This Is Guernsey

By Gemma Hockey

SENIOR VICE-DEAN the Rev. Andrew Sharp is calling for a shift in focus back to the crisis in Sudan and away from the ‘teddy bear’ incident. As British teacher Gillian Gibbons, 54, yesterday returned home after spending eight days in a Sudanese prison for letting her class name a teddy bear Muhammad, religious leaders urged the public to remain focused on the plight of the Sudanese people.

‘This issue has been blown out of proportion and there are others that need to be kept competently under the spotlight,’ said Mr Sharp.

‘We must still remain focused on the issues to tend to in Sudan.’

Originally given a 15-day sentence for insulting Islam, Mrs Gibbons, a mother of two from Liverpool, was pardoned by President Omar al-Bashir.

Coverage of her arrest has attracted national media interest for the last week.

Guernsey raised enough money to feed more than one million people in Sudan in 2004 when Christian Aid launched its Darfur appeal.

The Guernsey Press and Island FM joined forces for the Final Hour appeal and 14,200 islanders donated an hour’s pay, raising more than £170,000.

Conflict in the western region of Darfur has led to the death of tens of thousands of people in what has been described as one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.

Christian Aid south-west initiatives coordinator Susan Barry said as news broke about the teddy bear incident, many forgot the ‘huge conflict and disaster’ in Sudan.

‘Attention has been diverted away from the 1.9 million people living in makeshift camps and the 200,000 people who have died from violence, disease and starvation. That is what we should be focusing on when we talk about Sudan,’ said Miss Barry.

She said the charity had raised £4.6m. - including the £170,000 from Guernsey - but that was now running out.

‘We are now using what is left to fund basic needs like blankets, plastic sheeting and cooking utensils and long-term emergency relief work.

‘Now we need to encourage people to think about what is really important in Sudan while people are having a conversation about a teddy bear.

‘I think people have forgotten the political and huge humanitarian issues that still need to be addressed.’

* To donate funds to Christian Aid’s Darfur Appeal, visit www.christianaid.org.uk.