Sudanese
- 2003
from the largest country in Africa
Darebin’s Australians: Immigrants to Citizens
SUDAN
The Sudanese are one of Darebins newest communities.
Sudan is Africa’s largest country with a large desert like
north
and a tropical equatorial south. The famous river Nile runs through
its heart. The Blue Nile starts in the Ethiopian Highlands while
the White Nile’s origins are from the mountainous tropical
south. The 2 rivers meet to become one at the capital city Khartoum.
Huge wetlands surround the junction.
SUDAN'S HISTORY
Sudan was called ‘Nubia’ by the ancient Egyptians from
1100 to 400 BC. By 600 AD Coptic Christians had founded 3 kingdoms
at Nobatia - Makurra and Alwah. More movement by the 14th century
AD with the Mameluke Turks controlling the region. With the Ottomans,
Egyptians and British all having interests in Sudan its history
and people are varied.
‘MELBOURNE’S SUDANESE STATUE’
One shared piece of British Colonial history between Australia and
Sudan is located between Melbourne’s Parliament & Treasury
buildings. The statue of ‘Gordon of Khartoum’ from the
1880s
shows 4 scenes from Sudans colonial past.
SUDAN - A BRITISH COLONY
The Capital Khartoum was established by the British in 1821.
Sudan gained its independance from Britain, and shortly after from
Nasser’s Egypt on the 1st of January 1956.
CIVILIAN GOVERNMENT & DICTATORSHIP
Sudan's last 50 years has been a mixture of democratic civilian
government and military dictatorship. Sudan has been in a state
of Civil War since 1983. Many people have been displaced. Before
Osman Juma and Hagir Eltaieb recall, “President Azhari with
popular support brought Sudan independance & self government
from the British in 1954 & Nasser’s Egypt in ‘56.
In the years after independance the Sudanese were a peaceful &
diverse people. We have been multicultural for centuries!”
Sudan has 52 languages and many different peoples. The BEJJA, JAALEEN,
NUBIANS, FUR, DINKA, NUER, BARI, NUBA, & SHILLUK to name a few.
OSMAN & HAGIR - SUDAN & SCHOOL DAYS - KANGAROOS
Osman & Hagir come from Sudan’s east and lived in the
city of Gedarif. Osman & Hagir were taught about Australia at
primary school. “We studied Australia in Grade 4 in our geography
class. The teacher took us on an ‘imaginary journey’.
Our teacher said ‘today we are going to Australia’.
We visited Melbourne and Sydney, the Yarra River and Captain Cook.
Kangaroos were famous in amongst the children! We did not know if
they were monsters or small creatures as we only had a picture in
the book. Our public schools were run using the British system of
education. During the 1960s in Sudan it was free and available to
all children in the cities and larger towns.”
IMPRISONED
With a degree in Geology, Osman worked with UNICEF bringing much
needed water to outlying villages as a hydro Geologist. Hagir worked
in a bank for 10 years & has a degree in economics & political
science. Osman had campaigned for a democratic, multicultural government
& because of this he was imprisoned and tortured for 3 years.
REFUGEES IN CAIRO, EGYPT - THE UNITED NATIONS
Osman, Hagir & their 3 children Zulfa, Rama and Fady left a
war torn Sudan as refugees in June 2001 fleeing to Cairo, Egypt.
“We could not work & the children could not go to school.
We couldn’t go home to Sudan & we couldn’t stay
in Cairo, yet we didn’t know if another country would welcome
us. It was 18 months of full tension & feeling very sad to miss
our families.” After 18 months in Cairo Osman and his family
were accepted into Australia under the United Nations High Commissioner
for Refugees program - UNHCR.
“Our thoughts remain strong for our country and families still
caught in the troubles in Sudan. We wish for our children &
ourselves to contribute to Australia & to achieve our full potential.
We wish for a settled and peaceful life.”
LIVING IN PRESTON
Hagir has established a Sudanese Women’s group in the North,
is helping newly arrived Sudanese and hopes to complete her Masters
in Ecomonics. Osman wants to go back to University to continue his
work as a geologist. He is also an artist who paints & draws.
All the family are learning English and catching Trains and Trams
to move around the city. Hagir recalls, “we were confused
when we arrived just before Christmas in 2002 as we spoke little
English. We received help from many Australians and now want to
help other refugees arriving here.”
STRONG ADVOCATES FOR HUMAN RITES
As strong advocates for refugees and human rights Osman & Hagir
devote much time in Australia to highlighting the plight of the
Sudanese people. We’re relieved not to live in fear. Osman
recites another story that’s a strange British Colonial link
between Sudan and Australia, “when I first saw Pentridge Prison
memories of my 3 years of torture came flooding back. The prison
in Khartoum was designed by the same architect as the old Pentridge
Prison in Coburg. They look exactly the same!”
WE COME FROM THE NUBA MOUNTAINS
NAGMELDIN - ‘LIFE IN THE NUBA MOUNTAINS’
Some of Preston & Reservoir’s Sudanese come from the central
Sudanese Nuba Mountains. Nagmeldin recalls, “before the war
life was good in the Nuba Mountains. There was good food, agriculture,
farming, wealth, education, farm animals and it was peaceful. The
Nuba Mountains are rich in resources like oil and tin. It is also
good farming country. At the end of each harvest there would be
a big celebration. Villages would come together with the host village
preparing all the food, dura-wheat wine and entertainment for their
guests. A place with a wealth of stories and traditions.
WAR IN 1989
War came to the Nuba Mountains in 1989. It has ravaged the people
and the landscape. I had to leave. Life was very bad. I left a difficult
and dangerous Sudan”.
REFUGEES IN CAIRO - EGYPT
Nagmeldin with Osman, Apalo and families now live in Preston and
Reservoir, arriving in 2003. Apalo recalls: “We came to Australia
via Cairo and Egypt. All have stayed from 3 to 5 years in Cairo
surviving as best we could. We all applied for assistance to find
a new home under the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees”.
SETTLING IN DAREBIN & LEARNING ENGLISH
Quick to adapt like many people before them, Osman’s and Apalo’s
families with Nagmeldin are enjoying the feeling of being safe.
Osman proudly recounts, “we are all learning English. I am
attending an English language course at PRACE
in Reservoir.”
DAREBIN ETHNIC COMMUNITIES COUNCIL RESOLUTION ON SUDAN
On Tuesday the 17th of August 2004, the Darebin Ethnic Communities
Council held a public forum in the Darebin Town Hall titled 'The
Crisis In Sudan'. Speakers included members of the Sudanese Community
from regions across Sudan, Age Journalist Pamela Bone, Amnesty International,
Red Cross and World Vision.
DARFUR HUMANITARIAN CRISIS
The forum was organised to raise awareness in the community about
the humanitarian diaster in Darfur where hundreds of thousands of
people have been displaced by violent conflict requiring an international
aid effort.
RESOLUTION PASSED BY THE PUBLIC FORUM
Over 100 people attended the meeting. The following resolution was
passed. Darebin Shire Hall, 16/08/04.
This meeting expresses its gratitude to Darebin Council for giving
the local Sudanese community an opportunity to inform our local
residents about the tradgedy unfolding in Darfur, Sudan.
Futher to this we ask the council to express it's solidarity with
the local Sudanese community by urging the Federal Government to
use all the resources at its disposal to increase Federal Aid, to
influence an international effort to protect displaced people in
the region of Darfur and in the long term to bring about a just
resolution to the conflict.
We ask the council to be pro-active by undertaking with 'DECC' and
other service agencies to help establish a local appeal for the
people in the Darfur Camp.
We request our Federal Member, Martin Ferguson to act as an advocate
on these issues with the Federal Government on behalf of his constituents.
Resolution moved and passed unanimously.
