Darfur

Darfur, a region in Africa approximately the size of Texas, lies in western Sudan and borders, Chad, Libya and the Central African Republic. It has a poorly developed infrastructure, and the approximate six million inhabitants are among the poorest in Africa. In Darfur there are minimal good times, and even their “good times” are nothing compared to what others experience. The people of Darfur face a very harsh and difficult life.

The crisis currently taking place in Darfur began in 2003. Two rebel groups arose after a long period of drought, neglect and oppression. These rebel groups are known as the Sudanese Liberation Army/Movement (SLA/M) and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM). The two groups represent agrarian farmers who are mostly non-Arab black African Muslims from various tribes. When SLA/M and JEM challenged the president, al-Bashir, his response was vicious. In order to defeat the rebel movements the government of Sudan increased arms and support to local tribal, as well as other, militias. They have come to be known as the Janjaweed. Members of the Janjaweed consist of mostly Arab black African Muslims. Many of them herd cattle, camels and other livestock. This group has wiped out villages, destroyed food and water supplies and even systematically murdered, tortured and raped hundreds of thousand of Darfurians. All of these attacks would not have been possible without the support of Sudan’s government and armed forces. Many of the planes used in attacks against the Darfurians are painted aircraft white by the Janjaweed, not coincidentally the same exact color as UN humanitarian crafts. This is a clear violation of international humanitarian law.

400,000 lives have already been claimed due to disease, violence and starvation by the scorched earth campaign witch was created by the Sudanese government against Darfur’s sedentary farming population. Many Darfuris have left their homes and now belong to a network of