Darfur

=**Darfur a 21st century genocide**=

By Glenn Mandel, Justin Schwarz, Grant Holstein, Tyler Gronek

In the ongoing genocide, African farmers and others in Darfur are being systematically displaced and murdered at the hands of the Janjaweed, a government-supported militia recruited from local Arab tribes. The genocide in Darfur has claimed 400,000 lives and displaced over 2,500,000 people. More than one hundred people continue to die each day; five thousand die every month. The Darfur Genocide is a battle between two milita groups with the civilians caught in the cross fire.

Background Information

. "Despite international outrage and demands around the globe to end the brutality, the deadly conflict continues. Darfur remains one of the world’s worst human rights and humanitarian catastrophes."

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- Sudan is running the longest civil war on Earth. Wars were waged among tribes in the South, West, and North. They have been fighting since the 1950' as a result of colonia masters leaving the country. ===== -

Key People Musa Hilal: Leader of Janjaweed Militia Ali Osman Taha- In 2003, when Musa Hilal was put in jail, he was shortly released under the order of the Vice President, Ali Osman Taha. After Hilal was released, Taha apparently was given the control of recruiting and commanding the militias that are in charge of the murders, rapes and other crimes

The owner of this house was killed here and so were his wife and kids,” Abdullah told us in Arabic. He bent down, slid his stick under a piece of shrapnel and lifted it up high for us to see and for the camera to record. “This was part of the bomb that hit this home. It exploded on everything all around.” The piece of shrapnel dropped to the sand, clanging against another bomb fragment. They were all around.Abdullah strode out of the burnt house, barely giving us time to refocus the camera on him and follow. He pointed out the carcass of a donkey we passed, telling us that it died from eating the plants that had been covered with a powder from the exploded bombs.Last time we had been in Muzbat, we had only encountered rebels from the SLA. Now, there were a handful of old men, women, and children walking around. One little boy, wearing a brown galabiya, kicked a tattered soccer ball made of rags to us. We passed it back and forth with him, careful not to accidentally kick it into the small bomb-crater directly next to us.
 * Excerps**

Shifting awkwardly in his chair, Sadiq paused for a moment before he began to unbutton his shirt. As he peeled it back over his slender shoulders, he revealed a grim patchwork of scars slicing across his torso. "They came from all sides - there were three people doing the torturing - one was questioning me, another beating me, and another was behind me," he said as he pointed out where his tormentors had left their mark. "They just beat me everywhere. My whole body was numb so I couldn't feel anything any more. I was bleeding everywhere, I was completely soaked in blood, and the room was covered with my faeces and urine. I was expecting to die, I never thought I would be alive now."

Other Countries Involved -China and Russia have been accused of selling arms to Janjaweed Milita. Currently there is a UN embargo with Sudanese government and China and Russia are violated that. -More broadly, the poll found that 62 percent agree that the United States “has a responsibility to help stop the killing in the Darfur region” and that 58 percent believe “more can be done” by the United States “to help end the crisis in Sudan.”

Conflict (General Ideas) - The conflict started when in February 2003 when two rebel groups the Sudan Liberation Army and the Justice and Equality Movement attacked government groups protesting there rights and the current stability of the nation. - Instead of Responding Peacefully, the government responded with force -Its a conflict of race between two ethnic groups in Sudan. Arab vs Non-Arab. - The Civilians have become the victims of the Sudan Government and the __Janjawid:__ Arab militia that targets non arab civilians -The main reason that this conflict began was because of droughts and poor supply of food. An militia group attacked the government and the government responded by supporting the janjaweed, but the janjaweed just attacked everyone. - The Genocide is spilling over to Chad, the neighbor of Sudan. This holocaust will spill to other countries if not stopped.

How violence is being conducted? -The Janjaweed enter a village and try and cause as much mayhem as possible. -The Village is generally destroyed, families dispesed and separated, most killed -If people escape they must attempt a long and dangerous journey to a refuge camp.

Janjaweed -Arab milita that target civilians - They are responsible for killings, torture, rape, detentions, forceddsplacement, the burning of homes and villiages, and the theft of farm animals and crops - They are secretly supplied by the Government - They are lead by **Musa Hilal:** a wanted UN war criminal - Hilal has acknowledged his role in the Jajnaweed, but said this: "//It is a lie. Janjaweed is a thief. A criminal. I am a tribal leader, with men and women and children who follow me. How can they all be thieves and bandits? It is not possible//." This says that he denies everything said that he is the one in charge of the murders and other crimes going on there. -Janjaweed also means "bandit" mainly referred to those who steal cattle from farmers.

What people are doing to help (Organizations)

**Help Dar**fur Now
HDN is pleased to announce its donation of $2000.00 on January 14, 2011 to the IRC (International Rescue Committee). HDN is pleased to announce its donation of $7500.00 on January 14, 2011 to the United Nations World Food Program in Darfur.
 * What is Help Darfur Now?**
 * HDN is a non-profit organzation geared specifically for students and their families that is dedicated to raising funds for and awareness of the genocide in Darfur, Sudan.
 * It was started by three New Jersey high school students.
 * Currently, HDN has chapters throughout the world.
 * How did the group get started?**
 * In 2005, co-founder Arielle Wisotsky saw an exhibit on the situation in Darfur while visiting the Holocaust museum in Washington, DC and decided to take action.
 * She contacted two friends, David and Eric Messinger, and they began sending out fundraising letters hoping to raise $1000 to send to refugee camps.
 * What has HDN accomplished so far?**
 * We have greatly exceeded the initial fundraising goal, as HDN has raised over $600,000 for Doctors Without Borders, the International Rescue Committee, the UNHCR and other relief organizations. These organizations supply food, medicine, and other supplies to victims of the genocide in Darfur. HDN has also contributed to the Save Darfur Coalition for awareness raising.
 * When our chapters raise money, they send it to Help Darfur Now and we send it to the organizations mentioned above. We have made arrangements with these organizations so that the money is specially earmarked for Darfur.

Stories (quotes) Surviver Stories

Statistics


 * 300,000 men, women, and children have died
 * A total of 400,000 people have died
 * 2.6 million have been displaced from their homes and live in camps for refugees or Internally Displaced Person (IDPs) or wherever they can, in a courtyard, under a tree.
 * An unknown number of women and girls have been abducted, raped, and abused
 * A generation of children has reached school-age not knowing a home
 * ==== In 29 months 350,000 to 400,000 civilians were killed due to attacks, lack of food, and malnutrition. ====
 * The WFP estimates 160,000 people in Darfur are in need of food and other aid but are in areas too unsafe for international agencies to enter

"Between July and October, one national humanitarian worker was killed and 12 wounded. Armed men assaulted 68 humanitarian centres/compounds." - "So far this year, 11 national humanitarians have been killed against 13 during the whole year 2007. One hundred and forty-four times humanitarian premises have been assaulted/broken into during the first nine months of 2008 against 93 for] the whole of 2007." - "From July to October, 50 humanitarian vehicles were hijacked, bringing the tally to 225 so far in 2008. This last number includes 100 WFP contracted and fleet trucks hijacked in 2008, thereby seriously hampering food supplies to Darfur. As The year goes on Humitarian efforts are needed more, but people are being more and more restricted.


 * 1) **Despite an abundance of oil and other natural resources, the vast majority of Sudan’s people live in poverty, and its Government has been described as ‘the most repressive regime in the world’. **
 * 2) **On September 9th 2004, United States Secretary of State Colin Powell said the Darfur conflict was genocide, and called it the worst humanitarian crisis of the 21st century. This is the first time the United States has ever declared genocide while the genocide was still happening. **

Media -Americans have a particularly important role to play in supporting peace in Darfur. The US government has been proactive in speaking out in support of the people of Darfur, but there is still much work that needs to be done.

Movie Clips form movies or youtube

http://www.ushmm.org/genocide/take_action/gallery/video/5