04/03/2007

RI's Concerns

Three years of fighting in Darfur have destroyed hundreds of villages, displaced 2.2 million and led to more than 400,000 deaths. RI is advocating for a swift and forceful response to the Darfur crisis, including better coordination of and more provision of humanitarian aid and establishment of an effective peacekeeping force to protect civilians.

The UN warns that the situation in Darfur is emerging as the worst humanitarian crisis in Sudan since 1998. The United States government and the parliament of the European Union agree that the government of Sudan is committing genocide in Darfur. Despite the signing of a ceasefire agreement and numerous other international agreements, the government of Sudan and Janjaweed militia continue to attack civilians with impunity. Forced relocations of settlements for internally displaced people, rapes of women by government police officers, and continued attacks on villages continue to plague the region and there seems to be little that the international community can do.

International response to this crisis has been shockingly slow and ineffective. Despite widespread awareness of the extent of the human rights violations in Darfur, the government of Sudan and its allies on the UN Security Council have successfully blocked the imposition of punitive international sanctions on officials responsible for masterminding the violent campaign in Darfur. The African Union has stepped in to provide peacekeeping troops but is hampered by lack of strong logistical support and an unclear mandate.

Refugees International has completed nine missions to Sudan and Chad since February 2004 to assess the state of the crisis.

How You Can Help

Donate to Refugees International so we can continue our lifesaving advocacy in Darfur.

Host a DVD Watch Party featuring RI’s own ‘On Our Watch – A Documentary About Genocide in Darfur.’ Note: This is posted on Google Video. Once you access the site, there will be a few second delay before the film begins.
To receive a free copy of this 10-minute film to show to friends and family, please email ri@refugeesinternational.org.