Scottish Catholics’ chief to visit Darfur, South Sudan

Jan 14, 2006 (LONDON) — leader of Scotland’s Roman Catholics is to make a mercy dash to a war-torn African state, and southern Sudan.

Cardinal Keith O’Brien will travel to Darfur, an area of Sudan described by the UN as suffering “the greatest humanitarian disaster in the world”.

But despite the risks, the 67-year-old has refused to swap his official robes for a flak jacket during the 11-day visit.

The Archbishop of Edinburgh will visit Darfur and nearby Juba, Sudan’s southern capital, during the visit to see how money raised in Scotland is being spent on the ground.

Tens of thousands of people have been killed and two million displaced from their homes since early 2003 when violence escalated in the region already badly affected by civil war.

Arab militias backed by the Sudanese government were accused of attacking villages in a bid to crush Darfur rebels.

Last year a fragile peace agreement was struck and exiled residents are currently returning to towns and villages.

But the fighting has left many homeless, with too little food to go around, and no ready access to water.

Last year the Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund (SCIAF) embarked on a massive aid mission to help people in the region.

More than £650,000 was collected from supporters of the church, schools and parishes, including a lot of money from people in Edinburgh.

Cardinal O’Brien will be going out to see how that money is being spent.

“I fully appreciate we are venturing out there in difficult circumstances,” he said. “But we will rely on security on the ground in Darfur, on advice and protection from the aid workers who well know the risks and the area.

“I am not being foolhardy and there is no question of me wearing a flak jacket. I’ll be wearing white robes along with some cardinal red, to make it plain I’m there on a religious mission, meeting up with displaced persons in their camp.”

Cardinal O’Brien has been at the forefront of SCIAF’s fundraising efforts, and also had a prominent role in the Make Poverty History Campaign in Edinburgh.

He was invited to speak to the 225,000 demonstrators who packed the Meadows in June, and seven months later he is keen to see whether the political goodwill for Africa mustered by the campaign has had any lasting effects on Darfur.

Cardinal O’Brien said: “In the wake of the Make Poverty History Campaign it is important the people who led it are seen to be following it up.”

He will travel to Juba on Tuesday, before heading on to Darfur, and eventually returning to Scotland on January 28.

While over there he will see schools, medical centres, and crop farms all benefiting from the money sent over from Scotland.

SCIAF chief executive Paul Chitnis, who is set to join Cardinal O’Brien on the trip, said: “For many years attacks by army militia have left thousands of people homeless and depending on aid.

“This is not a local problem but an international crisis. The cardinal and I will be travelling to remote areas to meet people affected by the violence.”

He added: “Scotland became the focus of the world last summer, when the G8 leaders met in Gleneagles and discussed the plight of Africa.

“We hope this visit will remind all those who need reminding that the needs of people in Africa should be the highest priority in 2006.”

(The Scotsman)