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SALT LAKE CITY — When government troops attacked Nyandeng Aleu's small village in southern Sudan, the people quickly scattered into the forest, fleeing in terror. But not everyone could escape. Around 15 villagers were shot dead.
The troops also raped women and abducted children — some to brutalize into child soldiers. Later, other villagers died from their wounds, from starvation or from further government attacks.
That was 1983. Aleu was 16. When the villagers got the courage to return, Aleu discovered her father’s body among the dead. A brother and sister may have been killed or died after fleeing into the jungle.
Thursday afternoon Aleu was among about 30 other refugees — Somalis, Bhutanese, Iraqis and others — at the gates of Salt Lake City’s International Peace Gardens to kick off "Refugee Month" in Utah.
Organizers have planned some 30 activities in June to celebrate the courage and diversity of wars’ survivors.
"To many of us who work with them on a daily basis, they are the heroes," said Gerald Brown, state director of refugee services.
And organizers encourage other Utahns to "embrace the refugee community."
Missy Larsen helped found the Utah Refugee Coalition. "(I'm) pleased get involved and, more than anything, do just one thing for a refugee in June," she urged. A small start would be to attend what Larsen said is the month’s highlight: World Refugee Day festivities on June 18 at Granite High School.
For eight years, Aleu fled with fellow refugees from place to place, through the jungles of Ethiopia to Kenya. To fight off starvation they ate leaves from trees or wild fruit when they could find it. At times, they even had to drink their own urine.
Aleu gave birth to a son in the jungle. They had to cut sharp blades of bamboo grass to cut the umbilical cord.
- Donate to the Utah Refugee Coalition
- Become a volunteer or a mentor
- Help raise awareness
- Attend events during Refugee Awareness Month
She spent four years in Pashalla, a refugee camp within Sudan, until it, too, was attacked by northern Sudanese forces. Once again, Aleu fled, this time across the border to camps in Kenya.
Aleu endured 10 years of camp life in Kenya. She was just one of 16 million refugees worldwide, Brown told the small gathering. While the United States settles 80,000 refugees a year — 1,100 who come to Utah — that’s only one half of 1 percent, the refugee services director noted.
The rest spend years nearly permanently housed in often squalid conditions in the camps throughout the world, Brown said.
In 2004, Aleu got her visa and tickets to Utah, sponsored by the International Rescue Committee. Her journey began anew, adjusting to a different life, a different culture and different challenges.
She adapted better than many. Aleu graduated from the Horizonte Center’s English as a Second Language program in 2006. In May, she got her associate’s degree in social work from Salt Lake Community College, and she has plans for a bachelor’s degree.
Aleu's oldest son also graduated in May from the University of Utah and is preparing for medical school. Another son plans to attend college after high school graduation next year. Her household includes five children and a nephew.
Aleu wants to keep telling her story and to keep helping other refugees find their way along a similar path.
"I like to say it," she said. "I like people to know. It’s still going on. They’re still suffering." Addressing the crowd, Aleu added, "We are the voice of the women and children. ... We can stop the violence, not only in southern Sudan, but in the world."
Among nine Sudanese women who sang their native songs at the gathering, some had loved ones killed just last week. A government attack on the village of Abyei left around 1,000 dead, according to reports.
Among the singers were Nyandang Deng and Anok Mayan. Throughout one song, her face downcast, and appearing weary, Mayan repeatedly lifted her hands to her face, covering the sobs she could not restrain.
Her brother and two nephews were killed in the attack, and her sister’s fate is not known. Deng’s brother, cousin and two sisters were also killed. They need the United States’ help, Deng said.
"Many people died. We need your help," she said, "You are the good guys of everybody around the world."
Email:lbrubaker@desnews.com
