In Nyala, the principal town in south Darfur, some youths have chosen to fight. But they have taken up arms against a very different opponent to that of other armed groups — they are fighting against HIV/AIDS.

In camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs), at university,

amongst their friends and relatives, and at social gatherings, a group of young people are telling others about HIV/AIDS in an effort to reduce the spread of the disease.

Many of the inhabitants have not seen any armed attacks with their own eyes, but with IDP camps on the outskirts of town, and with many of their relatives victims of the conflict, the fighting is all too apparent.

“My family has been affected,” reports Mohamed, a 26-year-old student at Nyala University. “My relatives in Labado fled to Nyala. They told us that people with guns came to their homes, set fire to houses and shops, and killed many people.”

“My aunt in Gereida was shot, the whole village looted by armed militias, and my father had all his cattle stolen,” states Amani, also 26.

“Last week in Otash camp, new arrivals from Buram area told me how they had been attacked by armed militias,” she continues. “And I brought the wounded from Mershing back to Nyala,” adds Hannan.

Like many other people in Nyala, Amani, Amira and Hannan all work for humanitarian organizations. Through their work they regularly meet victims of the conflict. “This war has destroyed so much; there are many victims,” laments Amira.

These young people want peace. “As a Sudanese, particularly a Darfurian, I do not want the conflict to continue. I hope that it will end quickly and that there will be a comprehensive peace,” declares Amani.

With or without peace, they know that there is something else which they cannot see with their eyes, but which is also a threat. “HIV/AIDS could destroy the community,” declares Rhama, 26.

Mohamed, Amani, Hannan, Rhama and Amira, along with others, all attended a six-day workshop and training session about HIV/AIDS and how to raise awareness and spread messages among others. The course was run by the Sudan Council of Churches (SCC), a member of ACT International and partner of ACT-Caritas.

“Because people do not have information about HIV/AIDS, they put themselves at risk,” adds Hannan.

“Before attending SCC’s course, we had heard about HIV/AIDS but we didn’t know what it was,” says Amani. “SCC gave us information about how HIV is transmitted, how to prevent transmission, and how to care for people who are infected. Then they gave training and materials to help us tell others.”