Darfur: What's Going on and Why Will No One Help?

February 23rd marks four years of conflict between the government of Sudan and rebel groups in the western region of Darfur. In this time, hundreds of thousands of people have died, approximately 200,000 to 400,000. The violence has also displaced over 2.5 million people from their homes. According to a press release, the killing of humanitarian workers and the hijacking of their vehicles have prompted several relief agencies to withdraw from the area. ICRC President Jakob Kellenberger said only the Red Cross remains to tend to the needs of the people. The Red Cross says more and more people in Darfur are unable to tend to their fields or to their animals because of increasing violence and insecurity.

The United Nations is responding to the Darfur crisis too slowly, and the Security Council must deploy peace keepers to the war-stricken region of western Sudan without the government's consent, if necessary, the American actress Mia Farrow said Friday. The Sudanese government has resisted a UN Security Council proposition passed in August for more than 22,000 U.N. peace keepers to be deployed, replacing the African Union force of 7,000 troops. Farrow said peace keepers should be deployed to protect Darfur's civilians even without the government's consent.

The prosecutor for the International Criminal Court will present evidence next week of alleged war crimes committed in the Darfur region of Sudan. According to news24.com, prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo has investigated accusations of persecution, torture, rape and murder. He has focused on events alleged to have occurred between 2003 and 2004, considered the most violent period involving the crisis in Darfur. A peace agreement was signed in Abuja on May 5 by the government and the main rebel faction, but two other rebel groups have rejected the agreement.

Where is Sudan?

Northern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, between Egypt and Eritrea

How big is Sudan?

Land- 2.376 million sq km, slightly more than one-quarter the size of the US

What is their population?

41,236,378

Average age- 18.3

Life expectancy- 58

What percent of the population has AIDS?

2.3

Major infectious disease risk- very high

Ethnic groups- 52% black, 39% Arab

Religion- Sunni Muslim- 70%, Indigenous beliefs- 25%

GDP-per capita- $2,300

In the US- $43,500

Population below poverty line- 40%

In the US-12%

Who is trying to help?

Save Darfur

"The Save Darfur Coalition's mission is to raise public awareness about the ongoing genocide in Darfur and to mobilize a unified response to the atrocities that threaten the lives of two million people in the Darfur region."
They are an alliance of over 170 faith-based, advocacy and humanitarian organizations.

How does the Save Darfur Coalition help the people of Darfur?

They use media outreach, public education, targeted coalition building and grassroots mobilization to pressure policymakers and other decision-makers in the United States and abroad to help the people of Darfur.

How can I help?

"You can help end the genocide by taking small steps that can make a big difference for the people of Darfur. By lobbying your member of Congress, educating others, planning a local event, and generating coverage in the media about the crisis, you will help build the political power needed to end this conflict."