Why We Are Needed

 

As the result of the twenty-year war in the Sudan, hundreds of thousands of villagers from Southern Sudan were made homeless and members of many families were killed.  Most survivors fled to Kenya or to Egypt; some to Uganda.  In recent years thousands of Sudanese from Darfur have been displaced and killed.  Survivors fled to Chad and to refugee camps in Sudan itself.  Since shortly after the end of the Second World War the minority Karen and Chin people have had their villages destroyed by the Burmese army.  They gradually fled from the upper Irrawaddy River Valley into the jungles.  Thousands have crossed the border to spend many years in refugee camps in Thailand.

The Refugee Network helps new arrivals to register for food stamps, Social Security, school enrollment, medical registration, driving licenses, finding jobs, classes in hygiene,etc.  Bedding, household goods and furniture are supplied to new arrivals through their resettlement agencies and through the Refugee Network.  Tutoring programs help the children improve their school performances.  For middle school and high school students the tutoring classes have saved many from dropping out of public schools when they have insufficient English language skills to learn in their subject classes.