"A major shift of relief supplies organized by an international group of relief organizations, including the Primate's World Relief and Development Fund, is offering the Sudanese their only hope of escaping mass starvation. That grim yet hopeful assessment was made by the Rev. John Rye, of the world mission division, who returned last month [December 1988] from the southern Sudan where food production has been devastated by a civil war and by drought. 'The tragedy in the Sudan is beyond words and beyond description', he said. He spent four days in Khartoum meeting with Sudanese church leaders and refugees. With a $25,000 grant from the primate's fund and similar support from other agencies, the World Council of Churches is sponsoring 30 flights, bringing 300 tons of desperately needed food into Juba in the southern Sudan. Until recently, both the Sudanese governments and the rebel Sudan People's Liberation Army have prevented relief agencies from distributing food to the people".
1. Communicate to our partners in the Sudan (the Episcopal Church of the Sudan, the Sudan Council of Churches, and the New Sudan Council of Churches) our ongoing compassion and solidarity in their suffering;
2. Condemn Human Rights abuses by all parties to the conflict in Sudan, but particularly by the Government of Sudan, in view of overwhelming evidence of indiscriminate violence against civilians (particularly the aerial bombardment of civilians in southern and northeastern Sudan and in the Nuba Mountains), the denial of humanitarian assistance to civilian populations, incidents of chattel slavery, and the oppression of women.
3. Request the General Secretary to call upon the Canadian government and the United Nations to support actively efforts that will bring a just peace for all peoples of the Sudan.
Amendment
The mover and seconder agreed to include in item #1 the wording "including the Ethiopian Orthodox Church in the Sudan".
The amended resolution was then put and - CARRIED AS AMENDED. Act 40
Notes
Abstentions were noted from Chancellor David Wright, Captain Baxter Park, Captain Todd Meaker, Mr. Bryan Campbell and Canon Andrew Gates.
Item #1 above now reads:
1. Communicate to our partners in the Sudan (the Episcopal Church of the Sudan, the Sudan Council of Churches and the New Sudan Council of Churches, including the Ethiopian Orthodox Church in the Sudan), our ongoing compassion and solidarity in their suffering;