Farewell to Sudan Hero Rafe Bullick

The following is a copy of an October 23 2004 report from the Daily Record in Scotland:

FRIENDS and family yesterday gathered to say a last goodbye to a Scots charity worker killed by a landmine.

At the the same time a two-minute silence was held in the Sudan, where he died.

Rafe Bullick, 34, who worked for the Save the Children charity, died when his Land Rover was blown up by a landmine in North Darfur.

As his memorial service was held at Warriston Crematorium in Edinburgh, refugees and co-workers in the African country stopped to pay tribute.

Some of those he had helped made the emotional journey from Sudan to say goodbye.

Rafe's coffin was scattered with tiny white flowers and draped in a purple cloth sent from Sudan.

Dedicated

Addressing the 140 mourners, co-worker Jennifer Martin described Rafe as a strong and dedicated man who helped save the lives of hundreds of children.

She said: 'I remember watching him one day giving his last toffee to a little girl in a pink dress.

'He did all he could to make life better for these children.'Rafe knew a successful life wasn't about an accumulation of savings and pensions but about hugs and kisses.

'These children used to watch Rafe stride away as if their time with him was too short - as was ours'.

African music was played during the 25-minute service at the request of Rafe's family

His mother, Molly, was comforted during the service by husband Donald McAllester.

Rafe's father, Michael, died a few years ago.

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news
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Also, copy of October 15, 2004 post from here in Sudan Watch:

Save the Children U.K. employees Rafe Bullick, 34, a program manager from Scotland, and Nourredine Issa Tayeb, 41, a water engineer from Sudan, were killed last Sunday when their vehicle hit an anti-tank landmine in the Ummbaro area of Darfur. Another Sudanese, the driver, was seriously injured.

U.N. humanitarian coordinator Manuel Aranda Da Silva told reporters preliminary reports showed there was a strong possibility the mine had been freshly laid, which constituted a breach of international humanitarian law.

"The outcome of the preliminary inquiries also confirm that the road was travelled recently by other humanitarian agencies so indicate a strong possibility that this is new land mine laid down recently," he said, adding the mine was planted in a narrow place between two trees where every car would have to drive through.

“We extend our deepest sympathies to the friends and families of our two colleagues,” said CEO of Save the Children USA. “Their deaths are tragic reminders of the dangers that thousands of our workers face every day as they seek to bring real and lasting change to children in need around the world.”