Where is Darfur? Sudan?

Darfur is a region in Sudan, approximately the size of Texas or France. Sudan is a country in north-eastern Africa roughly a quarter the size of the United States and home to nearly 40 million people.

What is going on in Darfur?

Two decades of civil war between rebel groups in the south and the northern government in Khartoum finally ended in an agreement that resulted in the neglect of the western region of Darfur; no health care, education or economic support was offered by the government In an attempt to force the government to address these inequalities, two major rebel groups formed, the Sudanese Liberation Army/Movement (SLA/SLM) and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM).  

But the government instead chose to “unofficially” recruit, train, and fund an anti-rebel militia group, called the “Janjaweed” (which means “armed man on horse or camel”) to put down the rebel groups. This militia then began targeting civilians, indiscriminately killing women, children, and the elderly. Now the attacks, as well as cases of rape and kidnapping, are happening in and around the refugee centers – humanitarian workers are also being targeted.  

What’s being done about it?

The US is one of the only countries to call what is happening in Darfur a “genocide” while the United Nations and the majority of the international community concedes that war crimes and ethnic cleansing are taking place. UN resolutions condemn the Sudanese government, and the Security Council (the power-yielding branch of the UN) demands immediate change but to little or no effect. Aside from condemning the events, not much has actually been done. Humanitarian aid workers have been stalled, blocked completely, or attacked; peacekeeping intervention is possible only with governmental consent, and Khartoum is not cooperating.

What can I do about it?

• TALK. You know what’s going on—spread the word. There are people who’ve never even heard of Darfur and have no idea what’s going on (and maybe you were one of them until you read this!). Use Facebook, myspace, blogs, etc. Every raised voice counts. 
   

• WEAR THE SHIRT/BRACELET. Even if people don’t ask what you’re wearing, at least they’ll read it and remember it the next time they see it in the news. The on-campus club STAND is selling shirts for $12 and the bracelets for $1 in the CI hallway Monday, April 30-May 2.  
   

• DARFURSCORES.ORG. Type in your zip code and state and see how your elected reps. score on their anti-genocide action (p.s. CA State Senators Diane Feinstein and Barbara Boxer scored A’s! Yay, California!). If their performance is not satisfactory, then… 

1-800-GENOCIDE. No, it’s not something we made up! Call this hotline and be directly connected to your elected officials for free; all you need is your zip code. Let them know that genocide is a priority to their voters.  

START WRITING. If you’re on a publication staff, construct a piece on Darfur. Write a letter to your local paper demanding further Sudanese coverage. Send postcards, fliers, and letters to your local representatives—flood their offices! Write the president! 

Source: 1800genocide.com; savedarfur.org; standnow.org