Escape From The Sudan
BOB
MOHR reports on an amazing story of escape from the Sudan
by Abram Yel, Cristina Majok and their children, Akol Yel (5), Anei Yel
(3), & Yel Yel (11 months) :
Since Abram, Cristina, Akol, Anei, and Yel arrived in Tacoma, we have pieced together an amazing story of their escape from their homeland of Sudan. If these are the people the government in Khartoum is asking to leave, then we are the winners!
Both Abram and Cristina were born near the village of Kwajok, about 50 miles north of Waw in southern Sudan; Abram in 1980 and Cristina in 1982. Cristina’s family moved to Khartoum when she was very young and Abram’s followed in about 1987. Anthony, who is two years older than his brother Abram, became lost about this time and became one of the “Lost Boys of Sudan.” Abram and Cristina met as young adults at a Christian Church while Abram was attending the University of Khartoum.
After Abram graduated with a degree in Office Management and Information Systems, he and Cristina made the decision to visit relatives in southern Sudan. While traveling, they encountered the Sudanese army and Abram was told to join. He refused and spent the next 1½ years in prison. Cristina, now pregnant with Anei, and Akol were taken back to Khartoum. Cristina was “questioned” about her intentions and told to leave Sudan. Cristina and Akol now made the long journey to Cairo, Egypt where they lived with friends and relatives. Days after Cristina and Akol arrival, Anei was born. Sometime in 2002, Abram was released from prison and returned to Khartoum to look for his family. He learned that they were living in Cairo. By train, boat, and bus, Abram arrived in Cairo and was united with his family. It was then that Abram learned that his brother Anthony was alive in Tacoma. With Anthony’s help and The International Rescue Committee, Abram and Cristina applied for refugee status in America. During the 1½ years it took to approve refugee status, a third son, Yel was born in October 2003. Abram, Cristina, and their now three boys arrived in Tacoma on June 15, 2004 to start a new life.