Reading about this conflict, I came up with these questions:
1-Isn't this a Genocide? Aren't the Janjaweed making an ethnic cleansing supported by the government of Sudan?
2-Why are Russia and China using their vetoes and stopping the UN Securicty Council Resolutions and sanctions?
3-When Human life is considered worthless, like in this case, what hope is there?
4-After all its failures, isn't it time to change the way the UN works?
5-What would you do?
More than two million people are living in camps after fleeing almost four years of fighting in the region.
1-Isn't this a Genocide? Aren't the Janjaweed making an ethnic cleansing supported by the government of Sudan?
2-Why are Russia and China using their vetoes and stopping the UN Securicty Council Resolutions and sanctions?
3-When Human life is considered worthless, like in this case, what hope is there?
4-After all its failures, isn't it time to change the way the UN works?
5-What would you do?
More than two million people are living in camps after fleeing almost four years of fighting in the region.
BBC wrote:
How did the conflict start?
The conflict began in the arid and impoverished region early in 2003 after a rebel group began attacking government targets, saying the region was being neglected by Khartoum. The rebels say the government is oppressing black Africans in favour of Arabs. There are two main rebel groups, the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) and the Justice and Equality Movement (Jem), although the peace talks were complicated by splits in both groups, some along ethnic lines.
What is the government doing?
It admits mobilising "self-defence militias" following rebel attacks but denies any links to the Janjaweed, accused of trying to "cleanse" black Africans from large swathes of territory. Refugees from Darfur say that following air raids by government aircraft, the Janjaweed ride into villages on horses and camels, slaughtering men, raping women and stealing whatever they can find. Many women report being abducted by the Janjaweed and held as sex slaves for more than a week before being released. The US and some human rights groups say that genocide is taking place - though a UN investigation team sent to Sudan said that while war crimes had been committed, there had been no intent to commit genocide. After strong international pressure and the threat of sanctions, the government promised to disarm the Janjaweed. But so far there is little evidence this has happened.
What has happened to Darfur's civilians?
Millions have fled their destroyed villages, with many heading for camps near Darfur's main towns. But there is not enough food, water or medicine. The Janjaweed patrol outside the camps and Darfurians say the men are killed and the women raped if they venture too far in search of firewood or water.
How many have died?
With much of Darfur inaccessible to aid workers and researchers, calculating how many deaths there have been in the past three years is impossible. The latest research published in September 2006 in the journal Science puts the numbers of deaths above and beyond those that would normally die in this inhospitable area at "no fewer than 200,000".
Is anyone trying to stop the fighting?
About 7,000 African Union troops have slowly been deployed in Darfur on a very limited mandate. Sudan has resisted strong western diplomatic pressure for the UN to take control of the peacekeeping mission. The US and the UK have threatened sanctions against Sudan, unless it agrees to having more UN peacekeepers in Darfur. But such threats have so far achieved little, as Sudan's allies Russia and China have used their veto in the UN Security Council to block tough resolutions.
Last edited by sergeriver (2007-04-29 18:06:28)
