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In Darfur, a school house named 'Obama'

Posted: Wednesday, February 18, 2009 6:37 PM by Sam Go
Filed Under:

by Ann Curry, NBC News

CHAD/DARFUR BORDER -- We traveled to the Chad/Darfur border with New York Times columnist Nick Kristof and actor/activist George Clooney, two men you might not guess have much in common, but both are smart and funny -- and care deeply about Darfur.

Today in a refugee camp on the Chad side, we found in one refugee camp, a school house named for the President Obama.  


School house named after President Obama | Photo by: Ann Curry/NBC News

The students told us Obama made them believe anything was possible, that they could rise from the sands of this desert, where they don't even have shoes, and become anyone they wanted, maybe even a president. That these children, who are among humankind's most suffering living in one of the world's most hopeless places, could imagine such greatness... now that is the audacity of hope.


Taken from inside a refugee camp building, while listening to the Darfurian tribal shieks tell us they want Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir punished by the International Criminal Court. Outside, the children are listening.  The littlest Darfurians are full of joy. Most can't even remember any life but this, in a dusty refugee camp with not enough food to go around. To them, this is normal. | Photo: Ann Curry/NBC News


Watching them, George worries aloud that they might live the rest of their lives as refugees.

Even if the International Criminal Court issues an arrest warrant for Sudan's President Omar al Bashir for crimes against humanity in Darfur, he would likely only be arrested if he leaves his country.  And even if he is ousted, would it be safe for the refugees to return, given that many people in Sudan were to complicit in carrying out the atrocities? 

Nick, who has reported on this human tragedy more than any other American journalist has a hard time understanding why it has taken so long to help  these survivors.  The atrocities started six years ago.

The refugees have waited and waited and waited for a chance to finally go home and live in peace.

They want justice and peace, but mostly they want to just be back in the embrace of their old lives, the sorgum growing, the children playing, the thatched roofs sheltering their familes from the bright sun.

We go inside the Obama school house, and there, George asks the children to wave at the camera, and say hello to President Obama.  They joyfully comply for longer than we expected.

 


The Darfurian children have no idea Clooney is a movie star, all they know is he's fun and that he's trying to help them. | Photo: Ann Curry/NBC News


George Clooney is actually buried underneath the giggling children who are looking at the photos he has taken of them. | Photo: Ann Curry / NBC News



Afterwards George tells me he knows that was manipulative, but that Obama and the rest of the world's leaders are important to what happens next.

What will they do if for the first time, the ICC issues an arrest warrant for a sitting president? Morally, can the world allow these survivors to linger and die in refugee camps?

See Ann's reporting on Nightly News here. Watch TODAY and Nightly for more for her reporting from the region. Follow Ann's reporting on humanitarian issues on AnnCurry.msnbc.com. Click here to get her updates on Twitter.

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Ann thank you so much for such a great article on Darfur. You are great at writing, and it's wonderful to have you reporting on Darfur for all of us.

I will be following this closely.



Have a great evening,
-Cary

Cary Skelton 19, Roanoke, Virginia. (Sent Wednesday, February 18, 2009 6:59 PM)

http://fotki.yandex.ru/tags/%D0%BC%D0%B0%D0%B9/users/alenka-537/view/17060?how=week&page=0

dear guys and girls how i feel for their happiness

http://fotki.yandex.ru/tags/%D0%BC%D0%B0%D0%B9/users/lesya-denisova/view/142184?how=week&page=0

helen mescheryakova moscow russia (Sent Wednesday, February 18, 2009 9:34 PM)

Ann, George and Nick,
So many thanks for being there, and for bringing this story out.  Change takes diligence, and courage. You show both, and you plant the seeds of hope.  A New Sudan is possible, with the help of people like you.

Ballard Pritchett, Leadership Institute of New Sudan (LIONS)

Ballard Pritchett (Sent Wednesday, February 18, 2009 10:34 PM)

Almost all of us agree that justice should be carried out but how is where our differences lie.  Sudan is the largest country in Africa and its multi-tribal and multi-lingual and multi-cultural society...Its wallowing in grinding poverty, civil war over resources and power sharing, political changes and new found economic opportunities.  Presently, the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in the South is working well, an election is due to happen soon, Darfur reached a stalemate and negotiations and peace agreement talks are continuing and all IDPs have settled in camps that receive some level of assistance, UNAMID is deploying very fast.....On the other hand, you have ICC pursuing justice.  Should ICC goes ahead and indicts teh president of Sudan amind all these semi-progress, these might be disincentive for ongoing cooperation.  Who will live with such consequences?  I think the very Darfuri IDPs will bear the brunt of any halt of ongoing efforts...and indeed humanitarian workers

ALI A ALI (Sent Wednesday, February 18, 2009 11:16 PM)

Thank you Ann.   We should all know about this.  You are helping.

Dave in Boston (Sent Thursday, February 19, 2009 4:04 AM)

Thank you for keeping us informed about these international issues...and the suffering of other peoples....NBC is blessed to have the talent and dedication of reporters such as Ann Curry who expose suffering world wide...I once saw Ann referred to as a news reader...she is so...so...so...much more.Thank you NBC...........

Jim ...Warren, Ohio (Sent Thursday, February 19, 2009 7:05 PM)

Dear Ann,
Thanks for putting this up! I am doing a speech on darfur and this helped! I made it to state and regionals said that my introduction wasn't quite clear. This news broad cast and the stories helped me outt so much! I think the intro is now more clear and will help people understand about this crisis! Thanks so much!!

Maggie in Superior Wisconsin (Sent Thursday, February 19, 2009 8:27 PM)

Darfur is such a dark place; it simply breaks my heart; I cannot dwell on it much because the misery and atrocities against its people is too much to bear.  I am, however, encouraged to know there are bright spots in this dark part of the world.

I cannot help but soak up hopeful stories like yours, Ann, and I am so grateful that, even if the young children have no idea that George Clooney can bring enormous star power, he is willing to make this his cause and continue to advocate for them.

Lisa in Georgia is always asking Richard Engel to be safe; I think Ann has the more dangerous assignment! Stay safe, Ann, and thank you for your dedication in bringing us this continuing story.  Thank YOU to NBC for allowing Ann to bring us this coverage.

Stephanie-Umbro, Maine (Sent Thursday, February 19, 2009 9:51 PM)

Thanks for NBC News for allowing Ann Curry the resources to travel to Africa (Chad and Darfur)....And, also, for the excellent report about the school named after President Obama...

Dennis (Sent Thursday, February 19, 2009 10:59 PM)

Three years ago I watched your reports from Darfur.  Shortly thereafter I spoke to members of my church and organized a group in Redding.  It has been almost three years now and we've raised close to $30,000 for humanitarian relief, held many awareness events, and worked hard with our local congressman to increase his support for Darfur legislation.  God bless you for all that you do for the victims of this genocide.

Marv Steinberg, Redding, CA (Sent Friday, February 20, 2009 8:54 AM)

The conditions in Darfur are well described by Ann and her videographers. It is my prayer that peace will be restored to the South Sudanese people so that earnest and productive development might be fostered by our government and the world.  

Claudianna Todd, Omaha, NE (Sent Friday, February 20, 2009 9:38 AM)

As most networks focus solely on the economy, thank you for reminding America that the crisis in Darfur continues. We complain too often about the troubles at home that we forget how lucky we are to be able to complain about losing money and not about being raped or killed in a genocide. As a high school student who tries to be involved in advocacy and aid for Africa, I admire you all for going to the Chad-Sudan border to show the world what the refugees must endure. I hope you will continue to report on the situation in Darfur until the crisis is over. Thank you!  

Alex Pommier, Cupertino, California (Sent Friday, February 20, 2009 4:20 PM)

Anne, You are one of today's most compelling journalists. When I heard you were back in Dafur, I was so proud of you. As a teacher and a parent, (my youngest is a Marine in training and my oldest a journalism major at UCONN) I can not impress upon them the importance of human rights. We first heard of Dafur when we visited the city (DC) on an 8th grade trip. Of course, as you reported, things have not necessarily improved. My children believe they are "republican" supporters. Obama is still a "question" in their mind. Myself a Hillary supporter, hope all works out, and am thoroughly impressed with what I see so far. A gifted individual we have in charge, so it seems. But back to you and your effort... I am so proud of you, Anne. You, along with Richard Engle, are my favorite reporters. My future little Marine and I, along with the needy children all around the world that you represent, appreciate your effort.

Marline Willis, Sterling, CT (Sent Friday, February 20, 2009 7:07 PM)

These photos are quite good. Can you tell us about the camera and lens?

Mike Elek, Pittsburgh, Pa. (Sent Friday, February 20, 2009 11:10 PM)

Thank you for putting a spotlight on this conflict and the plight that now extends into its 6th year. It never ceases to amaze me the resiliency of these people despite the utter neglect that we have shown them. I pray that the upcoming decision by the ICC will not spark more violence. Thank you also to Nick...it was so good to meet you back home in Oregon in 07...keep up your solid work...you make us proud!

Robert Hadley, Portland, Oregon (Sent Saturday, February 21, 2009 12:42 AM)

My heart goes out to the many children who only see hunger, pain and suffering caused by greed, greed, greed. I realize more and more how I have taken my life blessings for granted. Sincere thanks,
Blessings and love to Ann, George, Nick & all others who shine the spotlight on this evil. Let's do all WE can to make the difference in a life of another. It is required of each of us.

Octavia, Albion, MI (Sent Saturday, February 21, 2009 10:56 AM)

Yes, Dafur is very dark corner loaded with atrocities; and so is Democratic Republic of Congo where 1.5 millions Congolese have perished and thousand others living in filthy tent cities under World Food Program.

The Chinese are the beneficiary of the killing fields and depopulation of poor Sudanese in Dafur because of the oil exploitation in that part of Sudan.

The killing and depopulation of the poor Congolese in the Goma area of Democratic Republic of Congo are being managed by the western corporations  under the cover of  proxies like Laurent Nkunda, Paul Kagame of Rwanda and Yoweri Kaguta Museveni of Uganda who are doing the killings and depopulation on their  for them. The butchering of Africans in DRC has gone on for a longer time than that of Dafur. Yet the International Criminal Court, the UN and the western world have failed to highlight this genocide. Could this disparity be due to scramble for African natural resources between China and the western corporation?
African leaders, if here are any, must take lead in protecting poor Africans without involving resources hungry mediators. It looks like the International Criminal Court is design to only prosecute those genocidal African leaders who are not favored by the western corporations.

The genocidal African leaders must start by explaining to their respective population why they have to kill, maime and depopulate their own kind so that corporations can harvest the resources in their territories! What exactly are they gaining out of it other being taken to the Haige after they have exhausted their usefulness?

akech (Sent Thursday, March 05, 2009 12:13 AM)

im an 11 year old from mn but i think about how the president could help them out in africia and i think he should visit one of the refugee sites since. i think its really cool how your trying to help them out. i wanna work at a charity place that helps feed the hungry,like feed the starving children or something like it.

Shannon Berthiaume, Shoreview, MN (Sent Sunday, March 15, 2009 8:53 PM)

Shame on you and George!  What about the suffering in your own country.  For example American children who are living in tents.  Lets take care of our own first.

Elaine Casper North Waterboro, Maine (Sent Tuesday, March 17, 2009 1:01 PM)



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