A Sudanese refugee who found sanctuary in the UK will be the guest speaker at a Holocaust Memorial Day event in Deal.

Raga Gibreel, 45, understands the suffering that comes from a contagious civil war that continues to destroy Sudan and its people.

But after years of studying at Reading University, she was determined to find a way of supporting the women and children still stranded in her home country.

She began to form strategies for developing grassroot education and in 2010 set up the charity Green Kordofan.

Its mission is to provide basic needs like food, health and shelter, while at the same time training and educating orphaned children in Sudan.

She has been invited by Deal Town Council to share more about her journey and ongoing work at a commemoration inside the town hall today (Monday).

She said: "My talk will be around identity-based violence which led to the death and displacement of thousands from Sudan.

'Thousands were killed and displaced because of their race or ethnicity, gender, sexuality, religion and political affiliation throughout the conflicts in Sudan' - Raga Gibreel

"Thousands were killed and displaced because of their race or ethnicity, gender, sexuality, religion and political affiliation throughout the conflicts in Sudan.

"I think it is safe to say, children, women, girls have suffered greatly from it.

"The survivors bear-the-scars of the spirals of violence. Truly not trying to take anything from the men who are mostly suffering in silence as they culturally brought up to look strong.

"The whole of the country is still going through spirals of violence and suffering because of the identity conflicts."

Holocaust Memorial Day is a time to remember the millions of people who have died in genocides around the world, and especially those who suffered at the hands of the Nazi’s in the Second World War.

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz and the 25th anniversary of the genocide in Bosnia.

The commemoration and talk will start at 11am, with a holocaust and genocide display available to view in the town hall from 10am.

A wreath laying service will follow at the Holocaust Memorial Stone in St George's Church Garden at 11.30am. All are welcome.

Elsewhere, Walmer Parish Churches is preparing to mark the day with staff and students at Dover Grammar School for Girls.

A special evening event will be held in St Saviour’s Church in The Strand in Walmer from 7pm.

There will be a talk by history teacher Carolyn Toland, presentations by students who have visited Auschwitz, a brief time of prayer and reflection, followed by refreshments.

The Rev Canon Seth Cooper, Rector of Walmer and Cornilo, said: “It promises to be a very special evening both remembering those who have died in such appalling circumstances and hearing the reflections of a younger generation who have visited the site of some of the worst atrocities."

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