrs Radhika Coomaraswamy, Radhika Coomaraswamy, under secretary general of the United Nations and Special Representative for Children and Armed conflict, who expressed deep gratitude for “this work of education, support and humanitarian aid. Faith gives them incredible strength. They have great influence and their voices are heard and heeded. I am happy that the Pope has spoken in favour of children and their protection. For its part the UN established, with resolution 1216, what we call a “list of shame”, which condemns any action which violates the fundamental rights of children: violence, conditions of soldiers, sexual abuse, abduction, everything which prevents them from being assisted with humanitarian aid and have centres of education.”.
The testimony of Grace Akallo, former girl soldier, expressed all the drama she experienced, violence, solitude, hunger, fear, rejection. “I have no need of notes, my experience is written on my skin. I was abducted by the rebels when I was little and with force, hunger and fear they made me into a child soldier. The only good fortune in my life has been that I was not forced to kill my parents, as some of my companions, and that I met the Sisters of the Sacred Heart, who helped me rediscover my dignity and now I am able to help those who have experienced the same suffering.” (M.T.) (Agenzia Fides 25/6/2009; righe 34, parole 494)
