1000 Students to Save Darfur
Grassroots movement to get our school aged children, high school students, college students (no matter what the age) and their parents aware of what is happening and let them make a difference by spreading the word!
Darfur
A young Sudanese girl, one of 15,000 in the Touloum camp in eastern Chad that ahve escaped from Darfur. - Ryan Spencer Reed
Children in a refugee camp - Mia Farrow
Displaced child - David Johnson
A village burning after government aerial bombardments - Brian Steidle
Masses of displaced people looking to find shelter - Brain Steidle
Refugee women rush to finish chores as a storm approaches the Kounoungo Camp in eastern Chad - Ryan Spencer Reed
One of the youngest members of the Justice Equality Movement (JEM) rebels patrols a hill over-looking the border between Chad and Sudan - Ryan Spencer Reed
School children in a village near Lui, South Sudan - Ryan Spencer Reed
Last Update: Jul. 7, 2009
Since 2003, the most notorious genocide of the twenty-first century has devastated millions of non-combatant civilians in Darfur. Sudan continues to send its troops and Janjaweed proxy militias to systematically destroy the livelihoods of Darfurians by bombing and burning villages, looting economic resources, and murdering, raping, and torturing non-combatant civilians. Rebels in Darfur are also complicit in the recruitment of child soldiers and the commission of other acts of violence against civilians.
The scale of ongoing violence caused us to include Darfur as an Area of Concern starting in 2008 and we have engaged in political advocacy and civilian protection projects to lessen suffering in the region.
Most international agencies state that more than 200,000 civilians have died due to a combination of violence, malnutrition and disease. Over 2.7 million people have been displaced within Sudan, with an additional 250,000 crossing the border into Chad. GI-NET's compilation of UN and other reports from Darfur lead to three strong conclusions:
1. Direct violence is still occurring, with over 1,200 reported fatalities between Jan. and Sep. 2008.
2. The Sudanese government and Janjaweed militia are responsible for 79% of civilian deaths and 88% of the people they kill are civilians. Coordinated aerial and ground attacks continued in 2008.
3. Civilians account for between 65 and 75% of all fatalities. 70% of civilians die in what appear to be one-sided attacks.
Violence in Darfur also targets aid workers and peacekeepers, limiting the ability of the international community to conduct humanitarian operations. The Government of Sudan itself has also been an obstacle to deploying peacekeepers and has expelled or closed 16 of the largest aid organizations operating in Darfur.
As 2009 begins, fighting continues between the government and rebel groups, resulting in the continued victimization of civilians living in the region.
The recently issued ICC arrest warrant for President al-Bashir has added an additional layer of complexity to an already complicated conflict.
Background on Darfur
A History of Marginalization
Prior to 1917, Darfur was an independent sultanate and an affluent trade center with economic ties to the Mediterranean basin. The region, about the size of Spain, hosts multiple ethnic and tribal groups who have coexisted for hundreds of years. Each of these groups copes with the challenges of desert life through either a primarily pastoral or agricultural lifestyle.
Darfur was integrated into Anglo-Egyptian Sudan in 1917, shifting political power to Khartoum. Since then, Darfur has been marginalized and often ignored in the national political debate. The region receives paltry economic and development assistance and lacks large-scale infrastructure. This underdevelopment, combined with increasing desertification in the region, has left agriculturalists and pastoralists with limited economic opportunities, competing with each other for land and water in an increasingly fragile and hostile environment.
Stepping Stones to Conflict
As competition for economic resources began to polarize different ethnic groups, nomads, militias and arms from Chad and Libya began to stream in to the region to boost the support and power of Darfurian Arab leaders. Traditional reconciliation measures were no longer able to settle disputes over crops and grazing land, leading to increasing militarization in the region. The complexities of desertification, famines, and the civil war raging between North and South Sudan contributed to a rise in regional tensions during the 1980s.
As the civil war between the North and the South peaked in the 1990's, the government ignored rising violence in Darfur. While the Comprehensive Peace Agreement ended the North-South War in 2003 and granted additional political power to South Sudan, it failed to account for the effects of the war on Darfur. Additionally, Darfur remained underdeveloped and marginalized at the federal level. This neglect, combined with allegations that the government was arming Arab tribesmen to raid non-Arab villages, was cited as the justification for a February 2003 rebel attack on a Sudanese Air Force Base at El Fasher, North Darfur.
Dynamics of the Ongoing Genocide
In response to the rebel movements, the government launched a counter-insurgency campaign, escalating into a scorched earth policy. One of the campaign's central strategies was the hiring, training and arming of local militias, including historic rivals of the rebellious groups, who primarily belong to the Fur, Zaghawa, or Massalit ethnic groups.
These militias came to be known as the Janjaweed, loosely translated as the "devil on horseback." Janjaweed raiders engage in mass terror of villages, murdering and displacing non-combatants, looting and burning food stocks, and enslaving and raping women and children. This land campaign is accompanied by Sudanese Air Force bombardment of rebel villages, providing air support for mounted Janjaweed attacks on civilians.
This conflict is often characterized as a clash between Arab and non-Arab ethnicities residing in Darfur; however, the distinctions between perpetrators and victims are oversimplified through this illustration. The conflict is rooted in the manipulation of latent and overt ethnic tensions by both the Sudanese government and rebel movements in order to polarize the residents of Darfur. These tensions contribute to a web of shifting alliances between the government in Khartoum, local tribes and rebel groups.
The Sudanese government appears to be using the chaos to enforce dominance over rebellious groups in order to increase federal control over Darfur. Due to rising factionalism among rebel groups, any tangible resolution to this conflict is delayed, despite numerous peace talks.
Failed Peace Processes
Repeated negotiations have been largely unsuccessful. The most successful talks so far took place in Abuja, Nigeria in 2005-2006, resulting in the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA). Present at these negotiations were the Sudanese government and three main rebel groups: the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), Abdel Wahid Mohamed al-Nur's faction of the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) and Minni Minawi's faction of the SLM (SLM-MM).
As negotiations stalled, Abdel Wahid and the JEM left the talks, leading to Minni Minawi's recognition as the principal negotiator. Despite the negotiation of the DPA, many rebels have yet to ratify it, keeping most of its key provisions from being implemented.
Since Abuja, the rebel groups have splintered, complicating the political situation by making it difficult to agree on a common negotiating position with the government of Sudan.
In October 2007, UN and AU mediators convened a peace conference in Sirte, Libya, including the government, rebels, regional leaders and Darfurian civil society groups. Unfortunately, a number of rebels, including Abdel Wahid Mohammed al-Nur boycotted the talks, delegitimizing the position of the attending rebels. The boycott, combined with the lack of a common rebel platform led to the talks to be largely unsuccessful.
In early 2009, a new round of peace talks took place in Doha, Qatar, resulting in a short-term agreement between JEM and the government.
Current Situation
Direct, violent clashes between the government and rebel groups have led to additional atrocities against civilians. The government continues a campaign of aerial bombardments of villages, attacks against humanitarian workers and international peacekeepers as well as the violation of international humanitarian law through attacks on displaced persons camps.
In January 2008, the Sudanese armed forces killed 115 civilians and displaced tens of thousands from the Jebel Moon area. A recent rise in attacks by JEM rebels near the town of Muhajiriya has displaced thousands more.
Given the fragile situation of the more than 2.7 million displaced people in Darfur, protection of civilians continues to be a priority. The situation is exacerbated by the looming cuts in aid rations due to increasing insecurity and the uncertain delivery of aid due to humanitarian expulsions.
Since 2008, the hybrid UN-AU mission in Darfur (UNAMID) has operated in Darfur and is authorized to use force to protect civilians. Despite this robust mandate, the force is still not at full strength and lacks the necessary equipment to carry out its mission. In order to effectively protect civilians and assist in the creation of a peaceful and stable Darfur, UNAMID needs to be fully staffed, equipped and internationally supported.
The ongoing violence in Darfur caused the ICC to step up its campaign to arrest and try former Sudanese State Minister of the Interior Ahmed Haroun, Janjaweed leader Ali Kushayb and Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir for crimes against humanity and war crimes. Sudan continues its refusal to cooperate, calling the ICC indictments political blackmail.
While Sudan attempts to gain international support for a suspension of ICC proceedings against President Bashir, it continues its offensive against rebel groups and civilians in Darfur. Bombings and raids by Janjaweed militias continue the violence that has characterized the Darfur conflict since its beginning. There also continues to be an uncounted number of indirect deaths due to the ongoing violence.
Who are the parties to the conflict?
The Sudanese Government
Sudanese Security Forces. The Sudanese government is waging a counterinsurgency campaign against Darfurian rebels, conducting indiscriminate aerial bombardments of villages and allowing their soldiers to operate under very loose rules of engagement, enabling massacres of regime opponents.
Janjaweed Militias. Translated as "devils on horseback," the Janjaweed are supported by the government of Sudan and conduct vicious attacks largely against Darfuri civilians. The Janjaweed are employed by the government, who grants them arms, salaries and even healthcare.
Armed Opposition Groups
Sudanese Liberation Army (Minni Minawi Faction). Especially after the signing of the Darfur Peace Agreement, Minni Minawi (now Special Assistant to the President of Sudan), and his troops have been known to commit widespread, indiscriminate mass atrocities against civilians.
Sudanese Liberation Movement/Army (Abdel Wahid al-Nur Faction). Abdel Wahid Mohammed al-Nur's faction of the Sudanese Liberation Movement/Army has the most support from the Fur, the majority ethnic group in Darfur. Abdel Wahid is a major voice at peace negotiations, but has demanded the full deployment of UNAMID as a prerequisite for his participation, slowing the peace process.
Justice and Equality Movement (JEM). The JEM are composed primarily of Zaghawa Darfurians. Fighting to overthrow the Khartoum regime, the JEM has increased their attacks against the Sudanese government in the last few months. They have also attacked foreign oil fields in Sudan, abducting foreign workers and causing oil companies to threaten the suspension of Sudanese operations. Led by Khalil Ibrahim, JEM is the most ideological rebel group.
Other Darfurian Rebel Groups. There are at least 20 other factions and coalitions comprising the rebel movement in Darfur. They struggle to find unity and a common negotiating position to bring up against the government of Sudan, limiting progress towards peace.
Government of Chad. Chadian government forces periodically bombard villages along the country's border with Darfur.
For more information on the different groups, see the following reports by the International Crisis Group: "Darfur's New Security Reality" and "Darfur: Revitalizing the Peace Process"
STORIES FROM THE CONFLICT
"Planes and vehicles and horses and camels came. They bombed our neighbors and one part of the bomb fell on our house. The bomb killed 10 people, four women and six children. Our house caught fire and burned to the ground. A piece of the bomb fell on my leg. People came to rescue us that night. When I came to the hospital, the doctors decided to amputate."
- Aisha, a survivor of the February 2008 attack on Silea.
Human Rights Watch "They Shot at Us as We Fled.", May 2008
Videos about Darfur
Featured Video: On Our Watch
Three years of fighting in Darfur have destroyed hundreds of villages, displaced 2.2 million and led to more than 400,000 deaths. Refugees International tells some of their stories.
A young Sudanese girl, one of 15,000 in the Touloum camp in eastern Chad that ahve escaped from Darfur. - Ryan Spencer Reed
Children in a refugee camp - Mia Farrow
Displaced child - David Johnson
A village burning after government aerial bombardments - Brian Steidle
Masses of displaced people looking to find shelter - Brain Steidle
Refugee women rush to finish chores as a storm approaches the Kounoungo Camp in eastern Chad - Ryan Spencer Reed
One of the youngest members of the Justice Equality Movement (JEM) rebels patrols a hill over-looking the border between Chad and Sudan - Ryan Spencer Reed
School children in a village near Lui, South Sudan - Ryan Spencer Reed
Last Update: Jul. 7, 2009
Since 2003, the most notorious genocide of the twenty-first century has devastated millions of non-combatant civilians in Darfur. Sudan continues to send its troops and Janjaweed proxy militias to systematically destroy the livelihoods of Darfurians by bombing and burning villages, looting economic resources, and murdering, raping, and torturing non-combatant civilians. Rebels in Darfur are also complicit in the recruitment of child soldiers and the commission of other acts of violence against civilians.
The scale of ongoing violence caused us to include Darfur as an Area of Concern starting in 2008 and we have engaged in political advocacy and civilian protection projects to lessen suffering in the region.
Most international agencies state that more than 200,000 civilians have died due to a combination of violence, malnutrition and disease. Over 2.7 million people have been displaced within Sudan, with an additional 250,000 crossing the border into Chad. GI-NET's compilation of UN and other reports from Darfur lead to three strong conclusions:
1. Direct violence is still occurring, with over 1,200 reported fatalities between Jan. and Sep. 2008.
2. The Sudanese government and Janjaweed militia are responsible for 79% of civilian deaths and 88% of the people they kill are civilians. Coordinated aerial and ground attacks continued in 2008.
3. Civilians account for between 65 and 75% of all fatalities. 70% of civilians die in what appear to be one-sided attacks.
Violence in Darfur also targets aid workers and peacekeepers, limiting the ability of the international community to conduct humanitarian operations. The Government of Sudan itself has also been an obstacle to deploying peacekeepers and has expelled or closed 16 of the largest aid organizations operating in Darfur.
As 2009 begins, fighting continues between the government and rebel groups, resulting in the continued victimization of civilians living in the region.
The recently issued ICC arrest warrant for President al-Bashir has added an additional layer of complexity to an already complicated conflict.
Background on Darfur
A History of Marginalization
Prior to 1917, Darfur was an independent sultanate and an affluent trade center with economic ties to the Mediterranean basin. The region, about the size of Spain, hosts multiple ethnic and tribal groups who have coexisted for hundreds of years. Each of these groups copes with the challenges of desert life through either a primarily pastoral or agricultural lifestyle.
Darfur was integrated into Anglo-Egyptian Sudan in 1917, shifting political power to Khartoum. Since then, Darfur has been marginalized and often ignored in the national political debate. The region receives paltry economic and development assistance and lacks large-scale infrastructure. This underdevelopment, combined with increasing desertification in the region, has left agriculturalists and pastoralists with limited economic opportunities, competing with each other for land and water in an increasingly fragile and hostile environment.
Stepping Stones to Conflict
As competition for economic resources began to polarize different ethnic groups, nomads, militias and arms from Chad and Libya began to stream in to the region to boost the support and power of Darfurian Arab leaders. Traditional reconciliation measures were no longer able to settle disputes over crops and grazing land, leading to increasing militarization in the region. The complexities of desertification, famines, and the civil war raging between North and South Sudan contributed to a rise in regional tensions during the 1980s.
As the civil war between the North and the South peaked in the 1990's, the government ignored rising violence in Darfur. While the Comprehensive Peace Agreement ended the North-South War in 2003 and granted additional political power to South Sudan, it failed to account for the effects of the war on Darfur. Additionally, Darfur remained underdeveloped and marginalized at the federal level. This neglect, combined with allegations that the government was arming Arab tribesmen to raid non-Arab villages, was cited as the justification for a February 2003 rebel attack on a Sudanese Air Force Base at El Fasher, North Darfur.
Dynamics of the Ongoing Genocide
In response to the rebel movements, the government launched a counter-insurgency campaign, escalating into a scorched earth policy. One of the campaign's central strategies was the hiring, training and arming of local militias, including historic rivals of the rebellious groups, who primarily belong to the Fur, Zaghawa, or Massalit ethnic groups.
These militias came to be known as the Janjaweed, loosely translated as the "devil on horseback." Janjaweed raiders engage in mass terror of villages, murdering and displacing non-combatants, looting and burning food stocks, and enslaving and raping women and children. This land campaign is accompanied by Sudanese Air Force bombardment of rebel villages, providing air support for mounted Janjaweed attacks on civilians.
This conflict is often characterized as a clash between Arab and non-Arab ethnicities residing in Darfur; however, the distinctions between perpetrators and victims are oversimplified through this illustration. The conflict is rooted in the manipulation of latent and overt ethnic tensions by both the Sudanese government and rebel movements in order to polarize the residents of Darfur. These tensions contribute to a web of shifting alliances between the government in Khartoum, local tribes and rebel groups.
The Sudanese government appears to be using the chaos to enforce dominance over rebellious groups in order to increase federal control over Darfur. Due to rising factionalism among rebel groups, any tangible resolution to this conflict is delayed, despite numerous peace talks.
Failed Peace Processes
Repeated negotiations have been largely unsuccessful. The most successful talks so far took place in Abuja, Nigeria in 2005-2006, resulting in the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA). Present at these negotiations were the Sudanese government and three main rebel groups: the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), Abdel Wahid Mohamed al-Nur's faction of the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) and Minni Minawi's faction of the SLM (SLM-MM).
As negotiations stalled, Abdel Wahid and the JEM left the talks, leading to Minni Minawi's recognition as the principal negotiator. Despite the negotiation of the DPA, many rebels have yet to ratify it, keeping most of its key provisions from being implemented.
Since Abuja, the rebel groups have splintered, complicating the political situation by making it difficult to agree on a common negotiating position with the government of Sudan.
In October 2007, UN and AU mediators convened a peace conference in Sirte, Libya, including the government, rebels, regional leaders and Darfurian civil society groups. Unfortunately, a number of rebels, including Abdel Wahid Mohammed al-Nur boycotted the talks, delegitimizing the position of the attending rebels. The boycott, combined with the lack of a common rebel platform led to the talks to be largely unsuccessful.
In early 2009, a new round of peace talks took place in Doha, Qatar, resulting in a short-term agreement between JEM and the government.
Current Situation
Direct, violent clashes between the government and rebel groups have led to additional atrocities against civilians. The government continues a campaign of aerial bombardments of villages, attacks against humanitarian workers and international peacekeepers as well as the violation of international humanitarian law through attacks on displaced persons camps.
In January 2008, the Sudanese armed forces killed 115 civilians and displaced tens of thousands from the Jebel Moon area. A recent rise in attacks by JEM rebels near the town of Muhajiriya has displaced thousands more.
Given the fragile situation of the more than 2.7 million displaced people in Darfur, protection of civilians continues to be a priority. The situation is exacerbated by the looming cuts in aid rations due to increasing insecurity and the uncertain delivery of aid due to humanitarian expulsions.
Since 2008, the hybrid UN-AU mission in Darfur (UNAMID) has operated in Darfur and is authorized to use force to protect civilians. Despite this robust mandate, the force is still not at full strength and lacks the necessary equipment to carry out its mission. In order to effectively protect civilians and assist in the creation of a peaceful and stable Darfur, UNAMID needs to be fully staffed, equipped and internationally supported.
The ongoing violence in Darfur caused the ICC to step up its campaign to arrest and try former Sudanese State Minister of the Interior Ahmed Haroun, Janjaweed leader Ali Kushayb and Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir for crimes against humanity and war crimes. Sudan continues its refusal to cooperate, calling the ICC indictments political blackmail.
While Sudan attempts to gain international support for a suspension of ICC proceedings against President Bashir, it continues its offensive against rebel groups and civilians in Darfur. Bombings and raids by Janjaweed militias continue the violence that has characterized the Darfur conflict since its beginning. There also continues to be an uncounted number of indirect deaths due to the ongoing violence.
Who are the parties to the conflict?
The Sudanese Government
Sudanese Security Forces. The Sudanese government is waging a counterinsurgency campaign against Darfurian rebels, conducting indiscriminate aerial bombardments of villages and allowing their soldiers to operate under very loose rules of engagement, enabling massacres of regime opponents.
Janjaweed Militias. Translated as "devils on horseback," the Janjaweed are supported by the government of Sudan and conduct vicious attacks largely against Darfuri civilians. The Janjaweed are employed by the government, who grants them arms, salaries and even healthcare.
Armed Opposition Groups
Sudanese Liberation Army (Minni Minawi Faction). Especially after the signing of the Darfur Peace Agreement, Minni Minawi (now Special Assistant to the President of Sudan), and his troops have been known to commit widespread, indiscriminate mass atrocities against civilians.
Sudanese Liberation Movement/Army (Abdel Wahid al-Nur Faction). Abdel Wahid Mohammed al-Nur's faction of the Sudanese Liberation Movement/Army has the most support from the Fur, the majority ethnic group in Darfur. Abdel Wahid is a major voice at peace negotiations, but has demanded the full deployment of UNAMID as a prerequisite for his participation, slowing the peace process.
Justice and Equality Movement (JEM). The JEM are composed primarily of Zaghawa Darfurians. Fighting to overthrow the Khartoum regime, the JEM has increased their attacks against the Sudanese government in the last few months. They have also attacked foreign oil fields in Sudan, abducting foreign workers and causing oil companies to threaten the suspension of Sudanese operations. Led by Khalil Ibrahim, JEM is the most ideological rebel group.
Other Darfurian Rebel Groups. There are at least 20 other factions and coalitions comprising the rebel movement in Darfur. They struggle to find unity and a common negotiating position to bring up against the government of Sudan, limiting progress towards peace.
Government of Chad. Chadian government forces periodically bombard villages along the country's border with Darfur.
For more information on the different groups, see the following reports by the International Crisis Group: "Darfur's New Security Reality" and "Darfur: Revitalizing the Peace Process"
STORIES FROM THE CONFLICT
"Planes and vehicles and horses and camels came. They bombed our neighbors and one part of the bomb fell on our house. The bomb killed 10 people, four women and six children. Our house caught fire and burned to the ground. A piece of the bomb fell on my leg. People came to rescue us that night. When I came to the hospital, the doctors decided to amputate."
- Aisha, a survivor of the February 2008 attack on Silea.
Human Rights Watch "They Shot at Us as We Fled.", May 2008
Videos about Darfur
Featured Video: On Our Watch
Three years of fighting in Darfur have destroyed hundreds of villages, displaced 2.2 million and led to more than 400,000 deaths. Refugees International tells some of their stories.
Report: Sudanese refugees face rape daily in Chad
Comments
Sep 29, 2009 8:01 PM (4 days ago) By TOM MALITI, AP
SEE HOW THIS STORY DEVELOPED EMAIL STORYPRINT STORY
Related Topics: NAIROBI, Kenya
NAIROBI, Kenya (Map, News) -
Women and girls who fled the fighting in Darfur face rape and other violence daily in eastern Chad, even inside the very refugee camps where they have sought sanctuary, according to a report released Wednesday.
The Amnesty International report says the women and girls are attacked by villagers living nearby, members of the Chadian army and aid workers in the camps. The global human rights body says it is difficult to give the exact number of victims because they rarely report the violence.
"Many people know that women who venture outside refugee camps in eastern Chad to collect firewood and water face harassment and rape," said Tawanda Hondora, the deputy director of Amnesty International's Africa program.
"What people don't realize is that there is little safety inside the camps for these same women," said Hondora in a statement. "They face the risk of rape and other violence at the hands of family members, other refugees, and staff of humanitarian organizations, whose task it is to provide them with assistance and support."
This story continues below
Advertisement
Officials with the U.N. refugee agency that manages the camps declined to comment on the report, saying they had not read it.
Chadian government spokesman Mahamat Hissene denied that any Chadian had attacked the Sudanese refugees.
"Before the refugees came, we did not have rape cases in Chad," Hissene told The Associated Press. Rape cases started, "when the Sudanese came. If there are cases of rape in the camps we cannot prevent them. The government is not responsible for security in the camps."
Eastern Chad is a temporary home to about 250,000 refugees who have fled the conflict in neighboring Sudan's Darfur region. There are also camps for 187,000 Chadians displaced by fighting locally and in Darfur.
The United Nations has a peacekeeping force of about 2,300 soldiers in the region with a mandate to help protect civilians, improve security and facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid. Chad also has an 800-strong unit of specially trained police and soldiers to guard the camps.
The Darfur conflict began in February 2003 when ethnic African rebels took up arms against the Arab-dominated Sudanese government in Khartoum, claiming discrimination and neglect. U.N. officials say the war has claimed at least 300,000 lives from violence, disease and displacement.
Comments
Sep 29, 2009 8:01 PM (4 days ago) By TOM MALITI, AP
SEE HOW THIS STORY DEVELOPED EMAIL STORYPRINT STORY
Related Topics: NAIROBI, Kenya
NAIROBI, Kenya (Map, News) -
Women and girls who fled the fighting in Darfur face rape and other violence daily in eastern Chad, even inside the very refugee camps where they have sought sanctuary, according to a report released Wednesday.
The Amnesty International report says the women and girls are attacked by villagers living nearby, members of the Chadian army and aid workers in the camps. The global human rights body says it is difficult to give the exact number of victims because they rarely report the violence.
"Many people know that women who venture outside refugee camps in eastern Chad to collect firewood and water face harassment and rape," said Tawanda Hondora, the deputy director of Amnesty International's Africa program.
"What people don't realize is that there is little safety inside the camps for these same women," said Hondora in a statement. "They face the risk of rape and other violence at the hands of family members, other refugees, and staff of humanitarian organizations, whose task it is to provide them with assistance and support."
This story continues below
Advertisement
Officials with the U.N. refugee agency that manages the camps declined to comment on the report, saying they had not read it.
Chadian government spokesman Mahamat Hissene denied that any Chadian had attacked the Sudanese refugees.
"Before the refugees came, we did not have rape cases in Chad," Hissene told The Associated Press. Rape cases started, "when the Sudanese came. If there are cases of rape in the camps we cannot prevent them. The government is not responsible for security in the camps."
Eastern Chad is a temporary home to about 250,000 refugees who have fled the conflict in neighboring Sudan's Darfur region. There are also camps for 187,000 Chadians displaced by fighting locally and in Darfur.
The United Nations has a peacekeeping force of about 2,300 soldiers in the region with a mandate to help protect civilians, improve security and facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid. Chad also has an 800-strong unit of specially trained police and soldiers to guard the camps.
The Darfur conflict began in February 2003 when ethnic African rebels took up arms against the Arab-dominated Sudanese government in Khartoum, claiming discrimination and neglect. U.N. officials say the war has claimed at least 300,000 lives from violence, disease and displacement.
I am happy to say that a new class has been created in my high school--Global Studies, taught by an awesome woman. It is a genocide class. So far I have not taken it but through my older sister, who is currently enrolled in the class, I met the teacher and learned about genocide. Mostly Darfur. Yesterday, we had Awareness Day in honor of Awareness Month. We posted Save Darfur signs around the school and chalked the sidewalk with such slogans as Never Again..and again..and again; we presented a powerpoint slideshow with music (I Will Possess Your Heart, Death Cab for Cutie; the first 4 minutes 10 seconds of it) in the cafeteria at lunch and handed out pamphlets to questioning students. We got a great reaction and, as expected, discovered that very few students knew anything about Darfur, or any genocide other than the holocaust. After Awareness Day, they knew. They could not say they didn't and they could not say they were powerless to help. If you are a student, encourage your school board to try the same thing. Being aware is, at least, a start.
Support ICC for the war crimes indictment against Bashir (Rally)
Leaders of African union and Arab leaders try to support Sudan President Al Bashir but those UN estimates 300,000 people who have died and 2.7 million displaced black African by Arab-dominated regime don't have voice. Lets voice for voiceless innocent women and children who are suffering continuously for many untold crimes.
Let stand together for a change.
AFRICAN IMMIGRANT MOVEMENTS FOR OBAMA is organizing the rally in April. We are getting the permit and will let you know the date. Any suggestion and advice is helpful. Please feel free to comment and be part of this Rally.
Sudan's president has issued a warning to peacekeepers, diplomats and aid staff while visting Darfur, in the wake of a war crimes warrant against him.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7930829.stm
Leaders of African union and Arab leaders try to support Sudan President Al Bashir but those UN estimates 300,000 people who have died and 2.7 million displaced black African by Arab-dominated regime don't have voice. Lets voice for voiceless innocent women and children who are suffering continuously for many untold crimes.
Let stand together for a change.
AFRICAN IMMIGRANT MOVEMENTS FOR OBAMA is organizing the rally in April. We are getting the permit and will let you know the date. Any suggestion and advice is helpful. Please feel free to comment and be part of this Rally.
Sudan's president has issued a warning to peacekeepers, diplomats and aid staff while visting Darfur, in the wake of a war crimes warrant against him.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7930829.stm
I am looking for people in the Portland Oregon area that are willing to spent any amount of time passing out flyers and putting up posters for a presentation I am giving on the 24th. Please send me a message or an e-mail to Adrien2690@hotmail.com.
Thank you.
Thank you.
When I first started speaking about Darfur there were odd looks and whispers. I interviewed person after person that had no idea what Darfur even was. I had guesses like, "a sports team" and "I really have been busy lately and have not seen the news". These reactions hurt me, I felt as if my country failed its citizens in informing them about one of the most important events in the past hundred years.
People ask me why I Give these presentations on Darfur and what is happening. They ask what i am getting out of it, It took me a long time to come up with a responce to that, but i did. Now when i am asked that I simply look at them and say "Nothing, I get absolutely nothing out of helping these people. Except when this is all over I will be able to sit back in my couch and smile knowing that i Changed the world. And you will not." I feel for the people of Darfur. They really are wonderful people. That is something that I cant say about Americans. I wish i could switch places with a refugee, I would do it in a second. I wish others would feel this way as well.
If I could change one thing about the people in this country I would change how Arrogant we are. We claim to be world leaders, yet when it comes time to save a country... We FALL FLAT ON OUR FACES!
People ask me why I Give these presentations on Darfur and what is happening. They ask what i am getting out of it, It took me a long time to come up with a responce to that, but i did. Now when i am asked that I simply look at them and say "Nothing, I get absolutely nothing out of helping these people. Except when this is all over I will be able to sit back in my couch and smile knowing that i Changed the world. And you will not." I feel for the people of Darfur. They really are wonderful people. That is something that I cant say about Americans. I wish i could switch places with a refugee, I would do it in a second. I wish others would feel this way as well.
If I could change one thing about the people in this country I would change how Arrogant we are. We claim to be world leaders, yet when it comes time to save a country... We FALL FLAT ON OUR FACES!
The Devil Comes on Horseback, is a film that was made by the former observer, Brian Steidle, who spent 6 months in Darfur observing the ceasefire. I saw the film this afternoon at a showing at Luther College where I am a sophomore. I learned somethings that probably not a whole of people know and there was stuff in that film that I did already. What I didn't know was that the government of Sudan trains the Janjaweed militia's in the Lagawa Province, which is in the south-eastern part of Darfur near an oil pipeline that is run by the Chinese. The most effective images that were included in this film was actually seeing footage of the Janjaweed riding through as village, spent mortars and bombs and empty magazine clips and bullet casings scattered among dead bodies.
Africans in the refugee camps in Chad have said that what is happening in Darfur is genocide at the hands of the Arabs. The Arabs are systematically slaughtering Africans. Just Africans and no Arabs. One man in a refugee camp in Chad said that he has never seen any Arabs in the refugee camps.
Steidle, during the time that he was in Darfur took hundreds of photos and sent 80 reports to the African Union but the American government only received 4 of them. How is our government supposed to do anything when they don't have all of the information? They do now thanks to Brian Steidle. He gave all of his reports and his photos to the Hague so that they could prosecute those that are responsible for this genocide in Darfur.
The Bush administration knows what is happening in Darfur. It has even called what is happening in Darfur a genocide yet the response has been largely political. Mostly just to keep up appearances. Steidle went to go see Condelezza Rice with his photos and all that she told him was that what he had done was very appreciated and that he could have his photos back. That was just the poltical response. Make people feel okay with what you did say but not actually do anything about what you have been told. As Barack Obama said in paraphrase, is that the reason that the U.S. has failed to act on the Darfur genocide is that the American people are not saying anything to their congressman and other leaders about it and so the leaders end up getting away with not doing anything about the genocide and the other reason that Obama named as a cause for the inaction of the U.S. to end the genocide in Darfur is that our current foreign policy under the Bush administration has focused on Iraq. Obama said , "If we care the world will care." We the American people have to show our leaders that what is happening in Darfur is unacceptable and that the world must act.
By the international community, including the U.S. not acting i showing the government of Sudan and its Janjaweed militia's that it accepts what is happening. Our inaction emboldens the government of Sudan and the Janjaweed militia to keep on doing what it has been doing. Raping women, killing thousands, and burning villlages, will go unchecked. The U.S. must act now to end the genocide in Darfur, by sending a greater amount of humanitarian aid and we must deploy troops to Darfur. In order for that to happen the focus must shift from Iraq. Troops need to be taken out of Iraq and sent to Darfur so that the civilians in Dafur can be protected against the attacks by the Sudanese government and the Janjaweed militia's. Without security, thousands will continue to die. The U.S has been silent on the genocide in Darfur and that is shameful.
Africans in the refugee camps in Chad have said that what is happening in Darfur is genocide at the hands of the Arabs. The Arabs are systematically slaughtering Africans. Just Africans and no Arabs. One man in a refugee camp in Chad said that he has never seen any Arabs in the refugee camps.
Steidle, during the time that he was in Darfur took hundreds of photos and sent 80 reports to the African Union but the American government only received 4 of them. How is our government supposed to do anything when they don't have all of the information? They do now thanks to Brian Steidle. He gave all of his reports and his photos to the Hague so that they could prosecute those that are responsible for this genocide in Darfur.
The Bush administration knows what is happening in Darfur. It has even called what is happening in Darfur a genocide yet the response has been largely political. Mostly just to keep up appearances. Steidle went to go see Condelezza Rice with his photos and all that she told him was that what he had done was very appreciated and that he could have his photos back. That was just the poltical response. Make people feel okay with what you did say but not actually do anything about what you have been told. As Barack Obama said in paraphrase, is that the reason that the U.S. has failed to act on the Darfur genocide is that the American people are not saying anything to their congressman and other leaders about it and so the leaders end up getting away with not doing anything about the genocide and the other reason that Obama named as a cause for the inaction of the U.S. to end the genocide in Darfur is that our current foreign policy under the Bush administration has focused on Iraq. Obama said , "If we care the world will care." We the American people have to show our leaders that what is happening in Darfur is unacceptable and that the world must act.
By the international community, including the U.S. not acting i showing the government of Sudan and its Janjaweed militia's that it accepts what is happening. Our inaction emboldens the government of Sudan and the Janjaweed militia to keep on doing what it has been doing. Raping women, killing thousands, and burning villlages, will go unchecked. The U.S. must act now to end the genocide in Darfur, by sending a greater amount of humanitarian aid and we must deploy troops to Darfur. In order for that to happen the focus must shift from Iraq. Troops need to be taken out of Iraq and sent to Darfur so that the civilians in Dafur can be protected against the attacks by the Sudanese government and the Janjaweed militia's. Without security, thousands will continue to die. The U.S has been silent on the genocide in Darfur and that is shameful.
We have been hearing in the news alot about how China sells weapons to Sudan and not so much about Russia selling weapons to Sudan. What you probably haven't heard is that China and Russia have been selling weapons to the Sudanese government for years. In 1993 Russia and Sudan signed a military cooperation deal and from there Russia began selling weapons to the Sudanese government. In April and May 1996 Russia supplied 32 Sukhoi bombers delivered in Ilyshin cargo planes that landed in Khartoum and in that same time span Russia sold the Sudanese government 10 Mi-24 helicopter gunships. Human Rights Watch got all of that information from a defected military officer of the Sudanese army Addis Ababa who they interviewed in 1997. Also Russia supplied between 20 and 40 T-55 tanks by the end of 1996. Russian experts have maintained and repaired other equipment, including MiG-19 and MiG-21 fighter aircraft. Russia also supplied the Sudanese government with large numbers of military vehicles, mainly trucks and jeeps. Russia gave the Sudanese government all of the tools that they have used in the past 5 years in the genocide in Darfur.
China's weapons sales to the Sudanese government are far more extensive that Russia's although it doesn't diminish Russia's sales to Sudan. China has sold weapons to the Sudanese government since the 1980's. That's 13 years before Russia started selling weapons to the Sudanese government. By 1994, China was one of Sudan's principal arms suppliers and remained so until 1998. In exchange for the weapons China received money and oil concessions. In 1996, China sold the government of Sudan, SCUD missiles in a deal underwritten by a $200 million loan from the Malaysian government against future oil extraction. SCUD missiles are notorious inaccurate medium-range rockets that have been used against civilian population centers in past conflicts such as the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq war and the 1991 Gulf War. Since 1995, weapons sales from China to Sudan have also included ammunition, tanks, helicopters, and fighter aircraft, 50 Z-6 helicopters, 100 82mm and 120mm mortars, and other equipment. Sudan bought 6 Chinese Chengdu F-75 (MiG-21) financed by Iran. In 1997 the government of Sudan had the Chinese version of the Russian SpG-9 which is mounted on wheels and pulled by hand by soldiers. And China was a major supplier of antipersonel and antitank mines after 1980, but Sudan hasn't received any new land mines since 1993. China and Russia gave the Sudanese government all the tools that the government of Sudan now employs in the genocide in Darfur.
China's weapons sales to the Sudanese government are far more extensive that Russia's although it doesn't diminish Russia's sales to Sudan. China has sold weapons to the Sudanese government since the 1980's. That's 13 years before Russia started selling weapons to the Sudanese government. By 1994, China was one of Sudan's principal arms suppliers and remained so until 1998. In exchange for the weapons China received money and oil concessions. In 1996, China sold the government of Sudan, SCUD missiles in a deal underwritten by a $200 million loan from the Malaysian government against future oil extraction. SCUD missiles are notorious inaccurate medium-range rockets that have been used against civilian population centers in past conflicts such as the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq war and the 1991 Gulf War. Since 1995, weapons sales from China to Sudan have also included ammunition, tanks, helicopters, and fighter aircraft, 50 Z-6 helicopters, 100 82mm and 120mm mortars, and other equipment. Sudan bought 6 Chinese Chengdu F-75 (MiG-21) financed by Iran. In 1997 the government of Sudan had the Chinese version of the Russian SpG-9 which is mounted on wheels and pulled by hand by soldiers. And China was a major supplier of antipersonel and antitank mines after 1980, but Sudan hasn't received any new land mines since 1993. China and Russia gave the Sudanese government all the tools that the government of Sudan now employs in the genocide in Darfur.
I personally was very disappointed by moderator Jim Leher's choice of questions. Not once did anybody mention anything about Darfur, even though is is probably the biggest foreign policy issue. It is a genocide! John McCain mentioned the past genocide in Bosnia, but did not speak of the current crisis is Darfur. I was hoping that one candidate, maybe toward the end would bring up this crisis, but they didn't. I definitely hope Darfur is a major topic in at least one of the next to debates.
Everyone is saying how the U.N. needs to step up and send more peacekeepers but nations such as the U.S. don't ever talk about sending their own troops as peacekeepers to Darfur. The U.S. has the power to send in troops to provide the much needed security to the people of Darfur and to the humanitarian aid workers that are in Darfur. Without the necessary security and without the adequate amount of humanitarian aid, the number of genocide related deaths will continue to rise in Darfur. Khartoum and Darfur are not going to make peace by themselves because of the long standing ethnic divisions between the Arabs and the Africans. The Arabs fought their way out of a marginalized status which included not a whole lot of land for the Arabs and low government representation. After the publication of the Black Book there was a huge movement among the Arab population in Darfur to take over pieces of land in Darfur. The Arabs in Darfur want to drive the Africans out of Darfur. The Arabs want to create an Islamic state. Either President Bush or the next president must send in U.S. ground troops. If we just wait for the U.N. to send in more peacekeeprs, more people will die of the Sudanese government sponsored genocide/ethnic cleansing. If the U.S. isn't part of a real solution then it is part of the problem. A book on Darfur that I recommend for everybody to read is called Darfur: A Short History of a Long War by Julie Flint and Alex de Waal.
Save Darfur...Get The Message out There...Save Darfur.... Read More »
An image becomes powerful only after it is given an audience...
Please join me for a night of discussion and photographs regarding Sudan; a present-day perfect storm of corporate irresponsibility, a rouge regime, and the international community's lack of political will to prevent the greatest crime the world has ever known... genocide.
Graciously presented by: 4 Arts Inc. Gallery
www.4ArtInc.com
Robin Rios, Owner/Director
RSVP: 312.850.1816 | rrios@4artinc.com Read More »
Please join me for a night of discussion and photographs regarding Sudan; a present-day perfect storm of corporate irresponsibility, a rouge regime, and the international community's lack of political will to prevent the greatest crime the world has ever known... genocide.
Graciously presented by: 4 Arts Inc. Gallery
www.4ArtInc.com
Robin Rios, Owner/Director
RSVP: 312.850.1816 | rrios@4artinc.com Read More »
UN urges Sudan cooperation on Darfur war crimes suspects
10 hours ago
UNITED NATIONS (AFP) -- The UN Security Council on Monday demanded Sudan cooperate with the International Criminal Court in bringing Darfur war crimes suspects to justice.
"The council urges the government of Sudan and all other parties to the conflict in Darfur to cooperate fully with the court ... in order to put an end to impunity for the crimes committed in Darfur," the council's 15 members said in a unanimously adopted declaration.
The declaration, read by US Ambassador Zalmay Khalizad, who is president of the council for June, did not mention two suspected war criminals, Ahmed Haroun and Ali Kosheib, but alluded to their arrest warrants issued in 2007.
The council "takes note of the efforts made by the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to bring to justice the perpetrators of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur," it said, especially "the follow-up by the International Criminal Court with the government of Sudan, including the transmittal ... of arrest warrants."
Earlier Monday, the EU threatened to impose sanctions against Sudanese who do not cooperate with the court.
New York-based NGO Human Rights Watch hailed the Security Council's declaration, saying it signals "international impatience with impunity for Darfur war crimes suspects."
"The presidential statement ... is the first time that the Security Council has formally taken action on Sudan's failure to comply with the ICC arrest warrants for two Sudanese suspects," it said.
The declaration, drafted by Costa Rica, was changed from its original version, which mentioned the fugitives by name and the council's frustration with a "lack of cooperation" from Khartoum.
Libya opposed the text and the declaration was amended several times before being adopted unanimously, according to diplomats.
The declaration was drawn up June 5 after ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo called on the Security Council to send a "strong message" to the Sudanese government and urge it to arrest and hand over Haroun and Kosheib to the court.
He deplored that a year after the ICC issued arrest warrants for Haroun, Sudan's secretary of state for humanitarian affairs, and Janjaweed militia leader Kosheib, in May 2007, they remained free.
They are charged with 51 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including acts of murder, persecution, torture, rape and forcible displacement.
But Khartoum rejects the jurisdiction of the ICC, the world's first permanent war crimes court, and has made it clear it will not hand over the two men.
Next month, Moreno-Ocampo is expected to issue two new arrest warrants for people suspected of involvement in "large-scale crimes" committed in Darfur. Rights groups say they are likely to target high-ranking Sudanese officials.
Costa Rica's ambassador, Jorge Urbina, welcomed that there was a "consensus of the main elements of this statement to support the ICC and mainly to support the people of Sudan, to protect the people of Sudan from future suffering."
"We are not here to insult any government," he added to reporters when asked about remarks by his Sudanese colleague at the UN, Abdalmahmood Mohamad, earlier this month that Costa Rica was a "banana republic."
The Darfur conflict began in 2003 when ethnic minority rebels took up arms against the Arab-dominated regime and state-backed Janjaweed militias, fighting for resources and power in one of the most remote and deprived places on earth.
Up to 300,000 people may have died from the combined effects of war, famine and disease, according to a UN official. Sudan claims the death toll from the war does not exceed 10,000.
10 hours ago
UNITED NATIONS (AFP) -- The UN Security Council on Monday demanded Sudan cooperate with the International Criminal Court in bringing Darfur war crimes suspects to justice.
"The council urges the government of Sudan and all other parties to the conflict in Darfur to cooperate fully with the court ... in order to put an end to impunity for the crimes committed in Darfur," the council's 15 members said in a unanimously adopted declaration.
The declaration, read by US Ambassador Zalmay Khalizad, who is president of the council for June, did not mention two suspected war criminals, Ahmed Haroun and Ali Kosheib, but alluded to their arrest warrants issued in 2007.
The council "takes note of the efforts made by the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to bring to justice the perpetrators of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur," it said, especially "the follow-up by the International Criminal Court with the government of Sudan, including the transmittal ... of arrest warrants."
Earlier Monday, the EU threatened to impose sanctions against Sudanese who do not cooperate with the court.
New York-based NGO Human Rights Watch hailed the Security Council's declaration, saying it signals "international impatience with impunity for Darfur war crimes suspects."
"The presidential statement ... is the first time that the Security Council has formally taken action on Sudan's failure to comply with the ICC arrest warrants for two Sudanese suspects," it said.
The declaration, drafted by Costa Rica, was changed from its original version, which mentioned the fugitives by name and the council's frustration with a "lack of cooperation" from Khartoum.
Libya opposed the text and the declaration was amended several times before being adopted unanimously, according to diplomats.
The declaration was drawn up June 5 after ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo called on the Security Council to send a "strong message" to the Sudanese government and urge it to arrest and hand over Haroun and Kosheib to the court.
He deplored that a year after the ICC issued arrest warrants for Haroun, Sudan's secretary of state for humanitarian affairs, and Janjaweed militia leader Kosheib, in May 2007, they remained free.
They are charged with 51 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including acts of murder, persecution, torture, rape and forcible displacement.
But Khartoum rejects the jurisdiction of the ICC, the world's first permanent war crimes court, and has made it clear it will not hand over the two men.
Next month, Moreno-Ocampo is expected to issue two new arrest warrants for people suspected of involvement in "large-scale crimes" committed in Darfur. Rights groups say they are likely to target high-ranking Sudanese officials.
Costa Rica's ambassador, Jorge Urbina, welcomed that there was a "consensus of the main elements of this statement to support the ICC and mainly to support the people of Sudan, to protect the people of Sudan from future suffering."
"We are not here to insult any government," he added to reporters when asked about remarks by his Sudanese colleague at the UN, Abdalmahmood Mohamad, earlier this month that Costa Rica was a "banana republic."
The Darfur conflict began in 2003 when ethnic minority rebels took up arms against the Arab-dominated regime and state-backed Janjaweed militias, fighting for resources and power in one of the most remote and deprived places on earth.
Up to 300,000 people may have died from the combined effects of war, famine and disease, according to a UN official. Sudan claims the death toll from the war does not exceed 10,000.
I am excited to introduce you to my new organization, Be Their Messenger.
This is basically my resource and awareness campaign.
My purpose is to provide a one-stop site to raise awareness and urge political pressure to end the Genocide in Darfur, the crisis in the Congo, and the displaced residents and child soldiers of Uganda. This has been a long work in progress and I still have much to do but wanted my fellow Save Darfur group members to be aware of it.
Please check out my Updates page, as that is where the bulk of my work is done. I post updates from many different organizations there, as well as my own notes and articles I find, or updates from local events. We are working on an update to the site where refugees can add their own stories and updates to the site so their voice can be heard.
I hope we accomplish making a difference in Africa.
Please pass this around and help us get the message out.
If you would like to be on my e-mail list to receive updates, or if you have comments, ideas or suggestions please click on the Contact link at the bottom of the site.
Thanks for checking it out!
Leah Nuckolls
Be Aware | Know Their Stories | Send Their Message
http://www.betheirmessenger...
This is basically my resource and awareness campaign.
My purpose is to provide a one-stop site to raise awareness and urge political pressure to end the Genocide in Darfur, the crisis in the Congo, and the displaced residents and child soldiers of Uganda. This has been a long work in progress and I still have much to do but wanted my fellow Save Darfur group members to be aware of it.
Please check out my Updates page, as that is where the bulk of my work is done. I post updates from many different organizations there, as well as my own notes and articles I find, or updates from local events. We are working on an update to the site where refugees can add their own stories and updates to the site so their voice can be heard.
I hope we accomplish making a difference in Africa.
Please pass this around and help us get the message out.
If you would like to be on my e-mail list to receive updates, or if you have comments, ideas or suggestions please click on the Contact link at the bottom of the site.
Thanks for checking it out!
Leah Nuckolls
Be Aware | Know Their Stories | Send Their Message
http://www.betheirmessenger...
Yeah, I'm about to give a speech in my class about Darfur next week, and I'm planning to order some post cards and fliers and hopefully, have some petitions. But I'm not really sure how the payment goes?
I e-mailed to ask, no reply as of yet. Do you only pay for the shipping fee?...
I'm even starting up forums as well regarding this, so I could have diverse opinions. And to be honest there are a lto of people who don't even care.
I saw a comment in YouTube that says something about "who gives a f%^& to those niggers anyway?! they should just f&^%ing die! No one gives a f%^& about those niggers!!!!" I was really appalled by this, and somehow there are a lot of people who actualyl think this way....
I e-mailed to ask, no reply as of yet. Do you only pay for the shipping fee?...
I'm even starting up forums as well regarding this, so I could have diverse opinions. And to be honest there are a lto of people who don't even care.
I saw a comment in YouTube that says something about "who gives a f%^& to those niggers anyway?! they should just f&^%ing die! No one gives a f%^& about those niggers!!!!" I was really appalled by this, and somehow there are a lot of people who actualyl think this way....
I recently mailed a letter to the United Nations with a plea to do the right thing. As a request if any other members could send a simliar letter soon, we might be able to change their minds and have them take action. The people of Darfur need help from an outside source, and i think that our voices can make a difference.
Hello everyone, i am new to your organization and i am just looking for any actions i can take as a new member. i feel very strongly for those suffering in Darfur, and i would like to become an active member of your avocacy group. anyone that could come forward and give me any events that are coming up would be greatly appreciated. I am 18 and have not participated in many live protests yet or many events to save Darfur, i would like to participate in more.
I am helping my cousin with a project and he needs to get several people to anser the following questions. Please help me by taking a moment of you time and ansering them so that he can have an AWESOME paper and get more people involved! :)
1. What is the UN's responsiblity in this situation?
2. What organizations are currently giving aid to those who are being victimized in Darfur?
3. Who in your eyes are the victims in this situation?
4. What are two things that can be done in order to stop the genocide?
5. Genocide is typically thought of in association with gas chambers used during World War I. In this situation genocide is a term used to descibe a systematic way of committing mass murder. Which in your opinion is worse?
6. As in current news, China is known to support the Sudanese government. Europe has already stated that it is possible they will boycott the Bejing games this summer. Do you think that this is the correct thing to do? Do you think that other countries should follow suit?
7. Following September 11th and the terror that our country experienced, what do you feel is your humanitarian obligation to this situation seeing as how many of the victims live in terror every day of their life?
8. As a country do you feel it is important that we give a united front or do you feel like it isn't important that we acknowledge the situation at all?
9. Do you feel the UN should make a more active approach seeing as how their humanitarian plane color scheme is being copied by the Sundanese goverment to allow them to kill more people?
10. Many people have suggested that a ceasefire would be the best case scenario in Darfur. However is this all that needs to be done or should there be a continual UN presence as the USA has in Iraq?
1. What is the UN's responsiblity in this situation?
2. What organizations are currently giving aid to those who are being victimized in Darfur?
3. Who in your eyes are the victims in this situation?
4. What are two things that can be done in order to stop the genocide?
5. Genocide is typically thought of in association with gas chambers used during World War I. In this situation genocide is a term used to descibe a systematic way of committing mass murder. Which in your opinion is worse?
6. As in current news, China is known to support the Sudanese government. Europe has already stated that it is possible they will boycott the Bejing games this summer. Do you think that this is the correct thing to do? Do you think that other countries should follow suit?
7. Following September 11th and the terror that our country experienced, what do you feel is your humanitarian obligation to this situation seeing as how many of the victims live in terror every day of their life?
8. As a country do you feel it is important that we give a united front or do you feel like it isn't important that we acknowledge the situation at all?
9. Do you feel the UN should make a more active approach seeing as how their humanitarian plane color scheme is being copied by the Sundanese goverment to allow them to kill more people?
10. Many people have suggested that a ceasefire would be the best case scenario in Darfur. However is this all that needs to be done or should there be a continual UN presence as the USA has in Iraq?
The time has come to rally together. Call your State Senators and Representatives and ask them to vote for SB233.
The Bill was just given this number and will be entered into the log on April 8th. It will probably be assigned to the Senate Finance committee. They can release the bill for vote or hold it in committee. It is important to reach those senators and tell them to approve SB233 and get it to the Senate floor for vote.
Finance Committee:
Nancy Cook- District 15 Kenton, south of Smyrna, Marydel, Hartley, Frederica, out to Maryland line nancy.cook@state.de.us 744-4237
Steven Amick- District 10 Glassglow south, south of canal above Middletown. Steven.amick@state.de.us 744-4138
Catherine Clouter- District 5 Heather brook, Claymont, Arden up to PA line Catherine.cloutier@state.de.us 744-4137 or wilm-577-8517
Margaret Rose Henry- District 2 City of Wilmington margaretrose.henry@state.de.us 7444191 or wilm 577-8719
David McBride- District 13 Newport and Newcastle david.mcbride@state.de.us 744-4167 or 577-8744
Bruce Ennis- District 14 Clayton, Delaware City, Townsend, Middletown 744-4237
These six people need to get emails, letters and phone calls from people in their districts and people in the State. If you know of anyone, schools, churches, businesses, organizations, clubs anyone who can join us and help call these people it is imperative that we let them know how important this issue is. These six people can hold the bill in committee and never have it released for a vote. We need to get it out on the Senate floor for a vote!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now is the time to get support for Senate Bill 233.
The Bill was just given this number and will be entered into the log on April 8th. It will probably be assigned to the Senate Finance committee. They can release the bill for vote or hold it in committee. It is important to reach those senators and tell them to approve SB233 and get it to the Senate floor for vote.
Finance Committee:
Nancy Cook- District 15 Kenton, south of Smyrna, Marydel, Hartley, Frederica, out to Maryland line nancy.cook@state.de.us 744-4237
Steven Amick- District 10 Glassglow south, south of canal above Middletown. Steven.amick@state.de.us 744-4138
Catherine Clouter- District 5 Heather brook, Claymont, Arden up to PA line Catherine.cloutier@state.de.us 744-4137 or wilm-577-8517
Margaret Rose Henry- District 2 City of Wilmington margaretrose.henry@state.de.us 7444191 or wilm 577-8719
David McBride- District 13 Newport and Newcastle david.mcbride@state.de.us 744-4167 or 577-8744
Bruce Ennis- District 14 Clayton, Delaware City, Townsend, Middletown 744-4237
These six people need to get emails, letters and phone calls from people in their districts and people in the State. If you know of anyone, schools, churches, businesses, organizations, clubs anyone who can join us and help call these people it is imperative that we let them know how important this issue is. These six people can hold the bill in committee and never have it released for a vote. We need to get it out on the Senate floor for a vote!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now is the time to get support for Senate Bill 233.
Posts By Month
Posts
Social Networking
Find us online and connect!
Find us online and connect!