The Problem in Darfur

Problem in Darfur

Publish at Scribd or explore others: Periodicals & Report united nations Darfur

The "AGREEMENT OF GOOD WILL AND CONFIDENCE BUILDING FOR THE SETTLEMENT OF THE PROBLEM IN DARFUR" was signed on 17 February 2009, yet fighting continues throughout Sudan. "U.N.: 15,000 flee southern Darfur" and many similar articles demonstrate that the signing of this agreement is not enough.

Since 15 January this year, Sudanese citizens of the Southern regions, especially near Muhajiriya, have been caught in the middle of the Karthoum forces and rebel forces in the south. The government, fighting alongside the Sudanese Liberation Army have authorized numerous air attacks on the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) factions on the ground in the southern regions. In this time, more than 30 people have died and a further 30,000 plus have fled the region. Increasingly more Sudanese civilians are finding themselves migrating away from their homes and in immediate danger of starvation, over-exhaustion and the like.

Action must be taken by the international community to limit arms trade with Darfur. An agreement promising aid workers the ability to safely distribute relief supplies must be forced upon Karthoum. The AU (African Union) is working closely with the UN and other humanitarian organizations to pressure Al-Bashir to encorporate the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) into the ceasefire. Al-Bashir, too, must face justice for his role in the genocides in the northern province of Darfur, Sudan. ICC has yet to issue a warrant for Al-Bashir's arrest and is being pressured by South Africa to delay such action.

Aegis Trust Spreads the Word

Darfur - Waiting for Justice from Aegis Trust on Vimeo.

This film gives eyewitness accounts of the murders from victims in Darfur. Many of their faces are blurred because there are still large numbers of criminals free and roaming around Sudan. Aegis Trust and UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) encourage us to talk to our governments, activist groups, etc. and pressure them to take action in Darfur.


Darfur - Protection is the least we can give - UNHCR London and Aegis Trust from Aegis Trust on Vimeo.

Without everyone's help, they may not be able to bring these murderers to justice. If we allow our own governments to continue trading with Kartoum without sanctions, we are indirectly allowing this nightmare to continue. As this film demonstrates, the problems in Darfur are still very real and have not ended as news coverage may imply. Lack of publicity due to the existence of other more "important" issues allows western media consumers to forget that the tragedies in Darfur have NOT ceased. People are dying everyday and they need our help. "Protection is the least we can give!"

Defected Janjaweed Discuss Government Involvement

Darfur Destroyed: Sudan's perpetrators break silence from Aegis Trust on Vimeo.

Sudanese Government in Khartoum is exposed as the mastermind of the mass assaults on the Fur and other tribes of Darfur in the Aegis Trust documentary Darfur Destroyed: Sudan's Perpetrators break the silence. I found this posted on the website of the non-profit organization for Change by Micheal Kleinman. The Herald Tribune also published an article about the documentary on February 11, 2009.

Humanitarian relief and International organizations (IOs)

The UN, Amnesty International and Save Darfur are just some of the IOs that are up to date with developments in Darfur. They are put under intense criticism by the international media for their shortcomings in providing relief, but I think they provide some of the most accurate, up-to-date information on the progression of repatriation. In fact, The CARMA Report on the Western Media Coverage of Human Disasters found that the "four key motivating factors for western (media) market" coverage of crises like Darfur are:

1. the impact on the economy


2. the ability to attack political institutions both national and international


3. the presence of westerners


4. and the self satisfaction of promoting a cause

This may help to explain the negative publicity given to the relief workers and humanitarian organizations in natural disasters and threats to human security. The mass media rarely gives us background information on conflicts like Darfur. They report on specific events that coincide with their own aforementioned areas of interest. This results in the ignorance of average people on these topics.

If one is truly ambitious and eager to be informed, they ought visit sites of IOs that do not parallel a specific nation's interests, so check out some of my links and stay informed!

ICC ruling on Bashir

breaking news:
The ICC has NOT yet approved the indictment of Omar al-Bashir on 10 accounts of war crimes; nor have they issued an international warrant for his arrest. (As was rumored in the New York Times and Reuters last night) The decision is pending, but, in the event of a ruling, Sudan still refuses to abide by any decision demanding the release of Omar al-Bashir to the Hague. A break in this humanitarian crisis is long overdue. The estimated 2.5 million internally and internationally displaced peoples (IDPs) of Sudan deserve justice, and justice will be served!